State Agencies Bulletin No. 1370

Subject
December 2014 Minimum Wage Increase for Hourly Employees
Date Issued
December 11, 2014

Purpose

To inform agencies of OSC’s automatic processing of the December 2014 minimum wage increase for hourly employees.

Affected Employees

Employees in hourly positions who meet the eligibility criteria

Background

Chapter 57 of the Laws of 2013 increased the New York State minimum wage for employees in non-governmental positions.  The Director of the Budget establishes the pay rate for State seasonal and other non-statutory positions paid using an hourly rate.

In accordance with the Division of the Budget Bulletin G-1035 (issued May 15, 2014), the minimum hourly wage is being increased for seasonal and other non-statutory positions to $8.75 per hour in December 2014 and to $9.00 per hour in December 2015.

In addition, the City University of New York Personnel Policy Bulletin dated December 19, 2013, sets the minimum pay for the title Student Aide at $8.75 per hour in December 2014 and $9.00 per hour in December 2015.

Effective Date(s)

The December 2014 minimum wage increase for hourly employees will be processed using the following effective dates and check dates:

Pay Cycle/Pay Period Type Effective Date Check Date
Institution 20 Current 12/25/2014 01/08/2015
Administration 21 Current 01/01/2015 01/14/2015
Institution 20 Lag 12/25/2014 01/22/2015
Administration Extra Lag 12/25/2014 01/28/2015
Administration 21 Lag 01/01/2015 01/28/2015
Institution Extra Lag 01/01/2015 02/05/2015

Eligibility Criteria

Employees with a Pay Basis Code of HRY on or after the appropriate effective date and an hourly rate less than $8.75 are entitled to the December 2014 minimum wage increase.

OSC Actions

OSC will process the December 2014 minimum wage increase as follows:

  • If the employee meets the eligibility criteria and has a Payroll Status of Active on the appropriate effective date, OSC will automatically insert a row on the employee’s Job Data page using the appropriate effective date and the Action/Reason code of Pay Rate Change/CRT (Chg Rate) and will increase the employee’s hourly rate to $8.75.
  • If the employee meets the eligibility criteria but has a Payroll Status of Terminated, Retired or Leave of Absence on the appropriate effective date and returns to Active status in an eligible position in Institution Pay Period 20 or Administration Pay Period 21 but after the appropriate effective date, OSC will automatically insert a row on the employee’s Job Data page using the effective date of the Rehire or Return from Leave action and the Action/Reason code of Pay Rate Change/CRT (Chg Rate) and will increase the employee’s hourly rate to $8.75.
  • If the employee is newly hired or transfers into an eligible position in Institution Pay Period 20 or Administration Pay Period 21 but after the appropriate effective date, OSC will automatically insert a row on the employee’s Job Data page using the effective date of the Hire, Position Change or Transfer action and the Action/Reason code of Pay Rate Change/CRT (Chg Rate) and will increase the employee’s hourly rate to $8.75.
  • OSC will automatically insert a row on the employee’s Job Data page using the Action/Reason code of Pay Rate Change/CRT (Chg Rate) for all subsequent rows provided the employee remains in an eligible position.

Agency Actions

Agencies do not need to enter a Pay Change on the Job Action Requests page to increase the hourly rate of eligible employees; OSC will automatically update these records.

Agencies that use the New York State Electronic Personnel System (NYSTEP) for compensation adjustments, however, must enter these adjustments through NYSTEP if the rate frequency of the position is less than $8.75.

Questions

Questions regarding this bulletin may be directed to the Payroll Earnings mailbox.