Spectrum - Volume 19 Issue 02 September 5, 1996 - Staff Senate discusses delayed checks

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including The Conductor , a special section of the Spectrum printed 4 times a year

Staff Senate discusses delayed checks

By Netta S. Smith

Spectrum Volume 19 Issue 02 - September 5, 1996

At the August Staff Senate meeting, senators heard a report from President Spencer Allen, who is a member of the Delayed Paycheck Taskforce.

Allen reminded senators that, from January through July 1997, paychecks will not be issued on the first and sixteenth of each month, as they have been in the past. Instead, checks will be delayed by several days each pay period. This will result in classified employees receiving 23, rather than 24, paychecks in 1997.

"This came from the state legislature, not from Tech," Allen said. He stressed the need to budget to cover bills that come due at the beginning and middle of the month. "You need to start saving now to cover these times when the money doesn't come in," Allen said. He noted that he is most concerned about classified employees who are at low grade levels and do not earn large salaries.

Allen also suggested that employees talk with bank officials to try to adjust payment schedules or to arrange short-term loans.

He also presented a chart that showed the effects of the pay increase and the delayed pay periods. Basically, he said, the delays result in one less paycheck in 1997. With the 4.35-percent raise that will be reflected first in the Dec. 16, 1996, paycheck, and the 2-percent raise that will first be reflected in the Dec. 31, 1997, paycheck, however, the amount of pay remains almost the same.

According to Allen's figures, a classified employee earning $24,000 in 1996 would earn $24,087 in 1997.

Senate Secretary Marge Dellers announced that a Breakfast Roundtable is scheduled for September 11 for all senators, alternates, and association presidents. The breakfast will be held from 8-10 a.m. in the Old Guard Room at the Donaldson Brown Hotel and Conference Center. Dick Harshberger of leadership development will lead the seminar. The roundtable discussions, led by facilitators, will discuss what the university should expect from a staff senator and what a senator should expect. At least two additional workshops are planned as follow-up to the roundtable.

In additional business, Sherrie Settle was elected as a representative to the Commission on Administrative and Professional Faculty. Wyatt Sasser was appointed to the Benefits Committee and Bill Dockey to the EOAA Committee.

Allen also reported that the university smoking policy will be "looked at closely soon" by administration officials.