Spectrum - Volume 21 Issue 01 August 27, 1998 - 1998 Performance-Evaluation

A non-profit publication of the Office of the University Relations of Virginia Tech,
including The Conductor , a special section of the Spectrum printed 4 times a year

1998 Performance-Evaluation
Process Begins

Spectrum Volume 21 Issue 01 - August 27, 1998

Personnel Services is currently preparing for the implementation of the 1998 performance-evaluation process. The following is information concerning pay increases, ratings and the established timeline.

Classified Adjustment
The governor and General Assembly have approved a 2.25-percent adjustment of the state salary structure, effective November 25. Salary ranges in the graded salary plan will be increased by 2.25 percent on that date. This will not change the salaries of employees, but will move them to a lower step on the new range. For example, if an employee's salary is now at step 10 of the salary range, it will move to step nine after the ranges are adjusted. However, employees' salaries will increase, based on performance, as outlined below.
Performance Increases
Performance increases shall be granted, effective November 25, with the increase paid out in the December 16 pay.
Employees who are rated Performance Needs Improvement to Fully Meet Expectations of Position or Performance Needs Immediate Improvement will not receive an increase. While these employees' salaries will not decrease, they will drop one step lower on the new range. Those who are now at step one will fall below step one of the November 25 salary range.
Employees rated Performance Fully Meets Expectations will receive a one-step (2.25 percent) increase. For example, employees whose salaries are at step 10 of the current range will remain at step 10 of the new range, but the new step 10 will be 2.25 percent higher than the current step 10.
Employees rated Performance Often Exceeds Expectations and employees rated Performance Consistently Exceeds Expectations will receive a two-step (4.55 percent) increase. Employees whose salaries are at step 10 of the current range will move to step 11 of the new range, which will be 4.55 percent higher than step 10 of the current range.
When the salary ranges are adjusted on November 25, salaries of employees who are now at step 21 of their salary range will drop to step 20 of the new range. Therefore, these employees will be limited to one-step increases, to the new step 21. In addition to the one-step increases, employees in this group rated Performance Often Exceeds Expectations or Performance Consistently Exceeds Expectations shall be granted a lump-sum performance payment (not added to base pay) equal to 2.25 percent of their new November 25 salaries.
Employees whose salaries are at, or above, the new (November 25) step 21 shall receive no increase in base salary. However, those who are rated Performance Often Exceeds Expectations or Performance Consistently Exceeds Expectations shall be granted a lump-sum performance payment (not added to base pay) equal to 4.55 percent of their salary. Those who are rated Performance Fully Meets Expectations shall be granted a lump-sum performance payment equal to 2.25 percent of their salary.
If lump-sum payments are made to employees covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act (non-exempt employees), their overtime pay during the performance cycle will need to be re-computed.
Section administrators and department administration should monitor employees' evaluations to ensure their consistency and reliability. Departments may not manage or adjust employees' ratings in an effort to control or reduce the cost of the increases.
Funding for Ratings
This year, the university will receive state funding for the increases based on the actual performance-evaluation ratings. It is critical that the completed evaluations are submitted by the deadline so that Virginia Tech may receive appropriate funds. Personnel Services must enter the ratings into the system by the state's designated deadline.
Evaluation Timeline
Supervisors may evaluate employees, for this performance cycle beginning August 1, 1998 and must submit the completed evaluations to Personnel Services by 5 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 1.
Probationary Employees
Employees on probation October 25 through November 24 will not receive performance salary increases effective November 25. Therefore, the salaries of those hired at step one of their range will drop below the November 25 range minimum.
These employees shall be eligible for a one-step probationary increase upon completion of their probationary periods. Increases will be granted according to the following example: A person hired on April 25, 1998 has his or her probabtion expire on Oct. 25, 1998. The effective date of his or her one step increase would be Dec. 10, 1998.
Anyone hired on or after November 25 will not be eligible for the probationary increase but will be eligible for any increases approved by legislative action for 1999.
Hourly Wage Employees
The hourly rates of wage employees shall be increased by 3.67 percent on November 25, except that no hourly rates shall be increase above the maximum of the new November 25 wage rates. Departments should ensure hourly wage employees are appropriately classified and paid.
Student Wage Employees
Salary increases for student wage employees may be given at the discretion of the department head.
Training for New Supervisors
Training sessions on performance evaluations for new supervisors are available on the following dates. Registration is required. Contact Julie Whetzel at 1-9331 or send an e-mail note to JWHET@vt.edu .
Performance Planning Training for
New Supervisors
One two-hour session for training new supervisors remains on Thursday, Aug. 27 from 10 a.m. to noon in conference room G at the Continuing Education Center.
To ensure that all supervisors are knowledgeable about the evaluation process, we encourage managers and supervisors who have questions to contact their Human Resources consultant or call 1-9331.