April 2007 Merit Advance Rate

 Memo

 

TO:                 Ken Brynien
                        President

FROM:           Bob Carrothers
                        Director of Contract Administration

RE:                 April 2007 Merit Advance Rate
 

As you are aware, the Merit Advance Program will be implemented on April 1, 2007.  Under this program, eligible PS&T Unit employees G-18 and below can receive base salary adjustments that raise their base salaries to the same level paid to CSEA employees.  The Merit Advance Rate increase will first appear in pay checks dated April 26, 2007 (for the Institution payroll) and May 2, 2007 (for the Administration payroll). Individual eligibility for the Merit Advance is contingent on satisfaction of the following criteria: 

A.                 one complete year at job rate;

B.                 five years of cumulative State service;

C.                 no unsatisfactory  evaluations for three prior years;

D.                 no finding of guilt, settled NOD, or pending NOD during the three years preceding the effective date of the merit advance (excluding NOD’s which are dismissed by an arbitrator or withdrawn by the agency during the period);

E.                  participation in agency-sponsored training during prior three years.

(See, Merit Advance Side Letter, p. 173-74, 2003-2007 PS&T Unit Agreement.).  GOER has issued a jointly negotiated memorandum to all Directors of Human Resources providing additional guidance on the application of these criteria.  A copy is attached.  We have also attached a FAQ which we prepared which should answer most questions about the program. 

As we anticipated, earlier this month OSC generated a list of employees who satisfy the first two criteria. Agencies will then be responsible for deleting employees from that list who fail to satisfy the remaining three criteria.   The GOER memo includes some important clarification regarding how agencies should apply the remaining 3 criteria.  First, only unsatisfactory evaluations result in a disqualification under criteria (c).  If no evaluation was received, the rating is deemed satisfactory.  Second, only NOD’s served after April 1, 2004 may be used to bar eligibility under criteria (d).  Third, agency sponsored training is limited to training at which attendance is a work assignment without charge to accruals.  Such training must also directly support or improve skills required for an employee’s current job assignment. 

Any questions should be directed to Contract Administration, 1 (800) 342-4306 x 223.