Longevity Pay

The longevity pay plan recognizes and expresses the University's appreciation for the long-term service of permanent SPA employees, both full-time and part-time (regularly scheduled to work 20 hours or more each work week) who have completed at least 10 years of Total State Service.

Longevity pay (full or pro-rata) is based on Total State Service and is computed as a percentage of the employee's base annual salary at the date of eligibility.

A break in service as a result of leave without pay delays the payment for longevity by the months represented by the non-pay status. (Workers' compensation leave and military leave do not represent breaks in service.)

Service toward longevity is credited for each month in which an employee is in pay status for one-half or more of the regularly scheduled work days and paid holidays in the month. Credit also is given for:

• other governmental units which are State agencies;
• authorized military leave and subsequent reinstatement according to policy; and
• employment with the Agricultural Extension Service, Community College system, a public school system for the entire school year, local divisions of the Department of Human Resources, and the General Assembly (except legislators, pages, and interns).

Longevity is paid annually. The amount is computed by multiplying the eligible employee's base annual salary by the appropriate percentage (see table below) and is rounded to the nearest dollar:

Longevity pay is made in a lump sum and is subject to statutory deductions. It is not considered a part of base annual pay for classification, other pay or records purposes.

Full longevity pay is paid by separate check to an eligible employee on the payday for the pay period in which his/her eligibility date occurs and annually in succeeding years.

An employee who transfers to another State agency or University is paid by the receiving agency on the eligibility date.

An employee who separates and receives a prorated longevity payment and is reinstated must complete additional service to total 12 months before receiving the balance of longevity; the balance is based on the employee's current salary.

If an employee separates before the date of the annual longevity payment, longevity pay is awarded on a pro rata basis.

Pro rata longevity is calculated by taking 1/12 of the annual percentage amount for each month since his/her last annual longevity payment through the date of the status change. The employee must have been in pay status for one-half or more of the regularly scheduled work days and paid holidays in the month for the month to count toward this amount. No longevity pay is awarded for any period covered by terminal leave pay.

Pro rata longevity is computed as full longevity pay, except if an employee has a fraction of a year toward the next higher percentage rate, the pro rata payment is based on the next higher rate. It is paid to the nearest cent.

If an eligible employee goes on extended military leave without pay, a longevity payment computed on a pro rata basis shall be paid the same as if the employee is separating. The balance will be paid when the employee returns and completes a full year.

If an employee goes on leave without pay, longevity shall not be paid until the employee returns and completes the full year. If, however, the employee should resign while on leave without pay, the pro rata amount for which the employee is eligible is paid.

Exceptions are as follows: 

1. An employee going on leave without pay due to short-term disability may be paid the pro rata amount for which the employee is eligible. 
2. An employee going on extended military leave without pay shall be paid the pro rata amount for which eligible. 
3. An employee on workers' compensation leave shall be paid longevity as if working.

Salary increases effective on the longevity eligibility date are incorporated in base pay before longevity is computed.

To calculate pro-rata longevity, refer to the following formula:

• (Annual salary at time of separation) x (longevity %) x (# of months now eligible / 12)

Example 1: Employee's TSSD is 2/1/93 and annual salary is $28,362. Last longevity payment received was in February 2003. Employee is terminating university/state employment on November 30, 2003. Calculation is as follows:
$28,362 x 1.5% x 10/12 = $354.53

Example 2: Employee's TSSD is 2/1/93 and annual salary is $28,362. Last longevity payment received was in February 2003. Employee is terminating university/state employment on November 10, 2003. Calculation is as follows:
$28,362 x 1.5% x 9/12 = $319.07

Notes:

• Pro-rata longevity is rounded to the nearest cent. It is not rounded to the nearest dollar like full longevity.
• When calculating pro-rata longevity, do not round until the end of the calculation. At that time, you can round to the nearest cent.
• Because full longevity is rounded to the nearest dollar and pro-rata longevity is not, you cannot use the full longevity amount in the pro-rata longevity calculation.
• If an employee was in pay status half or more of the working days and holidays in that month, then they earn credit for that month (see example 1).
• If an employee was not in pay status for half or more of the working days and holidays in the month, they do not get credit for that month (see example 2).
• Be sure to include the month in which the employee received his or her last full longevity check when calculating the number of months towards the pro-rata payout.
• Comments section should include the calculation method used by the department.
• It may be useful to pause the termination workflow until the pro-rata longevity payout is approved by the Classification & Compensation Specialist. If you complete the termination workflow and the Classification & Compensation Specialist disapproves the pro-rata longevity payout, you will have to submit a hard copy PD-105 to complete the pro-rata longevity payout.

Full longevity payments are initiated and processed by Payroll Services as part of the payroll process.

Pro rata longevity payments are initiated by the operating department.