In-Range Salary Adjustments for Civil Service Employees

Administrators/supervisors have an option of granting civil service employees in-range salary adjustments outside of pay increases executed through annual pay plans. Reasons for such increases in salary are limited to the categories of market, merit, retention, internal equity, and workload adjustments. Units should use this type of salary adjustment with discretion, and only after consideration of the impact to all positions within a department or larger unit. In-range salary adjustments will be applied judiciously and in full compliance with the criteria and procedures as defined in this policy.

Provisions and Terms

Civil service employees may be awarded in-range salary adjustments.

Excluded from coverage under this policy are:

• union-represented staff;
• student employees; and
• individuals on academic appointments including faculty, academic professional and administrative employees, and graduate assistants.

Types and Criteria for In-Range Adjustments

1. Market Adjustments
   Units may provide an in-range salary adjustment where an incumbent's placement within the salary range is not consistent with relevant market data. The responsible administrator/supervisor may initiate a temporary augmentation of the affected employee's salary, if the perceived market problem is such that a unit is in danger of losing employees within a classification (job code) before the Office of Human Resources completes a market analysis and a final decision is made on the amount and continuation of any increases.
2. Merit Adjustments
   A responsible administrator/supervisor may award a merit adjustment if that responsible administrator/supervisor determines that an employee's performance is especially meritorious. The performance appraisal must document an exceptional level of performance.
3. Retention Adjustments
   Civil service employees may be awarded a retention adjustment to counter a bona fide employment offer from outside the University.
4. Internal Equity Adjustments 
   Colleges and administrative units are responsible for establishing and maintaining equitable pay relationships within their work units. Factors to consider in determining equitable pay relationships are: documented employee work performance, employee credentials, and employee salary history at the University.

   Internal equity increases may be recommended whenever an equity problem is discovered. Colleges and units must have consistent hiring and promotion practices. Departments making salary offers to new employees are expected to evaluate the new employee's overall credentials against the salary, credentials, and performance record of existing staff in order to preserve internal equity within the work unit.

   In the rare event that a unit hires a similarly qualified new employee at a pay rate greater than that of similarly qualified incumbents in the same classification, the responsible administrator may recommend an in-range salary increase to bring incumbents pay into an equitable relationship. The responsible administrator/supervisor will review the documented work performance as well as credentials of current employees in making pay decisions.

5. Workload Adjustments 
   Due to the elimination of positions and/or greater need to increase the unit's effectiveness and efficiency, units may sometimes need to increase an employee's workload. The assignment of higher level responsibilities may result in a reclassification to a higher classification (job code) for the incumbent. Often the additional or new duties do not rise to the level which would justify a change in classification. Where there are extreme and documented increases in the workload, the responsible administrator/supervisor may recommend an in-range adjustment to recognize the additional effort.