Human Resources - Clarification on July 1 Salary Increase Information

This email was sent to HR Liaisons on the CU Boulder campus.

We are re-sending this communication to clarify how the $15 minimum wage compression will be implemented for directly impacted staff positions. This version supersedes any previous versions. 

The Board of Regents approved the CU Boulder operating budget for FY21-22 at their 6/17/21 meeting. The budget includes increased investments by CU Boulder in diversity initiatives, increased investments in financial aid, an increase in the minimum wage for employees to $15 per hour, and Equal Pay Act implementation.

Boulder Campus Human Resources is working with Budget & Fiscal Planning to implement the FY21-22 salary initiatives.  

Here is the order of actions in HCM for pay increases effective July 1:

  1. Classified staff 3% across-the-board (ATB)

    1. This increase is calculated from the employee’s 6/30/21 pay rate.

    2. The classified 3% ATB applies to all classified employees with an active appointment as of 6/30/21. It does not apply to new hires starting 7/1/21 or later.

    3. The classified 3% ATB is base-building up to the FY21-22 pay range maximum for the employee’s job classification. Any amount over the pay range maximum is annualized and paid as a one-time lump sum in the employee’s end of July paycheck. 

    4. FY21-22 classified staff pay ranges are available from the Colorado Department of Personnel & Administration.

    5. The final July 1 comp rate for classified employees is rounded to the nearest whole dollar if full-time and to two decimal places if part-time.

    6. Classified staff 3% across-the-board increase FAQ

  2. University staff one-time payment calculation

    1. This increase is calculated from the employee’s restored pay rate after the FY20-21 temporary campus pay reduction is ended as of June 30 and before any July 1 adjustments are applied.

    2. University staff one-time payment FAQ

  3. Increase to $15 per hour campus minimum wage if applicable

    1. The pay rates for biweekly/hourly employees below $15 per hour, including student assistants and temporary employees, will be increased to $15 per hour in HCM by Employee Services around 6/27/21.

    2. Campus funds will be allocated to units for general fund regular salaried staff and general fund students paid hourly. Other categories of employees will be funded by the hiring unit.

    3. Updated FY21-22 student assistant pay ranges are now available.

    4. Boulder campus $15 minimum wage FAQ

  4. Updated - Apply $15 minimum wage staff compression adjustment if applicable. A staff compression adjustment applies in the following two scenarios:

    1. Job Family Compression (Animal Care, Child Care Aide/Early Childhood Educator, Custodian, Dining Services and Sales Assistant): Compression within a job family is calculated by re-establishing the approximate salary spacing that had existed between the jobs before they were compressed together to the new $15 minimum rate.  The lowest paid employees in the job family are moved up to $15.  Then a % increase similar to the % distance between the salaries previously is applied to other jobs in the family that were also moved up to $15 but had been at a higher level than the lowest paid group. 

    2. $15 Min Wage Compression:  If not already addressed by the Job Family Compression scenario, a 2% compression is applied to related job family occupations already paid at a comparable level to the jobs now at the new $15 minimum rate, not to exceed the pay range maximum or prevailing market rates.  Job families include Equipment Operator, General Labor, Grounds & Nursery, LTC Trainee, Materials Handler, Security and Structural Trades.

    3. Pay Range Maximum:  Note that if the compression increase causes an employee’s salary to exceed the pay range maximum, the final salary is adjusted to the pay grade maximum. 

    4. For Student Employees, departments and units may consider adjusting pay rates for other student positions in their areas for compression if needed based on their department/unit practices. This will not be done at a campus level.

Important Notes:

  • Salary data for July 1 pay change calculations (regular monthly-paid classified and university staff) will be pulled from HCM on 6/19/21.  Please avoid making pay changes for eligible employees between 6/19/21 and 7/1/21.
  • July 1 salary changes will be uploaded to HCM by Employee Services around 6/24/21 with a 7/1/21 effective date.
  • ​Classified and university staff will receive notifications of final July 1 salary by the end of July.  We need to process corrections in HCM for the July end of month payroll before sending notifications.
  • There is no new information on whether there will be a January 1, 2022 university staff and faculty merit pool.  This decision is pending fall budget information.
  • The campuswide analysis of staff and faculty salaries for pay equity continues. Further information is expected to be available by this fall.