This web page is updated with answers to frequently asked questions about implementation of 2023-2025 pay plan.
UPDATE – CRAFTSWORKERS
Craftworkers are subject to annual collective bargaining agreements and are therefore ineligible for pay plan.
On February 2, 2024, the Governor signed Senate Bill 846 and Senate Bill 847, now 2023 Wisconsin Act 92 and 2023 Wisconsin Act 93, respectively, providing 4% wage increases effective July 2, 2023 for employees in the building trades crafts collective bargaining units at the University of Wisconsin (UW)-Madison and the UW System.
Key payroll dates are as follows:
- Your new payrate will be implemented February 11, 2024 (start of pay period following Governor’s signature)
- Your new payrate will be on your March 7, 2024 paycheck
- Payment for hours in pay status from July 2, 2023 until February 10, 2024 will be issued on your March 21, 2024 paycheck
What is pay plan?
The 2023-2025 State of Wisconsin Biennial Budget includes raises for Universities of Wisconsin employees, partially funded by the State and partially funded by Universities of Wisconsin institutions. The budgeted pay plan increase for fiscal year 2024 is 4%, and 2% effective June 30, 2024, for fiscal year 2025; however, the final pay plan percentage increase for individual employees may vary based on institutional pay plan guidelines.
Faculty, academic staff, university staff, and limited appointees are eligible for pay plan subject to applicable additional eligibility requirements determined by your institution.
All employees receiving the pay increase will receive written confirmation of their new pay rate.
How is my pay information stated in the pay plan letter?
If you are paid on an hourly basis, your pay information listed is your new hourly rate.
If you are paid on a salary basis, the stated salary amount is your new full-time equivalent salary. Your actual earnings will be prorated to your percentage of full-time employment.
Who is eligible for pay plan?
Pay plan is available to eligible employees. At a minimum, all members of the university workforce must complete the mandatory training of Preventing Sexual Harassment and Violence and Information Security Awareness and other institution specific mandatory training and perform at a satisfactory level to remain eligible for pay plan, as required by UW System Administrative Policy 1278, UW System Pay Plan Distribution Framework for University Workforce.
Additionally, each institution will have institution-specific eligibility criteria and procedures on how to administer pay plan at their institution pursuant to systemwide guidelines. Contact your Human Resources office for more information.
When will I see the pay plan increase on my paycheck?
Your new payrate is implemented December 19, 2023, and will be on your January 11, 2024, paycheck along with a lump sum payment for any hours in service from the effective date of July 2, 2023, for hours worked in an eligible position. For staff paid on an academic year basis (C-Basis), the stated salary amount is calculated from your appointment at the beginning of the 2023-2024 academic contract.
What if my job or pay changed after the effective date of July 2, 2023?
If you had job or pay changes after the July 2, 2023, pay plan effective date, and/or after your contract start date for staff paid on an academic year basis (C-Basis), contact your Human Resources office for assistance with specific questions about pay plan.
Why am I getting a lump sum payment for pay plan?
A lump sum will be paid for hours worked in an eligible position from the implementation date (December 19, 2023) back to the effective date of pay plan (July 2, 2023). For staff paid on an academic year basis (C-Basis), the stated salary amount is calculated from your appointment at the beginning of the 2023-2024 academic contract.
This lump sum payment will be issued on your January 11, 2024, paycheck.
If I receive a lump sum payment, how are my Wisconsin Retirement System earnings affected?
For Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) purposes, wages in your lump sum payment will be allocated to 2023 (the year in which the earnings would have normally been paid) and reported to WRS.
- For employees in the WRS General category (university staff employees) the wages will be reported in calendar year 2023.
- For employees in the WRS Teacher category (faculty, academic staff, limited appointees) the wages will be reported in fiscal year 2024 (July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2024).
If the lump sum payment is for work performed after July 2, 2023, but the wages were paid in January 2024, when are the wages taxable?
Wages are taxable in the year in which they are paid or 2024. Note: The Universities of Wisconsin does not provide tax advice and recommends talking with your tax advisor if you have questions regarding any impact on your taxes.
What if I am on a stipend, grant-funded position, or have a temporary pay increase? Do I still receive Pay Plan?
Each institution has a set of procedures on how to administer pay plan according to systemwide guidelines. Reach out to your Human Resources office for more information.
I am in an interim or acting position; do I get pay plan?
Each institution has a set of procedures on how to administer pay plan according to systemwide guidelines. Reach out to your Human Resources office for more information.
What happens if my current salary is close to the top of my pay range?
Eligible employees may receive pay plan up to the maximum of their pay range, based on their base rate of pay (not prorated by FTE or % appointment). Amounts above that maximum will be paid in a lump sum.
Payments for 12-month full-time employees will be calculated by multiplying the hourly amount determined to be appropriate for the employee by 2080 hours. The 2080 hours are calculated based on the 26 full pay periods paid in the fiscal year.
Payments will be prorated based on Full-Time Equivalency (FTE).
What happens if I am at, or above, my pay range?
Employees paid at or above the maximum of their job’s assigned pay range, based on their base rate of pay (not prorated by FTE or % appointment) will be paid in a lump sum.
Payments for 12-month full-time employees will be calculated by multiplying the hourly amount determined to be appropriate for the employee by 2080 hours. The 2080 hours are calculated based on the 26 full pay periods paid in the fiscal year.
Payments will be prorated based on FTE.
What if I have two or more appointments or jobs? How does my pay plan get calculated, especially if I am at, or over, the maximum for one of those appointments?
Each appointment will be treated independently and calculated accordingly.
Why did I get multiple Pay Plan letters?
If you have multiple appointments, you may receive a separate letter for each appointment with the Universities of Wisconsin.
What if I do not get a Pay Plan letter?
Reach out to your Human Resources office for more information.
What if I transferred to a different institution within the Universities of Wisconsin without a break in service?
Due to the delayed approval, these employees will receive a lump sum payment for hours in service from July 2, 2023, through the date of transfer, if the employee was otherwise eligible at their prior institution. However, employees who transferred to a new institution after July 2, 2023, will not be eligible for pay plan at their new institution.
What if I separated from employment prior to pay plan implementation?
Ordinarily, to receive pay plan, an employee must be active on payroll on the date pay plan is implemented. However, for implementation of the fiscal year 2023-2024 pay plan, an exception has been made for employees who retired or died after July 2, 2023, but prior to the pay plan implementation date of December 19, 2023.
Employees who died or retired will receive a lump sum payment for all hours in service between July 2, 2023, and their date of retirement or death. For those that died, payments will be issued the week of December 25, 2023. Payments to those that have retired will be processed for payment on January 11, 2024.
Employees who are no longer active employees within the Universities of Wisconsin on the implementation date for any other reason will not receive pay plan.