2.1.5 Compensation of Staff Employees

It is Stanford University's policy to pay salaries that are market equitable and reflect the duties and responsibilities of the position and the amount and quality of the work performed in comparison with other University employees, regardless of the funds sources. It is also the intention of the University to set salary ranges that provide competitive pay opportunities comparable with relevant labor markets.

University compensation policies and procedures for staff employees are described in this Guide Memo and these publications and memoranda:

a. Annual memoranda that describe the salary program, issued by the Provost and the Vice President for Business Affairs and Chief Financial Officer. These memoranda include current policies and procedures that are reviewed and approved each year.

b. To find specific administrative information on the staff compensation program, see the Compensation website (secure site).

a. Work Week
The basic full-time work week is 40 hours of work on five consecutive 8-hour days. The standard week is a 7-day period commencing at 12:01 a.m. Monday and ending at midnight the following Sunday. Salaried staff employed for a work week of less than the basic 40-hour week receive reduced salary based on the ratio of hours worked to 40 hours. Staff employees who are employed at an hourly rate are paid for the actual time worked.

Straight time is time worked up to eight hours a day and 40 hours a week unless the employee is on an alternative work schedule (see section 6, Alternative Work Schedule).

b. Nonstandard Work week
Departments may establish other work week schedules or work arrangements to meet their requirements, including a work week that begins and ends on other days or hours than the basic work week (outlined in section 3.a), if approved in advance by a Human Resources Manager. See guidelines at Flexible Work Options.

c. Make-Up Time
At the written request of the employee, and with the approval of the supervisor, a non-exempt employee may reduce his/her work hours on one day and make up the hours not worked on another day during the same work week. The employee may do this by working more than eight hours but not more than 11 hours in one day, with the understanding that no overtime premium will be paid unless the total number of hours worked in any one day exceeds 11 hours or the total number of hours worked in any one work week exceeds 40.

If the supervisor compels the employee to work more than eight hours in a day, beyond any request for flexible schedule by the employee, then the employee is due the overtime premium.

d. Day of Rest
Non-exempt employees working more than 30 hours a week are entitled to have at least one day off in seven in compliance with California state law.

e. Rest Periods
The University provides non-exempt employees a 15-minute paid rest period for each four hours of work or "major fraction" of four hours of work, provided the employees work at least three and a half hours per day. As far as practicable, rest periods should be scheduled in the middle of each work period. Rest periods should also be arranged so that disruptions of work and services are held to a minimum. Employees are not permitted to use their rest periods to shorten the workday or to extend the meal break.

f. Meal Periods
Meal periods normally are for one hour and are unpaid. Time taken for meal periods is not part of the work day, provided the employee is relieved of all duty. A non-exempt employee must be provided with an unpaid meal period of at least 30 minutes after no more than five hours of work, and a second meal period of at least 30 minutes after no more than ten hours of work, unless the employee waives the right to the second meal period. A non-exempt employee who works no more than six hours in the workday may also waive the right a meal period if the supervisor approves.

If a non-exempt employee is not provided with a meal break and/or is not relieved of all duty during a meal break, then the time must be recorded as work hours. Additionally, a penalty of one hour of the employee's straight time hourly rate must be paid to the employee.

g. Note to Supervisors
Unpaid meal breaks, including actual start and stop times, must be recorded in Axess/People Soft HMRS. If a meal break is not provided, a one hour penalty must also be recorded.

h. Work Records

1. Records for Non-Exempt Employees
   Federal and state laws require non-exempt employees to keep an accurate daily record of hours actually worked, including actual start and stop times and meal breaks. The human resources management system (Axess/PeopleSoft HRMS) is the system of record to indicate hours worked, overtime hours, vacations, sick time, holidays and other time off by each non-exempt employee. In that system, records must be updated by the end of each pay period, but it is recommended that employees update their actual work hours each work day. Supervisors (or their departmental designees) must approve non-exempt employees' time records and must approve any variance from the employees' normally scheduled work hours.
2. Records for Exempt Employees
   Records of vacation and sick leave accumulation, vacation and sick leave taken, and other leave time off must be maintained for all exempt regular employees. For exempt employees it is not necessary to report any vacation, PTO or Floating Holiday time less than four hours. For reporting purposes of four or more hours, record a minimum of four hours or the actual time taken if over four hours. Sick time may be taken in any increment. In the case of intermittent Family and Medical Leave, the local Human Resources Manager must be consulted to insure that (a) accurate records are maintained of time used for Family and Medical Leave, and (b) the employee's sick leave balance is properly reduced for time charged to intermittent Family and Medical Leave.
   The human resources management system (Axess/PeopleSoft HRMS) is the system of record and entries in that system must be updated by the end of each pay period. Supervisors must approve leave usage records for exempt employees. Also see Guide Memo 2.1.6: Vacations, Guide Memo 2.1.7: Sick Time, and Guide Memo 2.1.8: Miscellaneous Authorized Absences.
3. Records for Non-Employees
   Stanford is not required to keep a record of hours for consultants or employees of another employer with whom the University has a contract for service.

The Vice President of Human Resources recommends to the President compensation levels for different classifications and minimum and maximum rates for various salary ranges. The President establishes the official compensation levels and pay ranges. The Vice President of Human Resources is responsible for administering the overall salary program. The Vice Presidents, Vice Provosts, Deans or Directors are responsible for administering the pay and classification actions in their area(s).

a. Minimum Wage
In compliance with federal and state laws, employees must be paid the current minimum wage or higher unless a request for a specific exception is allowable under the law and approved by the Vice President of Human Resources. Information on the current minimum wage rate is available from University Compensation.

b. Non-Cash Compensation
When the University provides perquisites such as room, apartment, or meals, their value (as determined under tax laws) is added to cash compensation to establish total base pay for computation of insured benefits. When required to be taken as a condition of employment, perquisites are not subject to federal income tax.

c. Performance Increases
Increases in salaries recommended for staff employees shall be based on performance and contributions are not automatic. Internal pay relationships and relevant market information should be considered.

a. Employees Exempt from Overtime Compensation

(1) Definition of Exempt Employee
Certain employees are exempt from governmental regulations regarding compensation for overtime work. In general, employees are exempt when employed in executive, administrative or professional positions as defined by the Fair Labor Standards Act. Exempt University employees are not entitled to receive overtime pay.

The Vice President of Human Resources or his/her designee determines the exempt or non-exempt status of University classifications. Special circumstances, such as an employee working in more than one job (also referred to as a dual appointment) that may affect his/her exempt status, must be discussed with the local Human Resources Manager for the area before hiring employees into additional jobs.

Normal Expectations—Because of the many activities required to keep the University functioning, full-time members of the academic staff and regular exempt staff may be called upon to perform a variety of services for the institution apart from those normally considered to be their regular job duties. These staff members may be assigned these tasks either within their department or for another area within the University.

Further, it is understood that regular academic and exempt staff may often be expected to work in excess of 40 hours a week. Because these situations are considered to fall within the normal expectations for these staff, they would not constitute grounds for payment of additional compensation. And, the staff member would not receive payment in excess of 100% of the  FTE salary.

If an employee receives a request to perform additional work for a department other than the employee's home department assignment (whether related or unrelated to the employee's current responsibilities), the employee must receive formal approval in advance from his/her supervisor or provide notification to the supervisor, depending on the duties:

• For non-teaching duties, the employee must receive prior written approval from his/her current supervisor and the local Human Resources Office.
• For teaching duties:
  - If the teaching duties occur outside the employee's normal work schedule, the employee must give prior written notification to his/her current supervisor and the local Human Resources Office.
  - If preparation and/or teaching duties occur during the employee's normal work schedule, the employee must receive prior written approval from his/her current supervisor and the local Human Resources Office.

(2) Further Information
For regular non-bargaining unit staff and academic staff-libraries, contact your Human Resources Manager.

b. Overtime Entitlement
Any non-exempt employee required to work more than eight hours in a day, or more than 40 hours in a week, is entitled to compensation in accordance with (1) below. The total hours worked for one or more departments of the University are to be counted in determining overtime even though employment in any one department does not exceed the standard 8-hour day or 40-hour week. University policy provides for overtime payment for hours worked in excess of eight in one day in accordance with state regulations. University policy provides overtime payment for hours worked in excess of 40 in one week in accordance with state and federal regulations. Overtime policies are applicable to non-exempt temporary and/or casual employees as well as to regular non-exempt employees. University requirements and government regulations make it mandatory that overtime hours worked by non-exempt employees be recorded and compensated.

(1) Overtime Rate
The University's policy is to compensate non-exempt employees at a premium rate of one-and-one-half times the hourly rate of pay. Shift premiums are added to the straight-time rate to compute the overtime premium. For employees working a 40-hour week, the hourly rate is the monthly salary divided by 173.33 hours.

• Non-exempt employees who work in excess of 12 hours per workday or in excess of eight hours on the seventh consecutive day of work in a single work week will be compensated for those excess hours at the rate of twice their regular hourly pay.
• Overtime Rates:

a. Time and one-half: hours eight through 12
b. Double-time: hours after 12
c. Time and one-half: first eight hours on seventh consecutive workday
d. Double-time: after eight hours on seventh consecutive workday
e. Time and one-half: after 40 hours in one work week, unless a double-time premium applies

(2) Overtime Hours
Authorized paid time off (e.g., vacation, sick leave, personal time off, holidays, etc.) counts as time worked in determining if a non-exempt employee is entitled to overtime compensation. Leave without pay does not count as time worked.

(3) Overtime Limitations
Overtime work is to be kept to a minimum because of costs. Departments should permit overtime work by non-exempt employees only when it is essential to the operation of the department. State law prohibits persons under age 18 from working more than eight hours per day under any circumstances.

(4) Approval of Overtime Work
Overtime work by non-exempt employees requires approval in advance by the department head or a designated representative who has the authority to schedule work and approve overtime compensation. Non-exempt employees cannot be authorized to schedule or approve overtime work for themselves. Non-exempt employees cannot be authorized to work unpaid overtime. In circumstances where a part-time employee plans to work in more than one job for the same or other department(s), the employee’s supervisors should contact the Human Resources Managers for both areas before implementation.

(5) Approval of Extended Overtime
Departments finding it necessary to schedule overtime for one or more employees on a regular basis for six months or longer as the only means of meeting work requirements, must obtain approval in advance from the appropriate Vice President or Vice Provost.

a. Definition
"Alternative work week" refers to a standard work week (40 hours) that is condensed into fewer than five full days. A common alternative work week schedule is four 10-hour days.

b. Guidelines
Guidelines for Flexible Work Options.

c. Administrative Considerations
Managers should consider their operational needs before implementing an alternative work schedule. For example, an alternative work schedule may be used in the academic departments where expanded service hours are needed to accommodate client needs during irregular hours (e.g., students or clients in other time zones), but may be impractical when 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. coverage is the priority.

d. Alternative Work Schedule Election
Upon secret ballot election by affected employees conducted in strict compliance with applicable laws, and with the concurrence of management, non-exempt employees may work an "alternative work week," such as four 10-hour work days, with the understanding that no overtime premium will be due unless the employee works more than 40 hours in any one week, or the supervisor compels the employee to work more than the agreed upon hours in any work day. No alternative work schedule for non-exempt employees may be implemented unless it meets all legal requirements and prerequisites and is reviewed in advance by Employee & Labor Relations. Contact your local Human Resources Office if you are interested in exploring the option of implementing an alternative work schedule, and read the guidelines about Flexible Work Options. 

a. Call-Back Time
"Call-back" time occurs when a non-exempt employee responds to an emergency call and returns to work outside his/her normal working hours without advance notice. The minimum compensation for "call-back" time is two hours pay. Compensation for "call-back" time includes the actual time spent traveling to and from the "call-back" duty.

b. Standby and Beeper Pay
Employees away from work may be required to remain accessible for consultation or to return to work. Non-exempt employees assigned such duties are eligible to receive partial salary for the duration of the assignment if that assignment restricts their personal activities.
(1) Beeper Pay
If that restriction is to carry an electronic "beeper" (or similar device) and remain within range of the device, andbe within 15 minutes travel time to a telephone from which to return a beeper page, the partial salary is 5% of the employee's base pay for hours assigned to beeper duty, but not at work (called "beeper pay"). See Guide Memo 2.2.2: Definitions. However, should an affected employee fail to respond to the page, he/she will forfeit reimbursement of the beeper pay provision.
(2) Standby Pay
If the restriction is narrower than discussed in (1) above, and the assignment requires the employee to remain at a specific telephone within a specific distance from work to permit being called instantly to return to work, the partial salary is 50% of the employee's base pay for hours assigned to standby duty, but not at work (called "standby pay"). See Guide Memo 2.2.2: Definitions.

c. Shift Pay
Shift premiums are paid to non-exempt full-time employees assigned to shifts other than daytime schedules. Non-exempt employees working full-time and assigned to swing shifts (shifts starting between 2 p.m. and 10 p.m.) will be paid a 10% shift premium. Non-exempt employees working full-time and assigned to owl/night shifts (shifts starting between 10 p.m. and 3 a.m.) will be paid a 15% shift premium.

Temporary additional compensation may be appropriate when an employee temporarily fills a position at a job level with a higher pay range maximum than his/her own for two or more months, but typically no longer than six consecutive months. The employee retains his/her classification during the temporary assignment. In addition, non-exempt employees remain non-exempt during the temporary assignment and receive overtime premiums for hours worked in excess of the overtime threshold. For details, go to the Compensation website.