Applies to employees designated at level N, O, P, N11 and N 99 in the university classification system. The list of positions designated as Senior Staff is maintained by the Office of the Vice President for Human Resources.
Senior Staff employees have responsibilities and functions that require different policies and conditions governing their employment and termination. These employees are "at-will" employees and may be terminated at any time for any reason, including layoff, or no reason. Guide Memo 2.1.16: Addressing Conduct and Performance Issues, and the grievance procedure in Guide Memo 2.1.11: Grievance Policy, are not applicable to Senior Staff. Senior Staff have access to the Senior Staff Administrative Review described below.
This policy describes the unique employment relationship of Senior Staff to the university. It further sets forth the process for administrative review of Senior Staff employment disputes.
Effective July 1, 2015, Senior Staff positions are designated at levels N, O, P, N11, and N99 within the university classification system. Only employees in positions designated at level N, O, P, N11, or N99 on or after July 1, 2015 are considered Senior Staff.
a. Termination Policy
Senior Staff may be terminated at any time for any reason, including layoff, or no reason upon the approval of the Dean, Vice Provost, Vice President, Provost or the President or his/her designee. Such termination is subject to the appropriate administrative review, but will not be subject to review under any grievance procedure in the University. Senior Staff who are terminated by the university receive notice and severance pay as described in section 4.c, except when the President or the Vice President for Human Resources or his/her designee determines the termination is for misconduct. Senior staff who voluntarily resign are not entitled to notice or severance pay.
b. Policy on Extended Notice
Senior Staff receive at least three months' notice. When pay is given in lieu of notice, the maximum payment period is three months. A combination of notice and pay in lieu of notice may be appropriate at the university's discretion. In such an arrangement, severance pay may be contingent on serving out a specified portion of the notice period.
c. Policy on Payment of Severance Pay
Senior staff will be paid a minimum of three months' salary and a maximum as listed in the following table, provided a General Release of All Claims and Severance Repayment Agreement is executed. Severance is not payable until the expiration of any revocation period in the General Release of All Claims and Severance Repayment Agreement.
Years of continuous regular University employment |
Severance pay eligibility in months of base pay |
---|---|
Less than 10 years | 3 |
10 years but less than 12 | 4 |
12 years but less than 14 | 5 |
14 years but less than 16 | 6 |
16 years but less than 18 | 7 |
18 years but less than 20 | 8 |
20 years but less than 22 | 9 |
22 years but less than 24 | 10 |
24 years but less than 26 | 11 |
26 years or more | 12 |
d. Policy on Continuation of Benefits
Senior Staff may continue their university medical insurance and receive the university's regular contributions for three months after the date of termination, subject to prompt payment of any required contributions by the employee. Stanford Contributory Retirement Plan (SCRP) Basic contributions continue during the notice period, including any period of pay in lieu of notice. If the Senior Staff member makes employee contributions to the plan during the notice period, matching contributions will also continue.
e. Policy on Repayment of Severance Pay
The months following the termination date comprise the "severance repayment period." This period is equal to the number of months of severance pay received. If a Senior Staff employee is reemployed by the University before the end of the severance repayment period, that portion of the severance pay equal to the base pay he/she would have earned if not terminated may be retained by the employee. The balance must be repaid to the University as stated in the General Release of All Claims and Severance Repayment Agreement.
a. Purpose
b. Procedure
a. Policy Revisions
Send proposals for policy changes to the Vice President for Human Resources for study and recommendation.
b. Policy Interpretations
Address questions of policy interpretation to the Vice President for Human Resources.
c. Records
Send copies of appeals and dispositions to the Vice President for Human Resources.