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March 5, 2001 To: The Campus Community From: Willeen McQuitta, director, Staff Human Resources, and Barbara Brogan, director, Academic Human Resources Re: New Employment and Benefits Policies On January 1, 2001, a series of employment and benefits policies went into effect at the University of California. Following are highlights: New Staff Employment Provisions Temporary staff appointments, formerly called "casual appointments," have been redefined and renamed "limited appointments." A limited appointment is an appointment during which the employee is expected to be on pay status for less than 1,000 hours in a 12-month period. The University is tracking hours on pay status for employees in limited appointments. The University will convert an employee's limited appointment to a career appointment if and when the following conditions are met: During any consecutive 12-month period, the employee accumulates 1,000 qualified hours on pay status, and has not had a break in service greater than 120 consecutive days. The conversion of a limited appointment to a career appointment will be effective on the first of the month after meeting the conditions above. Conversion to a career appointment conveys to the employee eligibility for future merit increases, expanded grievance rights, leaves of absence, and other rights and privileges. The redefinition of temporary staffing at the University of California will necessarily drive some changes in our management of and approach to non-career appointments. For example, release of employees in limited appointments, or reductions in their time, for the sole purpose of avoiding career status is inconsistent with the University's intent. If questions arise regarding the proper use of staff positions, please contact your Service Center. Service Center representatives are receiving training and should be able to assist you. Expanded UCRP Membership Criteria An employee in a limited appointment will become a UCRP member after accumulating 1,000 hours on pay status during a consecutive 12-month period. This policy also applies to employees in contract appointments and certain academic appointments. The earliest an employee can become a member of UCRP under this new policy is July 1, 2001. The counting of hours began with January 2001 payroll cycles, and UCRP membership will be effective the first of the following month after an employee reaches the 1,000-hour threshold. Employees who enter UCRP under this provision will be covered by the benefits of UCRP membership (see the UCRP Summary Plan Description for Members with Social Security). UCRP provides retirement income for eligible employees as well as disability and death benefits. Along with UCRP membership, these employees will also be covered by Social Security. In addition, because eligibility for health and welfare benefits is based in part on UCRP membership, employees who enter UCRP under the new provisions will also be eligible for full health and welfare coverage, including the medical, dental, vision, disability, and life plans. See Your Group Insurance Plans (www.ucop.edu/bencom/hw/ygip/intro.html) for continuing eligibility requirements. More Information Available on UCbencom More information will become available in the near future. Check the HR/Benefits web site (UCbencom)http://exchange.ucop.edu/tempemp/) for more information.
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