CLAS Flexible Pay Awards Policy

PURPOSE:
            A program that allows CLAS flexibility in compensating non-organized Professional & Scientific (P&S) staff for extra meritorious performance.  There are two types of awards: (1) Exceptional Performance Award and (2) SPOT Performance Award (on the spot).  Flexible pay should not be used as a substitute for providing ongoing base adjustments that assure equitable and competitive salaries. 

AWARD CRITERIA:

• Departments will be responsible for funding flexible pay awards
• All regular, non-organized P&S employees are eligible for flex pay if they meet established criteria.
• Employees must have an appointment of 50% or greater.
• Flexible pay shall be awarded for exceptional performance which may include rewarding a variety of outcomes and behaviors, e.g. expanded scope of duties, completion of a major project, extraordinary performance, development of significant new initiatives, cost savings and/or revenue generation.
• An employee must have been employed at the University of Iowa in a regular position for one year to be eligible for flexible pay.
• An employee must have a current (within the past 12 months) overall above average performance evaluation. 
• An employee must have received at least the average July 1st salary increase for the department to be eligible for flexible pay, barring extenuating circumstances that must be documented.
• Flexible pay will be awarded in the form of a lump sum payment that is not added to the base salary.
• Flexible pay awards must be supervisor initiated.
• Awards will not be approved without DEO and office of the Dean endorsement.

(1) EXCEPTIONAL PERFORMANCE AWARD:

• An employee may receive up to 10% of their salary in flexible pay per fiscal year.  If the recommended award for any single award is over $5000.00, the recommendation must be reviewed and approved by University Compensation and Classification.  If a second recommendation for the same employee is received in the same fiscal year, and the cumulative amount is over $5000.00 it must be reviewed and approved by University Compensation and Classification
• All awards must be approved at the departmental level and forwarded to the CLAS Flex Pay Award Committee who will, in turn provide a recommendation and forward to the Dean.
• All forms are to be submitted electronically.
• Exceptional Performance Awards will be dispersed at five month intervals.  Nominations will be accepted from July 1 through November 30 and awarded in December.  Nominations will be accepted from December 1 through April 30 and awarded in May.
• No more than 10% of CLAS non-organized P&S staff will receive an Exceptional Performance Award annually.
• An employee may receive an Exceptional Performance Award a maximum of two times per year.

(2) SPOT AWARDS:

• SPOT awards may be dispersed at any point throughout the year.
• SPOT awards of $75.00 or less (de minimis awards) may be awarded up to 4 times per year to the same employee with a minimum of 30 working days separation.
• SPOT award nominations must be approved at the departmental level and forwarded to CLAS Human Resources who will, in turn provide a recommendation and forward to the Dean.
• SPOT award nomination forms are to be submitted electronically.