Compensation & Payroll Issues

Compensation Schedules
All employees are paid in accordance with compensation schedules established for their particular positions. These compensation schedules are composed of salary ranges and steps. Most salary ranges associated with classified titles include nine salary steps. For non-management unclassified titles, the salary range includes eleven steps. The difference between any two consecutive steps along the same salary range is equal to 5 per cent of the minimum step for that range. Management salary ranges include only a minimum and maximum.

Movement from one step to the next highest step on the salary range for employees covered by collectively negotiated agreements is dependent upon satisfactory performance and the provisions of the relevant negotiated agreement. This movement generally occurs on the employee’s anniversary date which is approximately one year after the date of hire, unless the date of movement is modified by the negotiated agreement. Subsequently, movement along the steps in the range generally occurs one year since the last step increase until the employee reaches the maximum of the range. For managers, the Board of Trustees approves a pool for salary increases within which there is some discretion to provide increases to individuals based solely upon performance and market factors. This generally occurs once a year around July 1.

For employees who are covered by a collectively negotiated agreement, the compensation schedules are also impacted by any negotiated across-the-board increases that have the effect of increasing the value of each of the steps in the ranges by a certain percent. When such increases are effected, in accordance with the negotiated agreement, such employees will also experience an upward adjustment in their compensation but will remain on the same step on the salary range. The minimum and maximum of management salary ranges are increased on occasion upon approval of the Board of Trustees based upon relevant economic factors.

Distribution of Paychecks
Current pay in the form of paychecks or direct deposit stubs is available as indicated below. Previous paychecks/stubs can be picked up at any time.

Regular Biweekly Payroll
Full-time administrators and support staff, faculty, visiting specialists, adjuncts, and graduate assistants are paid on the regular biweekly payroll. Paychecks are distributed one week after the pay period ends. Payday is Friday unless it is a holiday. Under certain limited circumstances, employees can elect to have their paychecks mailed to their home address by making a request to Payroll Services.

Regular biweekly paychecks and direct deposit stubs are distributed according to the Regular Payroll schedule. Please refer to the schedule for dates. Current checks are available on Fridays (paydays only) from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Supplemental BiweeklyPayroll
Per-diem employees, hourly employees, special sessions, and all extra payments are paid on the Supplemental Biweekly Payroll, which is the alternate week to the regular payday. Paychecks are distributed two weeks after the pay period ends according to the Supplemental Payroll schedule. Please refer to the schedule for dates. Direct deposit is not available on the Supplemental Payroll. All payments are issued in paychecks. Current checks are available on Fridays from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Direct Deposit
All employees are encouraged to enroll in the Direct Deposit program. Direct Deposit allows the paycheck to be electronically transferred to a bank account of the employee’s choice. The program is safe, convenient, and free of charge and the funds are in the employee’s account on payday at 9 a.m.

Payroll Services is also able to split the direct deposit into a total of four separate accounts, which may be at different financial institutions. Two of the accounts must be checking accounts and the others a savings accounts. Some restrictions apply.

Employees may view their pay stub information on WEB for Employees (see below) to verify the information and that the direct deposit has been made.

To enroll in Direct Deposit or for more information, contact Payroll Services.

WEB for Employees
Web for Employees is a self-service product which allows employees to view and/or update their personal information. Only employees can access their own data using their Social Security number and PIN. Currently (April '04), faculty and staff can do the following through Web for Employees:

-Change your PIN (Initially set to: Date of Birth in the following format: mm/dd/yy)
-View current home address and telephone number
-Maintain emergency contact information
-Review current health benefits
-Check direct deposit information
-View current federal withholding allowances
-Review pay stub information

The system is easy to use and secure. The URL is https://wfs.montclair.edu/ehomepg.htm. Click on "Browser Requirements" to make sure you have compatible software. Once completed, simply click on "Enter Employee Self-Service," enter your SSN and your PIN (Date of Birth mm/dd/yy), and you are all set. Use SITE MAP (upper right hand corner) in order to access information. Use HOME to end your session. And note that if you're not active for any given period of time, you will automatically be logged off. If you have questions while you're on Web for Employees, each screen has a place where you can click to write to HR for information.

Paystub Information
Earnings Are Listed On The Left Side:
REG BIWKLY = biweekly salary
OVERTIME = overtime earned in addition to biweekly salary
HOLIDAY = holiday pay separated from biweekly salary
ACT W/OPAY = summer designation for 10-month employees
CLOTH ALLOW = allowance for clothing for certain personnel
BONUS = bonus if applicable
OTHER EARN = a year-to-date number for earnings paid on the Supplemental Payroll
FURLOUGH = hours not paid due to furlough
INTERUNAUT = hours not paid due to docking actions
UNPD LEAVE = hours not paid due to leave time

Taxes And Deductions Are Listed On The Right Side:
FICA/SS = Social Security Taxes (6.2per cent of earnings)
FICA/MED = Social Security Medicare Taxes (1.45per cent of earnings)
FED W/H = Federal Withholding Taxes
NJ ST TAX = New Jersey State Income Taxes
NJ/TDI = New Jersey State Temporary Disability Insurance Tax
NJ/UNEMP = New Jersey State Unemployment Tax
NJ/HLCRSUB = New Jersey Health Care Subsidy Tax
NJ/WKFCDEV = New Jersey Workforce Development Tax
Health plans and dental plans are listed next. There are many plans and the abbreviations are comprehensible. The New Jersey Plus Health Plan is not listed on the pay stub because no deductions are taken.

Employees Are Enrolled In One Of The Following Pension Plans:
ABP/GRA = Alternate Benefits Plan/Group Retirement Annuity (TIAA/Cref and various other providers)
ABP/GSRA = Alternate Benefits Plan/Group Supplemental Retirement Annuity
PERS MANDA = Public Employees Retirement System (mandatory contribution for classified employees)
PERS CONT = Public Employees Retirement System Contributory Insurance for Classified Employees (This is the employee’s portion for life insurance.)
PFRS MANDA = Police and Fireman’s Retirement System Mandatory Contribution
TPAF MANDA = Teachers Pension and Annuity Fund Mandatory Contribution
TPAF CONIN = Teachers Pension and Annuity Fund Contributory Insurance

Other pension related listings follow if applicable to the employee.

Union Listings:
AFT = American Federation of Teachers
AFT/ADJUNCT = Adjunct Union
PBA = Police Benevolent Association
IFPTE = International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers
AFSCME = American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees
CWA = Communications Workers of America

Other Deductions Are Optional Employee Selections:
NJSECC = New Jersey State Employee Charitable Campaign
ACTS = Additional Contributions Tax-Sheltered Program
DEF COM = Deferred Compensation State Program
SAV BONDS = Savings Bonds
CRED UNION = North Jersey Federal Credit Union
MSU FNDTN = Montclair State University Foundation
PKGDCKFEE = Parking Deck Fee

NET PAY is listed on the far right side of the check stub at the bottom.
DIRECT DEPOSIT is printed on a white Advise of Deposit with a zero amount.
The amount deposited is shown on the far right side of the stub near the bottom next to “Bank Deposits.”

United States Savings Bonds
United States Savings Bonds are available for purchase through payroll deductions. Employees may request deductions from the biweekly paycheck toward the purchase of a bond in any desired amount listed below. Employees may designate themselves, or anyone else, as the owner, co-owner, or beneficiary of the bond.

United States Savings Bonds are available in the following denominations:

For details on how to arrange for the purchase of U.S. Savings Bonds through payroll deductions, please call Payroll Services.

Teacher Summer Savings Accounts at North Jersey Federal Credit Union
The Teacher Summer Savings Account is an option for 10-month employees who wish to have their salary spread over a 12-month period. The account can be opened at any time with no minimum balance required at the North Jersey Federal Credit Union. Dividends on the account are paid quarterly. Deposits to the account can be made via direct deposit or at the Credit Union. The account balances will be transferred to the employee’s checking account on July 31.

North Jersey Federal Credit Union
The North Jersey Federal Credit Union serves the employees of Montclair State University. The Credit Union is located at 711 Union Boulevard, Totowa, and can be reached at 973-785-9200. Employees may also access information about the Credit Union at their website at www.NJFCU.org.

The NJ Federal Credit Union is a full service bank offering a variety of services including savings accounts, free checking, mortgages, car and personal loans, money market accounts, etc.

To open an account, please contact the Credit Union directly. To arrange for payroll deductions or direct deposit to an existing account, contact Payroll Services.

Timekeeping
Employees are responsible for completing their time sheets every two weeks and giving them to their supervisors in a timely fashion. The supervisor then reviews the time sheet and indicates approval by his/her signature. Supervisors are responsible for keeping track of the employee’s vacation, holiday, and sick time and verifying the information reported on each employee’s time sheet. Hours worked are computed by adding all hours actually worked during the pay period plus any paid time off such as vacation or sick time.

The supervisor then sends the employee’s time sheet to Payroll Services. Upon receipt of the time sheet, Payroll Services checks each one for arithmetic errors. All vacation, holiday, and sick time availability is also verified and a paycheck is processed.

Montclair State University
Division of Human Resources
1 Normal Ave. CO 316,
Montclair, N.J. 07043, USA
(973) 655-4398
Fax: (973) 655-7210
hr@mail.montclair.edu