Compensation and Salary Guidelines
For Administrative and Staff Positions
Florida International University is committed to providing a competitive compensation and salary
administration program reflective of its mission and values. The compensation program is administered in
accordance with Federal Wage and Hour Laws and other applicable governmental guidelines. In establishing
target salaries, consideration is given to the market data and to the salaries of similar positions in the University.
The purpose is to provide a total compensation program that will attract, retain and reward employees in
accordance with their knowledge, education, experience and contributions to the University.
The University compensates employees on an equitable basis without regard to race, color, sex, national origin,
disability, marital status, political opinions or affiliations, Vietnam or disabled veteran status, sexual orientation
or age, except as provided by law.
These salary guidelines outline the definitions used to administer the compensation program as the basis for pay
decisions for Administrative and Staff employees at Florida International University. In-unit faculty salary
determinations are guided by the UFF Collective Bargaining Agreement.
Salary determination will take into account related job experience, educational background, comparable market
data, and internal salary equity. All salary actions will be effective at the start of a pay period and should not be
retroactive. A retroactive payment will be processed on an exceptional basis and departments are requested to
contact Human Resources to discuss these exceptions. An employee’s salary may not fall below the range
minimum, unless the employee is serving in a “trainee” or “provisional” capacity as described in this document.
Supervisors’ Responsibility
Supervisors are responsible for ensuring that their salary recommendations are consistent with compensation
policies and practices, set in an equitable manner, and in accordance with Federal Wage and Hour laws and
other applicable guidelines.
The University’s standard hours of operation are 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. For payroll purposes, the workweek is
from Saturday to the following Friday. Supervisors should ensure that accurate time records are maintained for
the employees they supervise and that time is appropriately recorded in the Time and Labor Panthersoft System.
For non-exempt employees, supervisors should also ensure that any accrued compensatory time is taken within
30 days of its accrual. Additionally, supervisors are responsible for adhering to the Fair Labor Standard Act
(FLSA) as it applies to these employees and for applying University compensation policies appropriately
regarding hours worked and overtime. To access the FLSA guidelines, please click here. FLSA identifies two
types of employees based on the following definitions:
Non-exempt employees must be compensated for each hour worked. They must be paid at a rate of time and a
half for hours worked in excess of 40 hours in a workweek or given compensatory leave at time and a half in
lieu of payment of overtime. Any compensatory time accrued must be used within 30 days of its accrual.
Employees who have accrued compensatory time must use it prior to using accrued vacation time.
Exempt employees are those employed in executive, administrative, or professional capacity and excluded
from the requirements of the FLSA for overtime pay.
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Salary Increases and Other Salary Actions
Salary increases may be granted to current employees upon promotion to a higher position,
reclassification of their current position, adjustments to the living wage, and other applicable increases.
One time bonuses may be granted consistent with the University’s policies, employee recognition
awards, and other non-recurring awards approved by the legislature and/or the University. (Please refer
to university policy.)
Special pay increases may be granted without a change in the employee’s current appointment status,
position number, job code, and/or pay grade for the following reasons:
•
Additional duties – A substantial increase in the nature of regularly assigned duties resulting
in a higher level of job complexity to an employee’s position, without a change in title.
•
Counter offer – An employee may be granted a salary increase as an incentive not to accept a
formal written employment offer from an outside organization at the discretion of the
department administration and with approval from the Vice President of Human Resources.
•
Retention – An increase may be given to an employee if there is a reasonable, documented
investment by the University in the employee, if the position is hard to fill, and if it is in the
University’s best interest to retain the employee.
•
Salary compression – An increase given to maintain the appropriate pay relationship between
an employee and supervisor. There must be documented justification to substantiate such
action.
•
Sustained superior performance in accomplishment of specific goal or assignment – A
salary increase granted to an employee who has demonstrated continuous outstanding
performance and to recognize achievement of specific milestones. Performance based increases
may be awarded upon the successful completion of an employee annual evaluation.
•
Internal salary inequity – An increase granted if documentation indicates that specific
circumstances have resulted in an inequity and effect on the employee’s salary in comparison
with other employees’ salaries in the same job category.
•
Across the Board – An increase granted to a group of employees based on specific eligibility
criteria.
Other increases may be granted under special circumstances approved by the Vice President of
Human Resources.
All actions should be calculated and approved in accordance with the Salary Appointment Guidelines. (Please
see page 4.) Exceptions to these guidelines may be considered for current employees by the application of an
“external test” in relation to appropriate salary range.
An “external test” is an analysis performed by the Recruitment Department (in collaboration with the
Compensation Department) on internal employees being considered for a promotion and who have higher level
skills and experience which may justify the need to offer a salary within the target salary of the position. This
analysis is done in order to ensure that current employees who fit this category have the same opportunity as
external candidates. Departmental and university-wide equity is also considered during this analysis.
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PERSONNEL ACTIONS
An employee may be assigned into an established administrative and staff benefits-earning position in
accordance with the following:
Demotion
A demotion involves the downward mobility of an employee from one position to
another position with reduced responsibilities and lower salary range maximum.
Demotions may result in a reduction in pay. Pay shall be set in accordance with the level
of responsibility and complexity of duties assigned. In no event may salary be kept at a
level that exceeds the new range maximum.
Overlap
An overlap occurs when it is necessary to hire someone for training purposes or to
replace an employee on an approved paid or unpaid medical leave while the employee is
still in the position, an overlap appointment may be approved.
Interim
An interim assignment is made when an employee is given additional and different level
of responsibilities for a limited period of time. An interim appointment should not be for
more than one year, unless approved by the Provost and/or appropriate Vice President
with concurrence by the Vice President of Human Resources.
Lateral Transfer
A lateral transfer is made when an employee is moved from one position to a different
position having the same degree of responsibility or the same salary grade maximum.
Regular
A regular appointment is made when an employee is assigned to fill an establish position
provided the employee meets the minimum qualifications for the job classification and
other necessary selection criteria established for the position.
Promotion
A promotion is the upward mobility of an employee from one position to another position
having a greater degree of responsibility and a higher salary range maximum. A
promotion may be within the same division/department or from one division/department
to another.
Trainee
An employee is assigned as trainee prior to receiving the appropriate certification for the
job classification provided the employee is enrolled in a training program to obtain the
required certification. While on trainee status, employees will be paid 10% below the
minimum of the target salary range.
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SALARY APPOINTMENT GUIDELINES
October 2012
CANDIDATE’S QUALIFICATIONS
ELIGIBLE FOR
APPOINTMENT REVIEW RECOMMENDATION AND
APPROVAL PROCESS
Department
Manager
Business Unit
Head
Academic Affairs or
Compensation
Department
Lower end of *target salary range
X
X
X
Up to high end of *target salary,
commensurate with training,
experience, and level of
responsibility.
X
X
X
X
X
X
NEW HIRE
Meets qualifications
Exceeds minimum qualifications or
documented recruitment difficulty.
LATERAL TRANSFER
Meets qualifications.
Not to exceed 5%, if employee’s
salary is within the target salary
range. If salary is below target
salary range, increase may exceed
5% up to the minimum target
salary.
CURRENT EMPLOYEES - PROMOTION AND / OR RECLASSIFICATION
Meets minimum qualifications
Exceeds minimum qualifications
with documented recruitment
difficulties
5% increase if salary is within
target salary range. If salary is
below target salary range, increase
may exceed 5% up to the
minimum target salary.
Up to 10% increase
(commensurate with training,
experience and responsibility) if
current salary is within the target
salary range.
If employee’s salary is below the
minimum of *target salary range,
the salary may exceed 10% up to
the minimum of the target salary.
•
•
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
IF EMPLOYEE REPORTS DIRECTLY TO A VICE PRESIDENT/PROVOST OR FOR ANY SALARY $ 160,000 OR ABOVE, THE ACTION
REQUIRES THE PRESIDENT’S APPROVAL WITH PRE-APPROVAL FROM THE CFO.
POSITIONS REPORTING DIRECTLY TO THE PRESIDENT REQUIRE THE ENDORSEMENT OF THE VICE PRESIDENT OF HUMAN
RESOURCES.
*HUMAN RESOURCES WILL ESTABLISH A TARGET SALARY RANGE BASED ON COMPARABLE MARKET VALUE AND THE
INTERNAL EQUITY OF THE CLASS.
ANY EXCEPTIONS TO THESE GUIDELINES NEED PRIOR APPROVAL OF THE VICE PRESIDENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES.
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Procedures for Requesting Changes to an Existing Position
1. To request the establishment of a position or changes to an existing position resulting in a salary
adjustment for the incumbent, the requesting department must initiate an Electronic Position Request
Form (ePRF).
Electronic Position Request Form (ePRF) is the on-line front-end request used by departments to initiate
position actions, including requests for new positions and requests for updates to existing positions. This
electronic request is routed to the Department Head, the Business Unit Head and to Compensation or Academic
Affairs depending upon whether the request is for faculty or staff approval.
For more information regarding the ePRF process, please visit:
http://hr.fiu.edu/uploads/file/CA/Position_Guidelines_2012_FINAL.pdf
2. To request Pay Increases and Bonuses that do not result in a change to the position
•
•
•
The requesting department submits an Admin-Staff Status Change Form. The form may be found by
clicking on Manager Self Service.
HR liaison submits the completed form with all required authorized signatures to the Compensation
Department at PC 226, or by fax at 305-348-6096.
Additional requirements for each individual request are attached if sent interoffice mail or faxed with
Admin-Staff Change in Status Form:
o Educational Incentive Award – Attach a copy of the degree, certificate or transcript.
o Counter Offer – Attach a copy of the official offer letter.
o Project Based Bonus – Attach documentation of meeting pre-established goals, project
timeline and project’s scope of responsibility.
o Spot Award – Attach justification for the award.
o Variable Compensation Plan (VCP) – Attached copy of the VCP pre-approved by the
appropriate Vice President/Provost, Vice President of Human Resources along with
documentation of meeting pre-established criteria and payout schedule. In addition, the
documentation must include individual goals and specific quotas tied to target attainment.
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1. Following are definitions related to compensation and salary administration as they apply to
Administrative and Staff Employees:
Acting/Interim Assignments - Assignment of additional and/or different level of responsibilities for a
temporary period of time not to exceed one year.
Administrative Pay - Additional pay granted to an employee when the University declares an
emergency or natural disaster which prevents employees not deemed ‘essential’ from performing their
regular duties at their assigned work location and, if no previous work-at-home arrangement has been
approved.
Compensatory Time – For non-exempt employees, hours earned in lieu of overtime pay for all hours
worked in excess of 40 hours in a work week. The time is credited at the rate of one-and-one-half times
for all hours worked in excess of 40 hours in a work week and needs to be used within 30 days of its
accrual. Exempt employees are not eligible for compensatory time.
Creation of New Position - A new position is created when the position has never previously existed in
the department/office.
Dual Employment - A secondary assignment given to an employee which constitutes dual employment
provided such secondary assignment does not interfere with the regular work of the employee, does not
result in any conflict of interest between the two assignments, and is determined to be in the best interest
of the University. The University is considered “the employer,” whether the secondary duties are
performed for the primary department, or for another department at the University. Consequently, all
hours worked in a work week by an employee must be aggregated for non-exempt employees to
determine if overtime is due.
Approval must be requested and granted by Human Resources prior to the commencement of the
secondary employment.
Educational Incentive Award - A bonus paid to an employee at the completion of an approved
certificate/licensure and/or degree program.
Equity Adjustment – A salary adjustment given to an employee to ensure that the employee’s salary
appropriately reflects his/her skills, competency, job knowledge, education, experience, and sustained
contribution in relative to similar positions within the classification. A salary adjustment may also be
granted to maintain an appropriate relationship in the supervisory hierarchy.
Exempt Employee – An employee is designated as exempt when the assigned duties and salary level
qualifies them as being exempt based on the overtime provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act.
Exempt employees do not receive overtime pay for work performed in excess of the 40 hour work week.
Job Audit/Evaluation - A systematic procedure used by the Compensation Department to gather
information about a position in order to determine the most appropriate position classification.
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Job Description – The official document which describes the essential and marginal duties, extent of
supervision received and given, physical requirements, educational and experience requirements, and
other pertinent factors for a given position.
Jury Duty – Leave-with-pay granted to any employee who has been summoned as a member of a jury
panel.
Lateral Transfer – A transfer of an employee from one position to another position in the same class or
a different class with the same salary range.
Market-Based Adjustment – A change in pay given to an employee to place the employee’s salary
appropriately in relation to market as determined by salary survey information and approved by the
Compensation Department for the specific job.
Non-Exempt Employee - An employee is designated as non-exempt when the duties assigned and the
salary level is subject to the overtime provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act. This employee will be
paid at one-and-one-half times the hourly rate or will be granted compensatory time at a rate of time and
a half for each hour worked in excess 40 hours during the work week.
Operational Excellence Award (OEA) - A merit award given to an employee who has demonstrated
continuous outstanding performance, has made significant contribution to the department’s mission or
strategic planning, and/or has provided consistent support to the department’s objectives.
Organizational Chart – A graphic representation used to delineate the lines of authority, supervisory,
and reporting relationships within an organizational unit. Organizational Charts will be developed from
the Business Unit and Department Org information on the position table. It is important to submit any
changes in reporting relationships and/or departmental reorganizations.
Overtime Pay – Payment given to a non-exempt employee paid at the rate of one-and-one-half times an
employee’s regular rate of pay for all hours worked in excess of forty (40) hours in a work week as
defined by FLSA. “Hours worked” refers to the amount of time actually worked in a work week.
Exempt employees are not eligible for overtime pay.
Project-Based Pay Bonus – A one-time bonus that is given to an employee upon completion of a
special project or assignment of significance. The amount of the project-based payment may not exceed
$5,000 or 10 percent of the employee’s salary, whichever is greater. Decision about the amount
awarded should be dependent upon the nature and complexity of the project. Recommendation for the
amount is to be requested by the respective department with approval by Human Resources.
Reclassification - is a re-allocation of a position in one classification to a different classification based
on a change in the job duties. This action may or may not result in an increase in salary.
Retroactive Pay – Payment made for work already performed. A retroactive payment will be processed
on an exceptional basis and departments should consult Human Resources to discuss how this process
will occur.
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Shift Differential Pay – Amount that is added to the pay hourly rate when the majority of the hours
worked fall after 6:00 p.m.
Spot Awards – Award given as an immediate recognition to reward employee(s) for exceptional
performance beyond the prescribed expectation of the employee’s job. Spot awards are given after the
event has been completed, usually without pre-determined goals or set performance levels and paid as a
one-time bonus.
Temporary Increment - A temporary increase that is given to an employee during the period that it
may be necessary for employees to assume additional responsibilities for a temporary period of time.
Temporary assignments should not exceed one year unless approved by the divisional Vice President
and the Vice President of Human Resources.
Update – The action taken to effect a change in the duties and details of a position which maintains the
current title, but may have changes in hours of work, department, location, and/or duties.
Variable Compensation Pay – This plan is a pre-determined bonus plan based on a performance and
reward schedule. This plan includes a schedule with specific targets to be achieved, goals, preestablished criteria and payout schedule starting with a guaranteed salary for meeting the minimum
standards of the position and the non-base options for reaching pre-set milestones.
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