A payroll reminder: Checks for your work in July may reflect a higher deduction for the UC Retirement Plan.

The increase, which took effect July 1, showed up on checks issued this week for employees who are paid biweekly, and will show up Aug. 1 for employees who are paid monthly.

The new contribution rate affects only active members of the UCRP and is subject to collective bargaining for represented employees.

The employee contribution rate is now 5 percent of pay, up from roughly 3.5 percent. The university is paying more, too: 10 percent, up from 7 percent.

The Board of Regents has already approved one more increase, in July 2013, to 6.5 percent for employees and 12 percent for the university — for a combined contribution rate that will for the first time in many years cover the annual increase in UCRP liability for active members (more than 17 percent of pay on average).

Time reduction, military pay policies renewed

The UC Office of the President announced the renewal of two work time and pay policies for two more years, through June 30, 2014:

• Employee-Initiated Reduction in Time
• Supplement to Military Pay

The renewals came after a 30-day period for employee comments.

The Employee-Initiated Reduction in Time Program, or ERIT, is optional: The Davis campus participates, but the UC Davis Health System does not, due to the necessity to have a full-time staff to provide patient care 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The program allows career staff — except senior management group members — to voluntarily reduce their work hours and pay to help campuses save money in this tough budget climate. In exchange, employees receive certain advantages, such as accrual of vacation and sick leave at pre-ERIT rates. Note: UC Retirement Plan service credit accrual is based on the reduced percentage of appointment.

Under the Supplement to Military Pay policy, applicable systemwide, the university compensates any employee who is serving in the war on terror and who makes less in military pay and allowances than what he or she earns at UC (the university pays the difference).

The policy also provides for the university’s continued payment of the employer’s share of medical, dental, vision and life insurance policies, for employees who are receiving supplemental pay.

Employees called to active duty, and who are not eligible for supplemental pay, may continue their health coverage — with the university paying the employer’s share of the premiums.

Both ERIT and the Supplement to Military Pay policy are subject to collective bargaining for represented employees.

New academic year brings a calendar full of special events

The Fall Welcome Committee is inviting contributions to the Fall Welcome calendar, for events taking place from Sept. 1 to Oct. 6.

The online calendar will be part of the Fall Welcome website, a useful tool for incoming freshmen and transfer students, as well as returning students — as they all come to campus for the start of the new academic year.

Calendar submissions are being taken online.

Also, the Fall Welcome Committee has prepared a set of logos for use in print and online marketing. The logos are available for download here.

Deadline today for Six Flags tickets

Today (July 20) is the deadline to buy tickets for the next weekend's UC Davis Family Picnic at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom. Staff Assembly sponsors the annual event, which is open to all UC Davis and UC Davis Health System affiliates, family members and friends.

The fun takes place Saturday, July 28, at the Vallejo amusement park (open 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.). The UC Davis tickets cost $35 apiece for ages 3 and up (children 2 and under get in free).

The price includes an all-you-can-eat picnic, 2 to 4 p.m., with a menu of barbecued hamburgers and hot dogs, baked beans, garden salad, Italian pasta, corn Cobbett’s, watermelon slices, ice cream sandwiches and soft drinks. A vegetarian option is available.

Discount parking vouchers are available for $5.

The ticket order form is available online. Fill it out, then get it to the Staff Assembly office in the Human Resources Administration Building (Orchard Road just west of La Rue Road) between 2 and 4 p.m. Checks or exact cash preferred.

Questions? Contact Pam Nardinelli, Staff Assembly coordinator, (530) 752-0988 or pnardinelli@ucdavis.edu.

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