Enrollment for the 2018 Productivity Enhancement Program (PEP) opened Sept. 12 and runs through Oct. 12.
PEP is a negotiated benefit in the 2016-2022 UUP/State Agreement. It allows eligible UUP-represented employees who earn vacation to cash in vacation days for a credit that reduces the biweekly cost of the employee share of health insurance premiums. While the PEP existed in the previous contract, the 2016-2022 Agreement significantly expands participation options and credit amounts for each coming year under the new contract.
The immediate open-enrollment period for the 2018 PEP will run from Sept. 12 through Oct. 12. Eligible employees who wish to participate for 2018 must submit an enrollment form for 2018 even if they have previously enrolled in PEP.
There will be a separate open enrollment period for the upcoming 2019 PEP. Employees interested in participating in both years must remember to enroll twice, first for 2018 and shortly thereafter for 2019. Dates for the 2019 PEP Open Enrollment period will be announced shortly.
Overview
Eligible full-time employees with an annual salary of $66,885 and below who enroll in PEP for July 1-Dec. 31 portion of the 2018 plan year may elect to forfeit 3 days of annual leave or 1.5 days of annual leave at the time of enrollment. In return, they would receive a credit of $500 or $250, respectively, to be applied toward the employee share of NYSHIP premiums deducted from biweekly paychecks issued between July 1 and Dec. 31.
Eligible part-time employees whose salary is within this range at the time of enrollment may forfeit up to 3 days of annual leave on a pro-rata basis and receive a pro-rated credit based on their payroll percentage.
Eligible full-time employees earning more than $66,885 and below $95,534 who enroll in PEP for the 2018 plan year may forfeit a total of 2 days of annual leave or 1 day of annual leave at the time of enrollment. In return, they would receive a credit of $500 or $250, respectively, to be applied toward the employee share of NYSHIP premiums. Eligible part-time employees whose salary is within this range at the time of enrollment may forfeit up to 2 days annual leave on a pro-rata basis and receive a pro-rated credit based on their payroll percentage.
Eligibility
At the time of enrollment employees must:
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- Be employed on a Calendar Year or College Year basis;
- Be a full-time employee with an annual salary below $95,534 OR part-time employee whose biweekly salary is within this salary range at the time of enrollment;
- Be an employee covered by the 2016-2022 New York State/UUP Collective Bargaining Agreement;
- Be a NYSHIP enrollee in the Empire Plan or an HMO;
- Be eligible to receive an employer contribution toward NYSHIP premiums (or be on leave without pay from a job where the employee is normally eligible for an employer share contribution toward NYSHIP premiums); and
- Have a sufficient annual leave balance to make the full leave forfeiture without bringing their annual leave balance below 8 days or a pro-rated balance for part-time employees, respectively.
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To enroll in the program for the remainder of the 2018 plan year, employees must meet all eligibility criteria at the time of enrollment.
Payment of the credit
Once an eligible employee enrolls in the 2018 PEP, the value of that employee’s credit will be divided equally between the pay periods covering the period from July 1 through Dec. 31. Retroactive credits that should have been received in paychecks prior to the first paycheck in which the credit first appears will be included in that first paycheck. This could occur as early as the Oct. 3 paycheck, depending on when the employee enrolls. Thereafter, the remaining pay periods will include the standard per pay period credit.
How to enroll
Employees interested in enrolling in the 2018 PEP must complete and return a 2018 UUP/PEP Enrollment Form to their campus Human Resources Office no later than close of business Oct. 12. Enrollment Forms may be obtained from the appropriate campus Health Benefits Administrator (HBA).