Doing Right By Our Employees

At the end of last semester, President Capilouto communicated with the campus about our steps to further support our employees and make UK an even better place to work. 

Beginning July 1, 2020, the minimum starting pay for UK regular staff employees will increase from $10.40 an hour to $12.50 an hour.    Why are we making this policy change? Because it’s the right thing to do.

When we think about the impact of this place—this $4.2 billion enterprise—our people are essential to the success. Our people make possible the dreams of students; they are central to healing our patients and fulfilling our missions of research and service.   This investment in our people is part of a series of changes designed to strengthen our community by enhancing financial well-being and providing more options to employees to care for themselves and their families.

• Beginning earlier this month, staff employees are now able to use up to 12 weeks of accrued sick time for parental leave for childbirth, adoption, or foster care (previously, employees could use six or eight weeks of sick time; additional leave must be from accrued vacation leave).
• Also beginning this month, staff employees will be able to use up to two sick days per year for personal well-being (previously, such time can only be used for illness or injury, or to care for a family member). These changes apply only to staff.  Faculty sick leave is managed differently. 
• Beginning July 1, 2020, pending Board of Trustees approval, all new eligible employees will participate in the UK matching retirement savings plan. In that savings plan, employees contribute five percent of their salary, and UK matches with 10 percent (currently, employees under the age of 30 are eligible, but not required, to participate). By including all new eligible employees, individuals who join us early in their careers and stay for a long period of time will have the opportunity to earn several hundred thousand dollars more during their work with us.  

We also will be working with the Staff Senate and others to continue a campus conversation about the feasibility of a paid parental or family leave program. This has been an ongoing priority reflected in our biennial UK@Work surveys. We intend to review recommendations and make a decision before the end of the Spring 2020 Semester.   You can learn more about the changes here.   I’d like to thank the employees in Human Resources who have worked diligently behind the scenes to make these policy changes possible.

This is another step in our continuous journey to ensure we provide the best possible environment for our community’s success.

Thank you for the role you play in that endeavor, each and every day. Have a great week.

Eric N. Monday @UKYMonday​ #UK4KY