Compensation & Pay Management

CLASSIFIED POSITIONS

Collective bargaining agreements(CBAs)

Salary Information

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PSU STUDENT POSITIONS

Students actively enrolled at PSU are eligible to apply for open student positions.

Additionally, compensation for graduate student positions is governed by collective bargaining agreement (CBA).

FACULTY & ACADEMIC PROFESSIONAL POSITIONS

Collective bargaining agreements(CBAs)

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Research positions at PSU are placed within bargaining units based upon specific criteria listed in the table. Research Matrix

Resources

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UNCLASSIFIED / UNREPRESENTED / EXCLUDED POSITIONS (UN/UN)

The grades of Portland State’s salary structure for these positions are designed to provide appropriate pay for employees with a variety of skills, knowledge, experience, and performance levels. The following model may be used by departments as a guide for typical pay within a grade or range. Factors for progression within the salary range may be based on external market, internal equity, individual performance and skill. More information is outlned below.

Quartile Infographic

Many factors should be considered when making an individual salary decision. The chart  below illustrates how these criteria can be used to determine the amount of increase for a job  change or promotion.

Increase Infographic

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Managing Position Changes

 

Position Change Infographic

In some cases position change, organizational change, or equity considerations may guide management’s compensation decisions. Any changes to pay are offered and approved at the sole discretion of Portland State University and should never be promised nor discussed with employees without full approval from HR and relevant VP/Provost.

Below is a brief description of each method and the eligibility criteria for each.

Special Salary Increases

Prior to submitting a request for a special salary increase, supervisors need to consult with their department’s fiscal and leadership. Special Salary increases are granted for the following reasons at the sole discretion of Portland State University.

Internal equity

The law (HB 2005 – Oregon Pay Equity Act) provides that employers may pay employees for work of comparable character at different compensation levels if all of the difference in compensation levels is based on a bona fide factor that is related to the position.

Expanded duties (which do not warrant a reclassification or require a new position)

Duties and level of responsibility associated with the position have increased substantially but do not warrant the creation of a new position or reclassification.

Exceptional performance

Employees who demonstrate job performance or contributions consistently above and beyond expectations. Annual performance evaluations must reflect this.

Retention

There is an imminent possibility of losing a valued employee due to options outside Portland State.

Special Salary Increases

Supplemental Overload or Wage Agreement

Overload/supplemental pay is any compensation, other than administrative stipend, paid to employees in faculty or staff positions. To administer an overload or wage agreement, employees MUST meet all of the following criteria:

  1. Services in addition to a 1.0 salary/FTE appointment.
  2. AND services are above or outside those described in the employee's position description and/or classification specification which cannot be compensated by overtime.

Important Note

A supplemental overload or wage agreement MUST BE IN PLACE BEFORE any work or services take place. Allow sufficient time for consideration by HR and all signatories. Supplemental overloads and wage agreements will not be processed retroactively.

If all work for this employee is through one department:

  • Dept ⇒ Dean ⇒ Dept ⇒ Employee ⇒ HR for approval and payment

If work is through multiple departments:

  • Offering Dept ⇒ Home Department ⇒ Home Dean ⇒ Offering Dean ⇒ Offering Dept ⇒ Employee ⇒ HR for payment

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Administrative Stipend

Administrative stipends are allowable in recognition of special contributions/services to the university/department when all of the following criteria are met:

  1. Significant and/or higher-level duties/responsibilities are assigned
  2. AND duties are outside the normal scope of work of the employee’s applicable position 
  3. AND are for a limited time period 
  4. AND are performed within the regular expected working hours. (For temporary duties which require extra working hours, please review the Supplemental Wage Agreement to determine if applicable.)

Prior to submitting a request for administrative stipend, supervisors need to consult with their department’s fiscal and leadership. All administrative stipends are subject to executive review and approval.

Important Note

An administrative stipend MUST BE IN PLACE BEFORE any work or services take place. Allow sufficient time for consideration by HR and all signatories. Administrative stipends will not be processed retroactively.

Please reach out to the HR Compensation and Classification team for more information.

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Differential Pay & Cash Awards

Employees in SEIU classified positions are entitled to certain wage adjustments when certain criteria are met.

The PSU-SEIU Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) includes additional information on these topics. Below are the Human Resources processes for requesting Lead Work Differential and Work Out-of-Classification that currently apply at PSU.

Type of Differential or AwardConditions*How Pay is Managed
High WorkWhen an employee is required to perform work more than twenty (20) feet directly above the ground or water and use of safety ropes, scaffolds, boatswain chairs or other similar safety devices are required for support.Reported and approved on the employee’s timesheet.
Charge NurseStaff Nurses, Licensed Practical Nurses, and Registered Nurses who are assigned and are performing charge duties will receive a differential.Reported and approved on the employee’s timesheet.
Hazardous MaterialsPerforming work with hazardous materials which requires a certificate or a license. Applies only when HazMat duties are not included in the classification specifications for the employee’s job.Reported and approved on the employee’s timesheet.
SANE (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner)

"Licensed Practical Nurse, Staff Nurse, Charge Nurse, Registered Nurse 1, Registered Nurse 2, Mid-Level Practitioners who are certified and assigned to conduct SANE examinations for hours performing such duties.

Employees in the above classifications and Medical Aides who are trained in the performance of assisting and are assigned to assist in a SANE examination for hours performing such duties."

Reported and approved on the employee’s timesheet.
Bilingual
 
Positions which specifically require bilingual skills (i.e., translation to and from English to another foreign language or the use of sign language) as a condition of employment. The interpretation and translation skills must be contained in an employee’s individual position’s position description.Must be recorded in the position description to be included in salary.
Employees who are required by their supervisor to utilize bilingual skills, but whose position description does not have such skills contained therein are eligible when service exceeds 30-minutes in a working day.Reported and approved on the employee’s timesheet for actual time spent.
Supervisory ElectricianEmployees whose work assignment requires that they be licensed as a supervisory electrician by the university.Must be recorded in the position description to be included in salary
High Voltage ElectricianEmployees whose positions require the employee to be trained and qualified as a High Voltage Electrician.Must be recorded in the position description to be included in salary
Special Needs Education"Employees in positions which specifically require and have been specifically recruited to work with children with special needs as a condition of employment. 
The specialized knowledge and skills must be contained in the individual position’s position description."
Must be recorded in the position description to be included in salary
Shift DifferentialSpecific job classifications which are allocated to Salary Range 24 or below for each hour or major portion thereof (thirty minutes (30) or more), worked between 6:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. and for each hour or major portion thereof worked on Saturday or Sunday, except where the employee has requested to be on a flexible work schedule, and has been granted the requested change.Reported and approved on the employee’s timesheet.
Lead work

"Formally assigned by their supervisor in writing, “lead work” duties over two (2) or more bargaining unit employees in an equivalent or lower salary range for ten (10) consecutive work days or longer.

Lead work is where, on a recurring daily basis, the employee has been directed to perform substantially all of the following functions

  1. orient new employees, if appropriate;
  2. assign and reassign tasks to accomplish prescribed work efficiently;
  3. give direction to workers concerning work procedures;
  4. transmit established standards of performance to workers;
  5. review work of employees for conformance of standards; and
  6. provide informal assessment of workers’ performance to the supervisor."

"Lead Work is subject to HR approval and must be submitted to HR prior to starting the work. A form listing the additional duties and responsibilities is required.

Lead Work Differential Form"

Work out of ClassWhen an employee is assigned for a limited period to perform the duties of a position at a higher level classification for more than ten (10) consecutive calendar days.

"Work out of Class is subject to HR approval and must be submitted to HR prior to starting the work. A form listing the additional duties and responsibilities is required.

Work Out-of-Class Form"

Geographic PayPrevailing basic rates in specific geographical areas for employment of limited duration less than one hundred twenty (120) days. Employees paid at such rates will not be eligible for vacation, sick leave or holiday benefits.Reported and approved on the employee’s timesheet.
Cash AwardThe university’s chief human resource officer (“CHRO”) or designee has the sole and exclusive discretion to issue cash awards at any time during the performance cycle, to recognize completion of projects or other significant events. In addition, supervisors may recommend employees to the University’s CHRO for this recognition.

"Specific eligibility criteria must be met and a nomination form submitted.

Please contact the Human Resources Compensation team before discussing any cash award with an employee regarding eligibility.

SEIU Cash Award Form"

*The conditions listed are summary only and employees are responsible for consulting the OPU-SEIU CBA for a complete understanding of differentials.

Please contact the Compensation & Classification Team with further questions.