HR #1, 2013 – 2014

Last year the Senior Appointments and Compensation Committee (SACC) recommended, and Business Board approved, a Compensation Plan for Research Associates (RAs) and Senior Research Associates (SRAs). The plan covered 2012-13 and 2013-14, and was developed in light of increases that had been negotiated for the same time period with the faculty association and our larger bargaining units. We were also mindful of the fact that a timing issue had resulted in none of you receiving any across the board (ATB) increase in 2009 -10. You were, of course, also under the Compensation Restraint legislation for 2010-11 and 2011-12. The increases for 2012-13 were implemented last year.

For 2013-14 the compensation plan included Performance Based Merit and ATB, effective July 1, 2013, along with employee pension contribution increases on July 1, 2013 and June 30, 2014. We delayed implementation of the Performance Assessment Process and any increases, while the Provincial Budget process unfolded. It is my understanding that for non-represented groups – such as the RAs and SRAs (as well as the Professional, Managerial and Confidential staff; Advancement Professionals), compensation must be managed within fiscal constraints that provide for no additional funding for compensation increases. One way to address this constraint is to identify financial offsets to proposed increases and earlier this month I met with several of the RA / SRA Advisory Board members to discuss a potential offset.

I am very pleased to advise you that as of the end of last week Business Board approved the proposal. Specifically, we will reduce the number of personal leave days to which you are entitled from four (4) to two (2) per year. At the same time, we will establish a central pool of 50 days so that any RA / SRA who needs more than two (2) personal days in a specific year will be able to apply to this pool. We will notify you shortly of the application process should you need to access the central pool.

The Across the Board Increase of 2.3% will be reflected in your July pay. At this time the employee pension contribution increase will also occur. We will initiate the Performance Assessment Process immediately and expect that the performance based merit increases will occur in October, retroactive to July 1.

Should you have any questions, please contact your Divisional HR Office.

Thank you for your patience and thank you for outstanding commitment to the research programs of the University of Toronto.