SALARY AND PAYROLL
Q: How do I figure out if my salary is correct?
A: You should begin by getting your base salary, which is found in the printed contract supplement posted on the UFT web-site at www.uft.org/img/slry_therapist.pdf (You need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the chart online; if you don't have the software, it's easy to download; just click here) Look at the therapists’ salary schedule, go to the line that matches your years of experience, and read across that line to the salary, under the column marked Sept.1, 2002. If you are a senior therapist, do the same thing, using the pay scale for senior therapists. This is your base, or regular pay for the year. For example, a senior therapist with five years of experience will earn a base pay of $51,744.
Q: How do I know if my paycheck accurately reflects my base pay for the year?
A: On your pay statement, look at the first line underneath ‘description,’ and you will see the words ‘regular pay.’ Look across that line, and under the words AMT. EARNED THIS PERIOD, you will find your base pay for that pay period. Take your base pay for the year, and divide it by 365. You then take that number and multiply it by 14. This number should equal the number found on the first line under AMT. EARNED THIS PERIOD.
Q: How do I know what I should be paid for differentials such as education and longevity?
A: Looking at the salary schedule, you will see a line, ‘Therapists Educ. Differential - Master’s.’ Go across the line to the most recent date for this category, which is Sept. 1, 2002, and you will see the figure $1,054. That is your masters’ differential. After one year of service with the Department of Education, you are entitled to Longevities A and B, which give you an additional $1,130 per year. If you have been employed for two years or more, add ‘Longevity after 2 Years’ A and B, which total $2,258 per year.
Q: Now that I know what differentials I am entitled to, how do I apply this to my base salary?
A: As with your base salary, add up your differentials, and divide that number by 365. Take that figure, and multiply by 14. Now look at your pay statement. Line two under ‘description’ includes longevity, education and service. Go across that line and under AMT. EARNED THIS PERIOD, you will find the amount you were paid for differentials that pay period. That amount should match what you computed using the formula. Please note that a longevity goes into effect January 1st, or July 1st, whichever date comes next once you are eligible, and is not retroactive. For example, if you began service on September 4th, 2000, your one-year longevity began in January, 2002. You do not receive longevity for the six-month interval.
Q: What does net pay represent on my pay statement?
A: Add together all lines under AMT. EARNED THIS PERIOD, subtract your deductions from the box titled TOTAL DEDUCTIONS THIS PERIOD, and this should equal your net pay.
Q: What are Longevity A and Longevity B?
A: Longevity A is the amount that is not included in pensionable income. Longevity B is the amount that is pensionable. After two years, the entire amount you receive under longevity is fully pensionable.
Q: How are my years of prior experience as a therapist calculated?
A: All your prior experience (working full-time as a therapist) that you reported to the Department of Education is subject to verification. If they cannot contact former employers, or do not hear back from them, you will not get credit for those years of experience. DOE accepts an original letter from your former employer on their stationery.
Q: What do I do if I have not received credit for all my work experience?
A. There are two things you should do. First, contact Arlene Levy at (718) 935-2299, ask her to review your file, and have her tell you which former employers did not respond to the original query. Ask her to make further attempts to contact those employers. Second, you should attempt to verify your employment history yourself by directly reaching out to those employers. Forward that information to Ms. Levy.
Q: How do I become a senior therapist?
A: Once you have completed two years of experience as a therapist, you can fill out an application for the position of senior therapist. To obtain an application, regional therapists can call Theresa Pratt at (718) 935-2297, and citywide (District 75) therapists can call Birdie Blake-Reid at (212) 802-1557.
Q: What if my application for senior status isn’t processed for a long time?
A: Your salary increase would be retroactive to the date of your eligibility.
Q: I have six years of experience, so why am I receiving credit as a senior therapist with only three years experience?
A: You must subtract two years from the total amount of work experience you have, and then use the remainder of your experience to figure out the senior status payroll step you should be on. For example, a therapist with six years experience, becomes a senior therapist with four years experience. This therapist would be placed in the three- to five-year salary step. The next salary step occurs at the completion of five years of service.
Q: I have finally settled a salary dispute concerning my prior experience. Can I request back pay for the difference?
A: You are entitled to receive regular pay and differentials for education and experience, retroactive to the date of your eligibility.
Q: Why are my wages as reported on line one of my W-2 different from my yearly salary?
A: Your wages may be higher than your yearly salary because last year, you received retroactive pay after our contract was settled.
Q: What is the category titled ‘advancement inc.’ found on our pay schedules?
A: This category no longer applies to us, and we are not entitled to this differential. Years ago, it was used if a therapist’s salary came in below the base pay amount, but this does not happen any more.
Q: When do we receive our uniform allowance?
A: We receive this once a year, usually in July or September.
Q: As a part-time employee, how do I earn leave and sick time?
A: Part-time employees receive one hour of leave for every 11 hours of service. You receive one hour of sick time for every 20 hours of service.
Q: What is the amount of tuition reimbursement for the year 2001-2002?
A: We are entitled to $1,134 in tuition reimbursement for the 2001-2002 school year. This school year it is $1,204.
Q: Whom can I call when I have a payroll problem?
A: Jim Sherlock is the UFT special representative who handles our payroll and salary problems. He can be reached at 718-852-4900 (M, W, TH, and F) and at 718-605-1400 on Tuesdays.
