Monitoring Hours for Temporary Hourly Employees
The following is a summarization of the rules which the State requires us to follow concerning temporary employment. Listed below are the restrictions on the number of hours for employment, benefits, and retirement. These rules are mutually exclusive since each is developed by a different state agency.
If you have questions on these limitations for temporary hourly employees, please feel free to contact the Human Resources Department at (206) 592-3601. We realize how complicated this has become and are more than willing to assist you with any clarification. It is very important that temporary employees be given correct information on the limitations of their employment before they accept the position.
| Hours of work | Reasons for Monitoring | Costs |
|---|---|---|
| 1050 hours (Civil Service Rules) | Limited to 1050 hours of work in any 12 consecutive month period from individual’s original date of hire at Highline College. If the position exceeds this amount, the employee could become a permanent classified employee by default. Generally speaking, we suggest that a part-time, temporary hourly employee should not be scheduled for more than 15-16 hours per week. | The College pays $976.00 per month for an individual’s employer sponsored benefits. The employee’s cost is dependent upon the health care plan they choose. The employee can waive their right to health care benefits, but the department cost will remain in effect until the employee is no longer eligible for health care benefits. |
| 480 hours | An employee expected to exceed six months of employment at half-time or more is eligible for health care benefits. If we know the employee will exceed this limit at the start of employment, we begin paying within the first month of employment. An employee who works 480 hours or more within a rolling 6 month period will become eligible for healthcare benefits beginning the seventh month. This benefit will continue as long as the employee works at least 8 hours each month. If the employee does not work for one calendar month, their health insurance is dropped. It is possible for an employee to qualify for benefits and still be below the Civil Service limit of 1050 hours. Refer to: WAC 182-12-114 and WAC 182-12-131 | The College pays $976.00 per month for an individual’s employer sponsored benefits. The employee’s cost is dependent upon the health care plan they choose. The employee can waive their right to health care benefits, but the department cost will remain in effect until the employee is no longer eligible for health care benefits. |
| 70 hours per month | When an employee works at least 70 hours per month (5 times or more) during the 12 month monitoring period (July-June) for two consecutive years in a row, the position becomes retirement eligible and the employee is required to join the state retirement system. A position is eligible if: The position normally requires at least five months each year in which regular compensation is earned for at least 70 hours per month. For this definition, "normally" means a position that requires at least five months of at least 70 hours for two consecutive years. Once a position is determined to be eligible, it will continue to be eligible if it requires at least five months of 70 or more hours of compensated service during at least one year in any two-year period. It is very easy for an employee to remain below 1000 hours and qualify for retirement. | Contribution rates vary depending on the plan. Employees have the option of joining PERS 2, or PERS 3. The employer cost currently is 11.00% of salary for both plans. This money would also come out of your budget as there is no reserve for retirement costs. The position becomes "retirement eligible" for subsequent hires from the date of hire. |
Calculation of Hours Per Pay Period for Monitoring
40 Hours Per Week
40 hours per week x 52 weeks per year = 2080 hours per year = full time (100%)
20 Hours Per Week
20 hours per week x 52 weeks per year = 1040 hours per year = .5 FTE (50%)
1040 hours per year divided by 12 months per year = 86.67 hours per month = 43.34 hours per pay period
19 Hours Per Week
19 hours per week x 52 weeks per year = 988 hours per year = .48 FTE (48%)
988 hours per year divided by 12 months per year = 82.33 hours per month = 41.17 hours per pay period
80 hours per month = 40 hours per pay period = possible health care benefits eligibility threshold
18 Hours Per Week
18 hours per week x 52 weeks per year = 936 hours per year = .45 FTE (45%)
936 hours per year divided by 12 months per year = 78 hours per month = 39 hours per pay period
70 hours per month = 35 hours per pay period = possible retirement eligibility threshold
15.9 Hours Per Week
15.9 hours per week x 52 weeks per year = 828 hours per year = .40 FTE (40%)
828 hours per year divided by 12 months per year = 69 hours per month = 34.5 hours per pay period