HIGHER EDUCATION PERSONNEL BOARD

Temporary hourly employment is limited to 1000 hours or less in a 12-month period. (Each new hire has his/her own anniversary date, determined by the date of hire.) If the position exceeds this amount, the employee could become permanent by default. This violates affirmative action guidelines and the College's civil service rules. Generally speaking, we suggest that a part-time employee should not be scheduled more than 16 hours a week. Temporary hourly employees should never exceed 1000 hours and there are no exceptions to this rule.

STATE EMPLOYEES BENEFIT BOARD/HEALTH CARE AUTHORITY

Benefits at a current cost of $744 per month for the employer will be given to an employee expected to exceed six months of employment at half-time or more. If we know the employee will exceed this limit at the start of employment, we begin paying in the first month. It is possible for an employee to qualify for benefits and still be below the Higher Education Personnel Board limit of 1000 hours. The cost will come out of your salary line as there is no special reserve for anticipated benefit costs.

DEPARTMENT OF RETIREMENT SYSTEMS

If an employee works 70 or more hours a month in any five months in a 12-month period, during each of two consecutive years, then the employee is required to join the state retirement system. Contribution rates vary depending on the plan, they would have the option of joining PERS II, or PERS 3. The employer cost currently is .0138 (1.38%) 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 hirees from the date of hire. It is very easy for an employee to remain below 1000 hours and qualify for retirement.

If you have questions on these limitations for temporary hourly employees, please feel free to contact HR. It is very important that temporary employees be given correct information on the limitations of their employment before they accept the position.

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Department of Human Resources | Highline Community College
 2400 S. 240th Street | P.O. Box 98000, M.S. 99-200
 Des Moines, WA  98198-9800
 Phone:   (206) 878-3710, ext. 3812 | Jobline: (206) 870-3751
 Fax: (206) 870-3773 | TTY:  (206) 870-4853