Chapter 6

CHAPTER 6

PAY ADMINISTRATION

STATEMENT OF POLICY

It is the policy of the Administrator to provide a uniformed pay administration to facilitate pay actions, while ensuring the proper compensation of employees and to provide the opportunity for the Hospital to carry out its mission.

6.000 PAY ACTIONS RELATED TO APPOINTMENTS

6.001 Compensation at Initial Appointments

All initial appointments shall be made at the first step of the appropriate pay grade, except as provided below:

A. The Administrator may, with the approval of the Commission, authorize initial employment in a position at a higher step not to exceed Step 10 of the pay grade, if such action is warranted by recruitment difficulties or exceptional qualifications. This petition to the Commission shall be made before the applicant is hired or within ten (10) working days after the position is filled, as established by the Commission.

The Hospital may offer Nurses and other allied healthcare professionals upon initial hire the appropriate pay grade and step up to step 5. Steps beyond the five are not authorized unless submitted to the Commission for approval.

C. The increment schedule consisting of Steps 11 through 20 shall not be used for above-step recruitment.

D. Contractual appointments shall be effective upon the date the Governor affixes his signature on the contract.

D. Initial employment compensation for Health Care Professional Hourly Per Diem employee’s shall be at step 12 of the assigned pay grade.

6.002 Compensation Adjustment Following a Promotion

A. An employee, when promoted from one class to another of a higher pay grade, shall receive a salary increase closest to and not less than a two-step increase in the pay grade held prior to the promotion.

B. For employees on Step 20 or beyond prior to the promotion an equivalent rate increase provided in Rule 6.002.A is added to the salary held prior to the promotion for the purpose of determining the employee’s salary in the higher grade.

6.003 Compensation Adjustment Following a Voluntary Demotion

The minimum reduction shall be to the salary in the new pay grade closest to, but not more than, the employee’s salary at the time of demotion.

6.004 Compensation Adjustment Following an Involuntary Demotion

A. Employees demoted for adverse action shall have their compensation reduced at least one step and may, upon the discretion of the Administrator, have their compensation reduced to the lowest step on the pay grade of the position to which they are demoted.

C. Employees demoted involuntarily due to fiscal constraints or lack of funds, shall be compensated at a rate which is less than the rate held prior to the demotion.

6.005 Salary Protection Due to a Medical Condition

It is the desire of the government to provide salary protection to employees injured, while performing their assigned duties and responsibilities, provided that the injury was not the result of their own negligence or intentional act.

A. Compensation Following a Service-Connected Disability Demotion (Medical Condition)

1. Employees who are unfit to perform the duties and responsibilities of their original positions due to a medical condition, shall retain their present pay grade and salary until they receive medical retirement.

2. Employees who request for transfer to another class of position with the same pay grade, due to a medical condition, and the transfer is approved by the Administrator, shall retain their present pay grade and salary until they receive their promotion.

3. Employees who are transferred to another class of position at a lower pay grade, due to a medical condition, shall retain their present pay grade and salary.

B. Compensation Following a Non-Service Connected Disability Demotion (Medical Condition)

Employees who are unfit to perform the duties and responsibilities of their position due to a medical condition, may be demoted to the salary that is closest to the pay grade and step and not more than their current salary; provided that the maximum salary authorized shall not exceed Step 20 of the demoted position.

6.006 Compensation Adjustment Following Reemployment

A person who is reemployed under the provisions of Rule 4.502, shall be paid at the rate to which he would have been entitled had he remained in service, but that no credit shall be given toward progressive salary step increases within the pay grade.

6.007 Compensation Following a Transfer

An employee who is laterally transferred within or from another Government agency shall continue at the same pay grade and step.

6.008 Compensation Following a Detail Appointment

A. Employees serving a detail appointment, consistent with Rule 4.506 in excess of 30 consecutive calendar days in a position having a higher pay grade than his regular position, shall receive a salary increase closest to and not less than a two step increase in the current pay grade. Payment of differential shall be deferred until the employee has served at least 30 consecutive calendar days in a detail.

Detail appointments beyond the ninety (90) days must be approved by the Administrator for compensation.

B. At the discretion of the Administrator, employees detailed to an unclassified position, whose detailed step does not exceed Step 10, may receive up to Step 10 of the unclassified position or the difference in the amount between the step in the pay grade he holds and the salary paid.

C. Department heads/department managers who have managerial/supervisory personnel anticipating absence of five (5) workdays or more, shall provide written notification of detail appointment, specifically stating name and title of appointment and approximate period of appointment.

6.009 Compensation Following Appointment in an Acting Capacity

An employee who is appointed by the Board to serve temporarily in an acting capacity the Administrator shall be compensated during the period of such services by a payment differential to be added to his base rate of pay, measured by the difference in the amount between the step in the pay grade he holds and the salary paid the Administrator position.

6.10 Compensation for Per Diem Appointments

The Hospital has established a pool to allow for the supplemental coverage of open Shifts in the clinical care work environment which will augment the pool of professional available for work on limited hours. The Per Diem Pay Policy is pursuant to Public Law 25-121.

A. Compensation for Per Diem employees shall be in accordance with the established all-inclusive hourly rate compensation schedule. Hours worked beyond the 30 hours per period shall be paid at Step 1 of the same pay grade.

B. No additional compensation such as certification pay, on-call pay, call-back pay, weekend or shift differentials will be paid.

C. Compensation for work on established holidays of rule 8.502 will be paid at 1.5 times the hourly rate.

D. Employee will not be eligible for benefits.

6.100 PAY ACTIONS RELATED TO REALLOCATION OF POSITIONS

6.101 Compensation Following Reallocation of Position

A. When a position is reallocated to a class of a higher pay grade, the employee shall receive a salary increase closest to, and not less than a two-step increase in the pay grade held prior to reallocation.

B. When a position is reallocated to another class of the same pay grade, the salary of the incumbent shall remain unchanged.

C. When a position is reallocated to a class of a lower pay grade, the implementation shall not be effected until the expiration of the two year waiver, as provided for in Rule 5.012.B.

6.102 Salary Adjustment upon Demotion Due to Position Reclassification Action

A. The salary in the new grade that is closest to, and not more than the incumbent’s salary shall be identified as the incumbent’s step in the new pay grade.

B. Implementation of the reclassification in terms of position title shall be made upon approval of the reclassification determination by the Administrator.

C. The incumbent of the position designated for downgrade shall not have his current salary reduced. Salary adjustment in the reclassified position shall be suspended until the incumbent’s salary increment in the new grade is granted.

C. The salary increment anniversary date before reclassification determination shall be used to determine the appropriate salary increment date in the new pay grade. Where there is no change in the waiting period, the salary increment date and the pay grade before the reclassification shall be maintained.

Where there is a change to a shorter waiting period (Steps 1 -7), the salary increment date before the reclassification shall be maintained. Where there is a change to a longer waiting period (Steps 8 - 10, 11 - 20), the new waiting period shall be applied.

6.200 PAY ACTIONS RELATED TO PAY GRADE REASSIGNMENT

6.201 Pay Grade Reassignment

An employee, and/or supervisory official may initiate a written request for consideration of an amendment to the pay grade allocation for the class of position with justification to the Administrator. If the findings of the Administrator indicate the need to amend the pay grade allocation, he shall submit a written request with justification to the Commission or its successor, in accordance with the policies and procedures. Changes adopted shall become effective as directed by the Commission or its sucessors.

6.202 Pay Adjustment Following Pay Grade Reassignment

When a pay grade for any class is reassigned to a higher or lower pay grade and there is no change in the position classification, the pay adjustment shall be consistent with current policies.

6.300 PAY ACTIONS RELATED TO INCREMENTS

6.301 General Provisions Relating to Salary Increment Increases

A. Salary increment increases shall be granted as authorized by law.

B. Increment Status upon Demotion Due to Position Reclassification:

The salary increment anniversary date before the reclassification determination shall be used to determine the appropriate salary increment date in the new pay grade. Where there is no change in the waiting period, the salary increment date in the pay grade before the reclassification shall be maintained. Where there is a change to a shorter waiting period (Steps 1-7), the salary increment date before the reclassification shall be maintained. Where there is a change to a longer waiting period (Steps 8-10, 11-20), the new waiting period shall be applied.

C. Personnel Actions Not Affecting Increment Anniversary Dates:

The following personnel actions shall not change increment anniversary dates:

1. the pay grade for a class or classes of positions have been reassigned;

2. pay adjustments from statutory amendments to the pay grade schedule;

3. detail appointment;

4. transfer from one position to another of the same or related class of position while retaining the same salary rate upon transfer;

5. involuntary demotion for other than adverse or disciplinary reasons;

6. reclassification to a class of the same pay grade or lower while the employee retains the same salary rate;

7. salary increment freeze; and

1. other situations as may be determined by the Commission or its successors.

D. Voluntary Demotion to the Same or Related Class of Positions:

The employee’s next salary increment shall include the period served prior to the voluntary demotion; and provided that work performed is satisfactory.

E. Creditable Service Upon Reemployment:

Permanent classified employees who separated from the Hospital in good standing shall be credited for time served in the increment held prior to separation when exercising their reemployment rights.

6.302 Salary Increment - Procedure

Employees entitled to an increment increase shall receive such increase according to the following schedule and upon certification by the Administrator that satisfactory service has been rendered for the performance rating period preceding such increase:

A. Employees at Steps 1 through 6 shall be entitled to one step adjustment after 12 months of satisfactory performance;

B. Employees at Steps 7 through 9 shall be entitled to one step adjustment after 18 months of satisfactory performance;

C. Employees at Steps 10 through 19 shall be entitled to a one step adjustment after 24 months of satisfactory performance.

D. Employees at Step 20 shall be entitled to a pay increment equivalent to 3.5 percent in accordance with the pay schedule as approved by the Commission, of an employee's base salary after 24 months of satisfactory performance.

E. Registered nurses who are hired by the Hospital on a part-time basis and are required to have and to maintain current licensure as registered nurses with the Guam Board of Nurse Examiners, shall be granted an increase in their hourly wages upon completion of an accumulated 2080 hours of work.(Pursuant to Public Law 20-218, Section 10)