Employee Benefits
Classified Employees
- include blue collar, clerical, financial, information technology, and other non-instructional occupations
- have civil service titles and are governed by state law, rules of the Wisconsin Department of Employment Relations, and provisions of their collective bargaining agreement, if any
- if represented by a union, may have additional benefits as specified in their collective bargaining agreement
- are paid bi-weekly and usually are appointed to work 40 or fewer hours per week, year-round
- are eligible for Wisconsin Retirement System coverage and related benefits. Eligibility rules are based on the date of hire and previous employment with a WRS participating employer.
- The employee must be expected to work at least one year (365 days, or 366 days in leap year); and
- If the employee is initially employed by a WRS participating employer on or after July 1, 2011, must work at least 1,200 hours per year (equivalent to a 58% appointment).
- If the employee worked for any WRS participating employer prior to July 1, 2011, must work at least 600 hours per year (equivalent to a 29% appointment). Even if the employment prior to July 1, 2011 was not covered by the WRS, this eligibility rule applies.
- If you were not expected to qualify for retirement and related benefits when hired, you become eligible when the employer's expectations for your position change or when you have been employed by the University for at least one year and have worked at least 1,200 hours in the last 365 (or 366) days (if initially hired by a WRS-participating employer July 1, 2011 or later) or 600 hours in the last 365 (or 366) days (if you worked for any WRS participating employer prior to July 1, 2011).
A classified employee may have a permanent, project, or limited term position.
- Permanent positions are expected to continue indefinitely, and to be refilled if the current employee leaves the position. Employees in permanent positions automatically qualify for retirement and other benefits provided they are expected to work at least 600 hours per year.
- Project positions are created for a specific, temporary purpose, and are expected to end at a definite point in the future, usually after two or more years. Employees in project positions usually qualify for retirement and other benefits.
- Limited term appointments are made to fill temporary needs and should require no more than 1,043 hours per year. Limited term employees (LTE's) usually do not qualify for retirement and most other benefits when first hired. They become eligible for retirement and most other benefits when and if they have been employed by the University for at least one year and have worked at least 600 hours in the last 365 (or 366) days.
Read more about eligibility for Wisconsin Retirement System coverage.
Read more about classified position titles in the Department of Employment Relations list of classification specifications.
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This document was last revised on July 29, 2011
