Oct. 11, 2021: Presidential Announcements

Dear Colleagues,

This is a day filled with good news for Bucknell faculty and staff, as I shared at today’s Employee Celebration event. It was a joy to gather in recognition of what we’ve accomplished together during the pandemic, and I was so glad to be able to thank so many of you in person for your outstanding commitment and dedication. I invite you to watch the video shown at the event, which beautifully captures the spirit and strength of employees across the whole University. I hope you are as proud as I am to be part of the University and its mission to transform the lives of students, every day.

At the event, I made several important announcements that directly benefit Bucknell employees. For those of you who were unable to join us this morning at Sojka or on Zoom, here is a summary of the news I shared, along with links to additional information.

Minimum Hourly Wage Increase
To recognize the work of our benefits-eligible hourly employees and assure they are paid a wage that is competitive with other employers in our region, a new minimum pay rate of at least $15 per hour for benefits-eligible, non-exempt Bucknell employees will be in place by November 2022 — an increase from the University’s current minimum pay rate of $12.60 per hour.

This increase will apply to Bucknell University employees in regular, benefits-eligible staff positions. Employees of other companies or groups that have service contracts with Bucknell (contingent workers), student workers and casual employees are not covered by this policy.

University employees who will receive a wage increase will receive confirmation and details in a letter mailed to their home in late October. The new wage will take effect on Nov. 15, 2021, and will be reflected in the Dec. 3 payslip. Individuals hired after Nov. 15, 2021, into benefits-eligible non-exempt positions will have a minimum pay rate of $14.50 per hour to start and will reach the new minimum of $15 per hour by November 2022.

More information can be found in these FAQs on myBucknellWeb (login required).

One-time COVID Bonus
In recognition and gratitude for the work performed by Bucknell employees during the pandemic, the University will award a one-time COVID bonus of $5,000 to all eligible employees who worked full time between March 23, 2020, and June 30, 2021. The bonus will appear in the next payslip for employees who meet all of the following criteria:

  • Faculty, or exempt or non-exempt Bucknell University staff (may be full-time, part-time or casual employee)
  • Hired on or before June 30, 2021
  • Actively employed on Oct. 15, 2021
  • Worked more than 80 hours between March 23, 2020, and June 30, 2021

Eligible employees who worked less than full time between March 23, 2020 and June 30, 2021 will receive a prorated bonus based on hours worked. Please refer to these FAQs in myBucknell web for details.

Employees who are ineligible for a one-time COVID bonus are:

  • Those hired on or after July 1, 2021
  • Those who separate from the University before Oct. 15, 2021
  • Contingent workers
  • Student employees

Eligible Bucknell employees will receive a letter at their home mailing address this week confirming their specific bonus amount.

More information can be found in the FAQs on myBucknellWeb.

Bucknell Student Health and Bucknell Dining One-time Recognition
We deeply appreciate that the University would not have remained open during the pandemic without the essential work performed by Bucknell Dining staff, who are employees of Parkhurst Dining; and Bucknell Student Health staff, who are employees of Geisinger or Evangelical, which contract with Bucknell to provide student healthcare services. The University is actively engaged in discussions with these organizations in order to provide Bucknell Dining and Bucknell Student Health staff with monetary recognition.

Health Insurance Premiums
Due to prudent financial management of our healthcare portfolio, I am pleased to announce that our 2021 premium rates for health benefits will remain unchanged in 2022. This means there will be no increase in premiums for employees during calendar year 2022.

Juneteenth Holiday Observance
June 19, or “Juneteenth,” is the traditional day commemorating the emancipation of African Americans from slavery in in the United States, which took place on June 19, 1865. Last spring, the federal government established Juneteenth National Independence Day as a new federal holiday.

Beginning in 2022, Bucknell will mark the observance of Juneteenth by adding June 19 to its regular calendar of University holidays. This decision will strengthen our institutional commitment to full inclusion and support for underrepresented groups on our campus and beyond. More details about the University’s observance of Juneteenth are being finalized and will be shared at a later date.

Extended Winter Break for Employees
I am pleased to announce that we will again extend the winter break period for employees. This period of reduced operations will start at the beginning of the day on Monday, Dec. 20, 2021, with University business resuming Monday, Jan. 3, 2022. Non-exempt employees required to work during this period will receive a premium rate of pay for those hours in accordance with the University’s Hours of Work policy.

We’ve all been working under difficult circumstances, both professional and personal, and I encourage you to take this time to relax and recharge with family and friends. As an added benefit, expanding the winter break period allows us to greatly reduce University operations, which results in significant energy savings.

Kudos Cards
Our employee celebration this morning was not only an opportunity for me to thank you all, but also a time for Bucknell faculty and staff to step back and consider the incredible work that we do all over campus, every day. Whether you are a professor or an academic assistant, a custodian or an office administrator, a librarian or an athletics trainer, you contribute to our success — and others see the difference you make.

To help us to celebrate these everyday accomplishments, we shared “kudos cards” with the attendees at today’s celebration event. These cards are a way we can let each other know that we see and appreciate their work, and are inspired by their example. Each of you will soon receive a pack of 10 kudos cards in campus mail. I invite you to send these cards with a personal note to colleagues who are making a difference on the job and helping others through their words and actions. It’s a simple, positive gesture of gratitude that goes a long way.

Thank you again for your exceptional efforts, as individuals and as a team. The pandemic has tested us time and again, yet we are always able to meet the challenges and make extraordinary things happen, together. I could not be prouder to work alongside such truly outstanding colleagues.

My best,

John