APS #5054
Hiring Retirees to Work in Staff Positions
This policy will assist departments when hiring retirees to work in staff positions at CU.
Allows CU to demonstrate employer responsibility and provide clarity and consistency to departments when hiring retirees to work in staff positions.
I. Policy Statement
- Retirees may be hired into university staffUniversity staffAn individual who holds a staff position that is exempt from the state personnel system's rules and regulations (pursuant to state law). University staff is governed by the Board of Regent laws and policies. or classified staffClassified staffAn individual who holds a staff position that is governed by the state personnel system's rules and regulations (pursuant to state law). positions but are limited to a 9-month, 12-month or other defined project period. All appointments are to be reviewed by the applicable human resources department at the end of each period. Appointments may be used to:
- Train, cross-train, transfer knowledge or act in a short-term mentoring role for a new incumbent;
- Fill a position that is defined as non-supervisory and part-time;
- Fill a position on a unique and non-recurring project;
- Provide specialized knowledge or fill a specialized role;
- Fill an interim vacancy; or
- To fill a role deemed necessary by the Chancellor of a campus or the President of the System.
In addition, while retirees are generally not appointed to supervisory positions for full time staff, there may be extraordinary situations where a retiree is asked to assume supervisory responsibilities for a limited period.
- In addition to I.A., above, hiring Colorado Public Employee Retirement Association (PERA) retirees based on C.R.S. 24-51-1101 results in certain complexities and constraints:
- It is the employee’s responsibility to confer with Employee Services and PERA to understand the implications of working as a PERA retiree (length of service, impact on PERA benefits, etc.).
- Calculating Daily and Hourly Rates
- See Procedures for Hiring Working PERA Retirees into Staff Positions for information on calculating daily and hourly rates for PERA retirees working in University staff positions.
- See Procedures for Hiring Working PERA Retirees into Staff Positions for information on calculating daily and hourly rates for PERA retirees working in University staff positions.
- Contributions
- Days worked
- The retiree can work a maximum 110 days per calendar year. If that retiree works more than 110 days, PERA will reduce the retiree’s monthly pension by a formula-set percentage.
- Each campus and system administration can designate 10 retirees to work for a maximum 140 days, through the campus’ defined approval process.
- It is the employee’s responsibility to track days worked under PERA rules.
- Departments cannot hire working retirees through a temporary agency to circumvent the PERA restrictions—the PERA rules on working retirees apply to any employment, including employment as an independent contractor.
- If the working retiree chooses to rescind retirement and work at CU in a regular job, the rescission must occur for both PERA and CU retirement.
- It is the employee’s responsibility to confer with Employee Services and PERA to understand the implications of working as a PERA retiree (length of service, impact on PERA benefits, etc.).
- In addition to I.A., above, hiring CU Optional Retirement Plan (ORP) retirees may result in certain complexities and constraints:
- An effect on distribution of 401(a) funds
- Reduction in Social Security benefits
- There are four staff appointment options. The specific requirements for each kind of appointment are based on university policies and state personnel rules.
Job Code
Title
Definition
Defined by State Personnel System
Position Type
Rate of Pay
2583
Working PERA Retiree
Professional University Staff
No
Temporary
Daily rate or Hourly Rate
2585
Working ORP Retiree
Professional University Staff
No
Temporary
Daily rate or Hourly Rate
P1A1XX
Temporary Aide
Classified staff, non-professional
Yes
Temporary
Hourly Rate
Other Classified Staff Codes
Classified Title
Classified staff, non-professional
Yes
Regular
Varies
- Benefits eligibility for working PERA or ORP retirees in temporary staff positions. These retirees:
- May be eligible for retiree benefits (contact CU benefits for information)
- May have working titles that are reflective of the duties being performed (job code reflects formal title of working PERA retiree or Temporary Aide)
- Are not eligible for employee benefits
- Are not eligible to accrue vacation or sick leave
- Are not eligible for merit increases, and performance plans and evaluations are not required but recommended
- Are not eligible for tuition benefit
- Are not allowed to volunteer time performing same duties as employment
- Benefits eligibility for PERA retirees working in regular classified positions (I.D, above). These retirees:
- are eligible for State of Colorado employee benefits
- may be eligible for retiree benefits (contact CU benefits for information)
- are eligible to earn vacation and sick leave
- are eligible for merit increases, and performance plans and evaluations are required
- are eligible for tuition benefit
- All retirees working in temporary university staff or classified staff positions will be paid for time worked during the prior pay period.
- Monthly example – the time worked in January is paid at the end of February
- Biweekly example – the time worked in a two-week period is paid two weeks later
- All retirees working in temporary university staff or classified staff positions are required to track time in MyLeave or an alternate timesheet used by the department, and the department must process the biweekly payroll through time collection via upload of hours from MyLeave or manual entry of work hours submitted on an alternate time sheet.
- Each campus will document procedures to address the justification process and/or the review period.
II. Related Policies, Procedures, Forms, Guidelines and Other Resources
A. Procedures for Hiring Working PERA Retirees into Staff Positions
B. Working After Retirement published by PERA
III. History
- Initial policy effective January 1, 2014.
- Revised August 1, 2017.
IV. Key Words
PERA, retiree, hiring, hire