Base building compensation is a permanent increase in salary and take-home pay for an employee. This type of compensation may be increased permanently through a promotion, reclassification, merit, equity or market increase.

Base building increases for cost of living may be provided at a flat percentage. This percentage will be determined by the Budget and Human Resources offices and will be dependent on the percentage approved by the Board of Regents. 

Non-base building compensation is a temporary increase in salary and take-home pay for an employee. This extra compensation is removed after the allotted time has expired, and/or the work has been completed. This is not taken into consideration when determining base building compensation as part of a promotion or position reclassification. Being temporary in nature, these increases typically last 12 months or less.

• Examples of non-base building compensation include temporary pay differentials, one-time payments and shift differentials.
• Example: An employee receives a temporary pay differential for absorbing acting/interim duties. The employee applies for and receives a promotional opportunity (related or unrelated to the acting/interim duties). The base salary is determined using the appropriate salary range recommendation for the new role. 

Employee benefits are part of the total compensation package provided to employees as part of their employment contract. These benefits vary by employee type and by employee selection. More information related to the University of Colorado’s benefits packages can be found online [4].