Q: When can I expect to receive my first check?

A: Your first check should will arrive at the first possible pay day from your date of hire. Please refer to your List of Pay Periods from your hire packet.

Q: Can I have my paycheck sent directly to my bank?

A: Yes. Stop by your Administrative Assistants desk and ask for a "sure pay" (direct deposit) form. You will need to have a pre-printed deposit slip or voided check with you for processing the paperwork. Also note that direct deposit will not take effect until approximately 2-3 paychecks after submitting the form have been delivered to you. Your sure pay stubs are availbe on-line only here

Q: What should I do if I have a problem with my timesheet or my paycheck?

A: Notify your supervisor, and then contact your Administrative Assistant; he/she will work with you and with the Library Human Resources Office to resolve the problem.

Q: Will I get any breaks during my scheduled shift?

A: Rest Periods: A full-time employee may be granted two 15-minute rest periods, one to be taken in the work period prior to the meal period and one in the work period following the meal period. A part-time employee may be granted one 15-minute rest period for each work period of 3 continuous hours or more, not to exceed two rest periods per day. Such rest periods shall be considered as time worked (paid). Rest periods may not be taken at the beginning or end of a work period. The combining of rest periods with a meal period shall be at the discretion of the department head. (In other words, you cannot "save" your two breaks and leave a half-hour or fifteen minutes early.)

A: Lunch Breaks: In addition and completely separate from Rest Periods, any time you work a shift of six hours or more, you must take a half-hour meal break during that shift. Unlike the 15-minute breaks discussed above, meal breaks are not considered part of your shift and do not count as time worked (paid); therefore, you will not be paid for these breaks. Meal breaks are required; you cannot skip or work through them.

Q: When and how do I earn sick leave?

A: You accrue sick leave in any month during which you work an average of half time (20 hours per week) or more. The number of work hours per month varies; if you have questions about your sick-leave accrual, please contact your Administrative Assistant.

Q: When can I use sick leave that I've earned?

A: You can use sick leave in any month after the month in which it is accrued. (For instance, if you accrue six hours of sick leave in March, you can use that sick leave in April or any month thereafter. You cannot use it in March, however.) If you miss time due to illness but do not have any sick leave accrued, you will simply not be paid for the time missed.

Q: How about vacation time?

A: Not many students meet the requirements for accruing vacation time. You begin to accrue vacation time only after you have worked half time or more for six consecutive months. (If you work five months at half time or more, followed by one month at less than half time, you would be back at the beginning and would need to work for six consecutive months.)

Q: Full-time library staff members have time off with pay for holidays when the library is closed. Will I receive holiday pay too?

A: A: That depends on how many hours you work during that month. Holiday pay is similar to sick leave; if you work half-time or more during a month which contains a holiday, you will be paid proportionately for that holiday. If you work less than half time, you will not be paid holiday pay. If you work for more than one department you will need to let your departmental Administrative Assistant know about your other jobs hours and who to contact to verify how many hours you worked.

Q: Can I work during the summer if I'm not taking classes?

A: If you paid fees for the previous fall, you can work through June 30th. If you paid fees for the spring quarter just preceding the summer, you can work through the end of the summer. (This also holds true for students who have graduated and who will not be returning to UCSD.)

Q: What is DCP and why is it coming out of my paycheck?

A: DCP stands for Defined Contribution Plan. If you work less than half time and you are taking 6 units you will not have DCP taken out of your paycheck. If you work over half time you will have 1.45% taken out for Medicare and 7.5% taken out for DCP, which is a retirement plan. During the summer you can probably expect to pay DCP, unless you are taking 6 units of summer school classes and working less than half time. This retirement plan (7.5% for DCP) can be rolled over into an IRA upon separation with the university, or withdrawn from the account with an early withdrawal penalty (20% Federal Taxes and 2% State Taxes). If you have any more questions regarding DCP you may contact the Student Employment office in the Geisel Library or the Benefits Office at 534-2816 to receive further documentation. For more information, visit here

Q: Why do I need to fill out a student resignation form when I graduate or decide to leave my position with the library?

A: It provides the Library Personnel Office with an address to which your final check, your DCP booklet and your W-2 form can be sent. (If you fail to submit a resignation form, these important items may be sent to an outdated address and may never reach you!)

Q: What is shift differential and how do I get it?

A: Shift differential is an additional amount of money added to your paycheck for the hours that you work past 5 pm. The rule governing shift differential is that you must work 4 or more consecutive hours past 5 pm in order to be paid the shift differential rate of $0.52 per hour.

Q: What if I have other questions that aren't addressed here?

A: Check with your supervisor or stop by your Administrative Assistants office if you have any other questions.

Welcome to the Library; we look forward to working with you!