Granite School District will soon be distributing payroll on a twice-a-month basis, with health insurance premiums and voluntary deductions also taken twice a month.
When will it start?
The twice-a-month payment method start time will vary depending on an employee’s length of contract.
- 9, 9.5, and 10-month contracts will begin September 15
- 10.5-month contracts will begin August 15
- 12-month contracts will begin July 15
- Hourly positions and substitutes will see twice-pay as early as July 31, or as work assignments commence in the 2014-2015 school year.
When is payday?
Pay dates will be on the 15th and 31st of each month (30th or 28th for appropriate months). If pay day falls on a weekend or bank holiday the pay day will be moved up to a non-weekend or non-bank holiday day. For example, if the 15th fell on a Saturday, payday would be moved up to Friday.
Since employees will be getting two paychecks every month rather than one, the gross contract pay, deductions, taxes, and net pay will be half as much as a normal monthly payment.
Hourly employees will be paid for the hours worked in a pay period, with each pay period being half as long as previous periods (two weeks instead of four). For those employees who are already being paid twice monthly, deductions will be taken equally on both pay runs rather than once a month.
Employees are encouraged to check with their financial institutions to ensure automated loan payments or transfers won’t be adversely affected. Please make appropriate changes as needed.
For more information, contact the Payroll Department at 385-646-4315.
Kirsten Sandberg @ pleasant Green says
I really wish you would not make this change. My mortgage company will not let me pay half one payday and the other on the other, other companies have said the same thing. So this is quite frustrating for me. I am not a teacher and therefore do not get paid as much, half a check is not going to cover things that are due on the first of the month. This has become very stressful to me.
Granite Schools says
This request was made by employee groups. Most mortgage companies allow half a payment to be made in advance of the due date and the final half made at the end of the month. Many employees make their payments this way including myself. We are not aware of any mortgage companies that only allow payments to be made at one time during the month. Regardless, the change was made at the request of employee groups.
Gabrielle Roh says
Employee groups such as GEA, the union? Ridiculous! Shame on the union for adding more work to our already overloaded front office staff. Those people handle crisis after crisis every day and we want to load them down with another payroll period?!?! Let alone the inconvenience people will go through as they juggle their bills.
I’m a union member and they didn’t listen to me. Sounds like they bullied GSD into making some unnecessary concession to make it worth the $600 bucks I spend on union dues each year. Very disappointing that the membership was not consulted.
Granite Schools says
Membership ratified the proposed changes.
Mindy Layton says
I understand this may be stressful for you and others. I personally will continue to make mortgage payments as I have in the past and allow the mid month payment to accrue in my account and continue to bill pay the same as I have with the end of the month paycheck. We who have mortgages are very blessed to have warm roofs over our heads, not all employee especially new hires are able to financially lease an apartment, buy school supplies, pay gas and buy food etc. Employee groups of which I am an active member, are looking out for all employees and have thoughtfully requested this change to the board, especially for newly hired teachers to be able to afford a leased apartment, limiting our newest employees from substandard living conditions until their first payment.
Caryn says
I haven’t received any information as to why this change is occurring. Will you please inform me as to why this change to the current payroll system is happening?
Granite Schools says
Employee groups requested the change in behalf of their members.
Mindy Layton says
Granite School District Board of Education ratified this negotiation item on May 6th in a public notice. I would enjoy your membership in our employee group in order for you to receive communication concerning the latest happenings. Contact me via email or your GEA Building Association Representative to become a GEA member and receive the specifics on the 72 million dollar negotiation package.
Janet Christensen says
Why the change? How does it affect the amount of taxes taken out? More? less?
Granite Schools says
This was a request from employee groups. It should not impact the amount of taxes taken out as that is only impacted by your federal form submitted to payroll directly by each employee upon their hire.
Anna says
Will you be informing employees other than this board report? A huge change like this should be disseminated in a more acceptable manner, especially in the summer, right after the school year, when many of us haven’t even finished decompressing from the already stressful year. Some automatic withdrawals and changes take time to adjust. Messing with an employee’s financial stability due to lack of communication is unacceptable. I am sole support of my family of 7. A change like this without warning shows how much you value your employees, and without quality employees, Granite will suffer.
Granite Schools says
Actually, this is one of multiple communications on this change. You should have also received a direct email from payroll on the change as well as information in the board report. Mind you, this is a negotiated change as requested by employee groups, not a district initiative. As such, we hope they are also informing their membership regarding this issue as well. Thanks for your comment.
Anna says
“Should have received an email from payroll” does not equate receiving an email. Whether it wa a GEA negotiated change or not, it MUST be communicated via direct contact. As it is summer, may employees are out of communication for the time. When there is a district wide change, common courtesy (regardless of who requested the change) requires dissemination of information that will actually reach employees during their period of unemployment (the summer). I was lucky enough to open my district email. Our GEA representative did not inform us of these changes, and I received no direct email from payroll. If I didn’t receive a notification, it is likely that the email has not actually been sent. It’s not expectation, rather inspection of those expectations that result in action. If you wish to show your employees that you respect their hard work and efforts, it would behoove you to use the same methods you employ to disseminate information regarding board meetings, open enrollment, and other important information–not as a notice in the monthly bulletin. It is a huge change and merits its own communication.
Granite Schools says
We agree wholeheartedly. An email was supposed to have been sent out while contract time was still in force. It now appears that the email is still in process. There is no need to be rude or condescending. We are here to help and assist and sometimes district personnel make mistakes. Regardless, we do want to provide good customer service. My department was not in charge of the email, but was directed to provide additional information through the employee newsletter. We took that information and publicized it in this forum and others with the same intent you have indicated. Additionally, a postcard should come to every affected employee soon. I am sorry you didn’t receive an email. Thanks and have a nice day.
Mindy Layton says
Dissemination has been through board notes, and most specifically from GEA ARs who have shared information with ALL GEA members on the specifics of the 72 million dollar negotiation package. This information was widely shared via a PowerPoint the weeks before May 6th for ratification. This item has been being discussed for several months, I am not sure if you have considered becoming a member of your local professional organization to receive the regular communication concerning changes that affect your family. You may be as delighted as I am about the benefits for next year that will enhance our working conditions, Including 3 additional payed working days, a 1.5% retirement increase, a one time December bonus, no raise in your families insurance, and a 15% decrease in dental.
Karen Broadhead says
As an employee of Grante School District, having to get together with the secretary when she is available to sign payroll is a MAJOR hassel. With the technology available one would think the District would setup an online system for employees and teachers to do payroll. They already have it online for the Custodial Staff, why not everyone?
Granite Schools says
Good suggestion. Something that has been considered in the past. I will pass that along. Thanks!
Dennis Otteson says
As a active member of the Association, I did remember it coming up as one of the things that we wanted. I heard it was from the Teachers union and not ours. I can not change my house payment or car payment in order to work with this. Been on it for 21 years and the change does not work for me and others that I know of as well. Why change?
Granite Schools says
Having had to personally make this type of change myself, I think you will be surprised at how flexible financial institutions are to accommodate these types of issues. In my case, I started making a half a payment on the 15th and the remaining payment on the last day of the month for a complete payment monthly. There are not many financial organizations that will not accept payment early, or more than once a month.
Adelle says
I do not understand why everyone is panicking. Most businesses pay twice a month. If you’re worried about changing how you pay your bills – the solution is easy. Pretend you DON’T get paid on the 15th of September. When you get paid on the 31st, pay all your bills like you usually would. The next month, ignore your mid-month paycheck and continue with life as usual.
Nick Young says
Who is the Employee Group and who do they represent and why have few people heard about this until know. If they are representing Employees of the District all should have a chance to be heard, What has happened to Due Process and communication?
Granite Schools says
There are employee associations for almost every classification of employees. Negotiations were publicized in the early part of May in emails that went to every employee. Additionally, payroll is sending additional communications directly to every employee and a postcard should be received within the next few days regarding the change. Thanks for your patience.
Mindy Layton says
The cost of living I am sure has changed in the past 21 years. With that said, I am sure you would understand if more than a handful of a provisional teachers have reported that the gap between their first work day and first pay check at the end of October was unbearably difficult. This change will limit that gap. GEAs requested for this change as our professional organization, is to assist and retain quality provisional teachers in our profession. This negotiation item was thoughtfully decided In order to limit substandard living of our fabulous provisional teachers who are also employed in our amazing District.
Granite Schools says
Thanks Mindy for explaining the change from another entities perspective!
Robyn says
So, how is this going to work? For example, we are getting a full paycheck on June 30th, correct? Then, on July 15th we will get 1/2 of a paycheck, with the other half being given to us on July 31st?
Granite Schools says
I would double check with the payroll department by calling 385-646-5000.
Carl says
Wow what a bunch of whiners and complainers, you must work with Children! Now you’ve caught it!
It’s a great idea thanks for your consideration. We can use our own money 2 weeks earlier!
Kathrene Livingston says
Does this twice a month also affect those who are Preschool Teachers in the Districts? If it is it a HUGE help for many I know for my case at least
Rebekah Klein says
I am VERY greatful for this change. I only wish that we could have some money taken out to help through the summer months when we aren’t working. Thank you for finally noticing those of us hourly employees who struggle too.
Paul Edmunds says
Your financial institution may be able to help with this. If you have direct deposit you can set it up to automatically send a portion of your pay to savings instead of checking. I think it can be set up as a percentage, but if not you can still approximate how much you will need over the summer months and have it taken out over the different pay periods.
Susan Root says
I really like how people can comment and then the District people reply. Great idea! Thanks!
Cassie Gaisford says
Happy to hear it! I welcome the change. Thanks for all you do.
Marguerite says
We have been told that this goes into effect July 15, but checking my pay stub through the portal shows that July and August checks are at the end of the month.