University faculty are eligible to receive a three percent bonus from the state of Virginia with their November paychecks this year, University Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer Susan Carkeek announced Tuesday. Faculty salaries have been frozen since December 2007.
Using a $448.5 million surplus from last year’s budget Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell announced in an Aug. 15 email he had decided to offer a bonus to state employees.
“Thanks directly to additional efforts by you and your fellow state employees to save rather than spend down year end balances, the Commonwealth has saved enough to provide for the $77.2 million general fund share of the 3% bonus,” McDonnell stated in the email.
Carkeek’s announcement came the same day University President Teresa A. Sullivan met with the Faculty Senate at the Darden School to discuss the issue of faculty retention in light of the four-year faculty salary freeze.
The University will offer the bonus to full-time and part-time University staff but not temporary staff, said Alexandra Rebhorn, a spokesperson for University Human Resources. It will apply only to employees hired before April 1, 2012. To be eligible, employees must also earn a performance evaluation of “meets expectations” and have no disciplinary actions on file.
Physics Prof. Lou Bloomfield said arbitrary bonuses will have no lasting effect on an employee’s motivation to excel in his or her field.
“The University won’t be able to craft or keep excellent faculty,” Bloomfield said. “Throwing a few thousand dollars people’s way at random moments is a waste of the money. It doesn’t motivate. It is not a response to anything — it’s just ‘here’s money.’”
But McDonnell’s office said Wednesday that it was more than just “money,” noting this year’s bonus could be the start of more efficient government and more surpluses in the future. Virginia’s proposed budget for 2013 includes a two percent salary increase.
“This is conservative governing in action, providing public-sector employees with incentives to save and manage taxpayer dollars more efficiently and effectively,” Tucker Martin, director of communications for McDonnell, said on the Virginia governor’s website Thursday.
Members of the Faculty Senate’s executive council did not respond to requests for comment.
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