Compensation

Compensation Philosophy

The University of Denver (DU) aspires to foster a sense of community and promote diversity and inclusivity. As a key part of its benefited staff compensation program, DU focuses on consistent and competitive salaries in order to attract and retain a high quality workforce to successfully fulfill the mission of the University. Compensation is a core element of our competitive total compensation package, which includes generous benefits and a supportive work environment.

DU's compensation program emphasizes market value and also recognizes the internal equity and value of jobs. Salary ranges target the median of general industry and identified higher education markets based on appropriate talent segments determined by the type and level of the job, as well as individual qualifications.

DU's overall performance, strategic objectives, financial capability, economic conditions, and departmental budgets impact the annual budget available for potential salary increase opportunities. In support of DU's commitment to institutional performance, merit increases will be used to strengthen the link between individual performance and compensation. Managers and supervisors, Human Resources, and DU leadership each have a defined role in, and share responsibilities for, ensuring an effective compensation program.

Salary Grade Range

A salary grade is a step within a salary structure that helps define the amount of pay an employee will receive. Ranges are defined by relevant market data and based internally on roles, responsibilities, qualifications, and competencies, as well as the skills and experience of the incumbent as they relate to the organizational structure.

View Salary Grades

Job Family

A job family is a group of jobs in which the work performed is of a similar nature. It is a macro grouping based on a segmentation and primary concentration of jobs at DU.

Job Summary

A job summary is a brief, general statement outlining the broad functions, responsibilities, and required qualifications of a job. This summary is not meant to replace the more specific job description which outlines in greater detail the purpose, essential functions, requirements, and competencies of a job as it relates more specifically to the needs of a unit, department, or division.

Sustainable Compensation Guidelines

The benefited staff compensation program is designed to provide salary opportunities that are market competitive and internally equitable to enable DU to attract, retain, and engage our workforce. Guidelines are established to ensure consistency, transparency, and a sustainable compensation program into the future.

View Guidelines

  • New Fair Labor Standards Act Rule for White-Collar Job Exemptions from Overtime Pay – March, 2019

    Background

    In 2019, the Department of Labor (DOL) proposed updates to the regulations governing the exemption of executive, administrative, and professional employees from the minimum wage and overtime pay protections of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (FLSA).

    FLSA is the federal law that establishes minimum wage, overtime pay eligibility, record-keeping, and child labor standards affecting full-time and part-time workers in the private sector and in federal, state, and local governments.

    The DOL published a notice of proposed rule-making on March 7, 2019. The new minimum salary threshold to be eligible for overtime pay has been set at $35,568 per year. The previous threshold was $23,660 annually. This means that employees paid up to $35,308 can be eligible for overtime pay.


    What This Means for DU

    The new rule changes the federal guidelines for overtime pay requirements under FLSA for higher education institutions along with all other organizations. As with most federal regulations, it will take time to fully understand the impact of this rule. So, while it's too soon to talk about specific impacts to individual positions within units, we will be meeting with division/unit leaders and sharing information as it relates to their units.


    More Information

    Here are some articles and websites that give you some idea of the complexity around this change while helping you understand it better.

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Human Resources & Inclusive Community