PRESS RELEASE

Office of Management and Budget Announces State Employee
Salary Supplement Implementation Guidelines
One-Time Supplement Included in June Paycheck

Dover - State Personnel Director Lisa Blunt-Bradley announced today that the recently approved pay supplement for state employees will be included in employee paychecks on June 11.

The timing results from a long-planned upgrade of the state's computerized human resources, benefits and payroll system, known as PHRST (Payroll Human Resource System Technology). The upgrade of the PHRST system includes a move to a web-based technology that will allow self-service features for employees.

In May, employees will utilize the first of these self-service features as they complete their annual open enrollment for employee benefits, including their health insurance, over the internet.

"The timing in passing the pay supplement coincided with the system upgrade and with the web-based benefits enrollment, which will dominate the system and not allow the additional input that is required for the supplement," Director Blunt-Bradley said. "But we look forward to providing employees with this well-deserved supplement in June".

Employees who were on the payroll as of December 16, 2003 and remain employed with the state through May 16, 2004 will be eligible for a salary supplement between $600 and $1,000, depending on their base salary.  This will include merit and non-merit agency personnel, Delaware Technical and Community College employees under certain salary plans, public school and charter school employees, elected officials (other than the governor), judges, court employees, State Police, communications workers and employees of the Delaware Transit Corporation.  Eligible part time, hourly, casual/seasonal employees, National Guard emergency employees, and half-time teachers will receive a one-time salary supplement of $400.

For more information, call (302) 739-4195.

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