University of Northern Iowa Merit Employee Handbook

New Merit System Employees

New employees are scheduled for an orientation session in Human Resource Services. The orientation is scheduled as close to their start date as possible, usually at 8:00 a.m., lasting two to three hours. During the orientation session:

an overview of the Regents Merit System Handbook is presented;
the Personnel Action Form that begins their employment at the University is reviewed;
their benefit package is explained; and
they fill out the required forms for benefits as well as those needed to begin employment.

All employees begin with a six-month probationary period. During this period, there are several forms which the supervisor completes and reviews with the employee. After the employee has reviewed the forms, they are signed by the supervisor, the employee and, when appropriate, the department head. Employees' signatures on these forms indicate that they have seen the form and verify that they are aware of the content, but do not indicate agreement or disagreement with the content. Employees who disagree with the content of a review have the right to respond in writing. The response should be shared with the supervisor and attached to the evaluation document. Copies of all forms and attachments are filed in employees' files in Human Resource Services. The forms which are to be completed during the six-month probationary period are as follows:

1. Supervisor's Checklist (Word format requires Word 97) - guidelines for activities for the first, second, fifth and tenth day of employment.

2. Two-Week Discussion (Word format requires Word 97) - - completed by the supervisor at the end of the new employee's first two weeks on the job.

3. Three-Month Evaluation (Word format requires Word 97) - - completed by the supervisor towards the end of the new employee's first two months or beginning of their third month of service.

4. Six-Month Evaluation (Word format requires Word 97) -- completed by the supervisor towards the end of the new employee's first five months of service, but before six months of service have been completed.

The Six-Month Evaluation form is identical to the Three-Month Evaluation form with the exception that the supervisor recommends either a regular appointment or termination.

Employees beginning on step one of the pay matrix for their job classification will receive a one-step pay increase at the end of their six-month probationary period. If however, they began on a step higher than step one, they will need to complete one full year of service before moving to the next pay step. After employees attain regular status, they will have annual performance appraisals and receive yearly step increases until they reach step ten of their pay matrix. Any time an employee is off the payroll over 30 calendar days, their next step increase is delayed by the number of days off the payroll.