0800 Classification and Compensation

0870(C) GEOGRAPHIC PAY DIFFERENTIALS - SECTION 130.7

.1 BACKGROUND

.110 Statutory Authority

.111 Section 130.7 of the Civil Service Law provides that the Director of the Division of Classification and Compensation may authorize payment of additional compensation, called a Geographic Pay Differential, to State employees in one or more areas of the State when recruitment and/or retention difficulties can be tied to private or other non-State employers in such areas paying substantially higher salaries for a similar occupation. All such determinations are subject to the approval of the Director of the Division of the Budget.

.120 Purpose

.121 The purpose of Geographic Pay Differentials is to assist State agencies with the recruitment and retention of employees in particular occupations and areas of the State.

.130 Approved Salary Differentials

.131 The Division of Classification and Compensation has developed a Salary Differential Search Engine to look up approved Increased Hiring Salaries (Section 130.4), Shift Pay Differentials (Section 130.6), and Geographic Pay Differentials (Section 130.7). The Salary Differential Search Engine is an advisory tool only and should not be used to convey any "official" salary offer to any candidate. For an "official" salary calculation with an approved Salary Differential, contact the Office of the State Comptroller's Payroll Unit.

.2 PROCEDURE 

.210 Applications

.211 Section 130.7 authorizes applications for such Geographic Pay Differentials from appointing officers, employees, and employee organizations. Applications by appointing officers should be submitted in accordance with New York STate Electronic Personnel (NYSTEP) procedures detailed in the NYSTEP/TPM User Manual located on the Department of Civil Service's website (see previously listed website). Applications by employees and employee organizations should be submitted in writing to the Director of the Division of Classification and Compensation.

.212 All requests should include detailed information and documentation regarding:

1. Recruitment difficulty for a class.
2. Recruitment difficulty in a geographic area.
3. Documentation of recruitment efforts.
4. Eligible list information (i.e., age of list, eligible candidates in an area).
5. Vacancy and turnover data regarding a class.
6. Salaries offered for similar positions by other employers in the same geographic area.

.220 Considerations

.221 Geographic Pay Differentials are authorized as either percentages or fixed dollar amounts.

.222 Geographic Pay Differentials should not be confused with the Downstate Adjustment, Mid-Hudson Adjustment, or Location Pay, which are pay negotiated supplements. These amounts can only be authorized for unionized employees if the applicable negotiated agreement provides for such "Adjustments." Managerial/Confidential employees also qualify for both the Downstate and Mid-Hudson Adjustments.

1. The Downstate Adjustment is provided to all employees who work in the five counties of New York City and the counties of Nassau, Suffolk, Rockland, and Westchester. The amounts negotiated can be found on the Governor's Office of Employee Relations (GOER) website.
2. The Mid-Hudson Adjustment is provided to all employees who work in Dutchess, Orange, and Putnam counties. The amounts negotiated can be found on the above noted GOER website.
3. Location Pay is provided to employees whose principal place of employment or whose official station is in Monroe County who were receiving such compensation on March 31, 1985 for those represented by the Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) and on March 31, 1988 for those represented by the Public Employees Federation (PEF). The associated amounts can be found on the above noted GOER website.

.223 A Geographic Pay Differential is not considered part of an employee's base annual salary.

.224 An employee does not retain a Geographic Pay Differential when that employee ceases to be employed in the position or area or location for which the Geographic Pay Differential was authorized. Contact the Office of the State Comptroller's Payroll Unit regarding salary implications.

.225 Further specifics and examples of the application of Geographic Pay Differentials can be found in the Office of the State Comptroller's Salary Manual.

.230 Review, Reassessment, and Rescission

.231 The Division of Classification and Compensation periodically reviews the appropriateness of previously approved Geographic Pay Differentials. When appropriate, the Director retains the statutory authority to either reduce or enhance existing Geographic Pay Differentials, or terminate (i.e., rescind) existing Geographic Pay Differentials.

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TM-72
Replaces Sections 0830; 0840; 0850(B); 0850(D); 0870; 0870(A); 0870(B); 0870(C); 0870(E); 0870(F) -  Dated August, 2008
Replaces 0860 - Dated December 18, 2014

Issued: August 6, 2018

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