S.C. Code Regs. § § 19-705.04

Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 10, October 25, 2024

Section 19-705.04 - SALARY INCREASES

A. Agencies shall develop written policies to govern the administration of salary increases for employees.

B. Legislative Increase--General and Merit Increases shall be provided to employees in accordance with the provisions of the annual Appropriation Act.

C. In-Band Salary Increase--Written justification for awarding an in-band salary increase shall be maintained by the employing agency. An employee's salary may be increased within his current pay band for the following reasons:

1. Performance Increase--An agency may increase an employee's salary based upon performance in accordance with Section 8-1-160 of the South Carolina Code of Laws. Such increase shall be determined by the agency. A performance increase shall not place an employee's salary above the maximum of the pay band.

2. Additional Skills or Knowledge Increase--An in-band increase may be granted when an employee gains additional skills or knowledge directly related to the job. An employee's salary may be increased by up to 15% for the acquisition of additional skills or knowledge, provided such increase does not place the employee's salary above the maximum of the pay band. For an increase of more than 15%, the agency must submit written justification to OHR for approval.

3. Additional Job Duties or Responsibilities Increase--An in-band increase may be granted when an employee is assigned additional job duties or broader responsibilities, either within his current position or as a reassignment to another position in the same pay band in the employing agency. An employee's salary may be increased by up to 15% for the recognition of the additional job duties or responsibilities, provided such increase does not place the employee's salary above the maximum of the pay band. For an increase of more than 15%, the agency must submit written justification to OHR for approval. Should the additional job duties or responsibilities be removed from the employee within six months of the date that the salary increase was awarded, the salary may be reduced by up to the amount of the additional job duties or responsibilities increase. (For removal of additional job duties or responsibilities, refer to Regulation 19-705.05 B. 2.)

4. Transfer Increase--An in-band increase may be granted when an employee accepts a position within another agency which is in the same pay band as his current position. An employee's salary may be increased by up to 15% for the recognition of a transfer, provided such increase does not place the employee's salary above the maximum of the pay band.

5. Retention Increase--An in-band increase may be granted when an employee has a bona fide job offer from another employer, either within or outside of State government, and an agency wishes to retain the services of this employee in his current position. An employee's salary may be increased by up to 15% for the purpose of retention, provided such increase does not place the employee's salary above the maximum of the pay band. For an increase of more than 15% for employees who have bona fide job offers outside of State government, the agency must submit written justification to OHR for approval. An employee shall receive no more than one retention increase in a one-year period.

D. Salary Increases Resulting from Upward Band Changes--An employee's salary may be increased as a result of movement to a higher pay band for the following reasons:

1. Promotional Increase

a. Upon promotion, the employee must be paid at least the minimum of the pay band of the class to which promoted.

b. Upon promotion, an employee's salary may be increased by up to 15% of his salary prior to promotion, or to the midpoint of the new pay band, whichever is greater. For an increase of more than 15% and above the midpoint of the pay band, the agency must submit written justification to OHR for approval. Such increase shall not place the employee's salary above the maximum of the new pay band.

2. Reclassification Increase

a. When an employee's position is reclassified to a class with a higher pay band, the employee's salary shall be increased to at least the minimum of the pay band of the class to which reclassified.

b. Upon reclassification, an employee's salary may be increased by up to 15% of the salary prior to reclassification, provided such increase does not place the employee's salary above the maximum of the new pay band. For an increase of more than 15%, the agency must submit written justification to OHR for approval.

3. Reallocation Increase--When OHR reallocates a class to a higher pay band:

a. An employee in that class shall receive a salary increase at least to the new minimum of the new pay band; or

b. An employee in that class may receive up to a 15% salary adjustment provided such increase does not place an employee's salary above the maximum of the new pay band.

E. An employee is not eligible to receive a salary increase upon downward reclassification or demotion.

F. Return from Leave Without Pay--An employee who has returned from an authorized leave of absence without pay shall be paid at the same rate being paid at the time leave was granted, except that the employee shall be granted any legislative increases authorized during the employee's leave of absence. In determining the amount of adjustment that the employee shall be granted, the same implementation instructions that applied to all employees in that class shall be followed.

S.C. Code Regs. § 19-705.04

Added by State Register Volume 26, Issue No. 1, eff January 25, 2002. Amended by State Register Volume 34, Issue No. 5, eff May 28, 2010.