Re: Postdocs Herbert B. Chermside 16 Nov 2004 10:05 EST
I presume "postdoctoral research associates" means actually employees as opposed to holders of postdoctoral fellowships. You should first look to your normal employment practices for policy. This would provide benefits and leave processes. If these employees are not covered by present policies, then you need to create some, and your request for others' policies are a good place to start. Health benefits are of greatest concern to these younger employees, and participation in a retirement plan -- preferably portable, as these employees will probably be geographically mobile as they advance -- is likely the next. Because they are paid primarily from sponsored programs, you should consider a "take it or loose it" leave program, and ensure that supervisors do not prohibit taking leave. It is very important to differentiate between employees -- with social security and medicare taxes and the need to withhold income taxes -- and holders of fellowships. These often work side by side doing similar activities, but the purposes of their compensation are different. However, you may find that it is prudent to look at the compensation packages and try to accomplish some equitable similarity between them. If present employer policies do not provide health insurance -- often with the corollary that holders of fellowships cannot avail themselves of employee health insurance -- you may want to look into having a separate group created for them. I wish it were possible to suggest a multi-institutional group for this health insurance, to increase the insured population, but that isn't likely. Chuck At 04:44 PM 11/15/2004, you wrote: >Good Afternoon, > >We are developing a policy for hiring and compensating postdoctoral >research associates. For those of you with an existing policy, would >you send me the link to your policy? > >Also, how do you handle benefits such as health insurance and vacation time? > >Your help will be appreciated! > >Ruth > >Ruth Tallman >Office of Research and Sponsored Programs >Lehigh University >526 Brodhead Avenue >Bethlehem, PA 18015 >Phone: (610)758-3024 >FAX: (610)758-5994 >E-mail: xxxxxx@lehigh.edu > > >====================================================================== >Instructions on how to use the RESADM-L Mailing List, including >subscription information and a web-searchable archive, are available >via our web site at http://www.hrinet.org (click on "Listserv Lists") >====================================================================== Chuck Chermside 804-320-5502 xxxxxx@verizon.net ====================================================================== Instructions on how to use the RESADM-L Mailing List, including subscription information and a web-searchable archive, are available via our web site at http://www.hrinet.org (click on "Listserv Lists") ======================================================================