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To: Faculty and Staff
From: President Ashish Vaidya
Date: 11/18//21
Subject: NKU’s Paid Parental Leave Benefit and January 2022 Bonus

Dear Colleagues:

Next week we celebrate Thanksgiving, and we have much to be thankful for this year. NKU is close to wrapping up the fall semester with a successful return to campus vibrancy. You have gone above and beyond to support our students, all while navigating the changing dynamics of the pandemic. This has not been an easy journey, but your dedication to student success has been inspiring.

At a time when we have had to endure so many challenges, I am pleased to share some positive news.

• January 2022 Bonus: In recognition of your continued flexibility and dedication to student success over the past year, all current employees hired on or before January 4, 2021, will receive a bonus payment in January 2022. This payment will be 1% of the employee’s base pay, with a minimum of $500 and a maximum of $1000.

• Paid Parental Leave: A new Paid Parental Leave benefit will take effect on February 1, 2022. The Leave will enable employees to support their family with the birth, adoption or placement of a child. Full-time employees with 12 months of consecutive service as of February 1, 2022, will be eligible for 6 weeks of paid leave under this new benefit. The benefit will be introduced as an interim measure while the formal policy advances through the official policy process. We are excited to offer this benefit to our staff and faculty as an investment in the well-being of their families.

Thanks to the incredible work of the faculty and staff and prudent fiscal management over the past 18 months, we have been able to successfully address the pension issue while keeping our long-serving staff in KERS. We have also provided modest salary increases, taken the first step in a comprehensive staff compensation process by adjusting pay ranges by 15 percent, frozen medical premiums for 2022, and now we have added this one-time bonus and a paid parental leave benefit.

These commitments are a few ways of showing how much the faculty and staff mean to the university. Your steadfast focus on our mission and vision is the reason NKU continues to transform the lives of the students and the region we serve.

As we head into Thanksgiving, please remember that the university will be closed Wednesday through Friday for the holiday week. I urge you to take care of yourselves and your loved ones during that time and please take advantage of the many University Wellness resources available to you.

Have a safe and happy Thanksgiving week.

Sincerely,
Ashish Vaidya