Payroll FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
- Are payroll checks (warrants) printed here on campus?
- When do I get paid?
- How can I qualify for direct deposit?
- When will my Direct Deposit begin after I sign up?
- I've lost my paycheck and/or direct deposit advice. What can I do?
- How do I get a refund of my contributions to the various retirement accounts upon complete separation from the University?
- Where do I find out more about the Pre-Tax Parking Deductions?
- How do I earn vacation credit?
- When does my vacation accrual increase?
- Do I lose my vacation if I do not use it in the current calendar year?
- How do I get more information about W-2s?
- How do I verify employment - as an employee, employer, or financial institution?
- Do I need to submit an absence report even if no time was taken?
- What is the CalPERS employer contribution rate?
1. Are payroll checks (warrants) printed here on campus?
No, they are printed at the State Controller's Office in Sacramento and delivered to us.
2. When do I get paid?
State employees are paid once a month. Paydays are listed at the following locations:
- Regular staff and faculty: http://sco.ca.gov/ppsd_direct_deposit_pay_dates.html
- Student employees: Campus Calendar - State Employee Pay Days
3. How can I qualify for direct deposit?
Qualification depends on the type of position you hold:
- Full and part-time staff qualify once they have 10 hours of accrued leave credits available
- MPPs, full-time faculty, and part-time faculty automatically qualify
- Hourly employees, Graduate Assistants, Student Assistants are not eligible to participate.
4. When will my Direct Deposit begin after I sign up?
Depending on your financial institution it normally takes 30-45 days. You will receive a Direct Deposit Advice once your automatic deposit has begun. Click here for more Direct Deposit information (PDF)
5. I've lost my paycheck and/or direct deposit advice. What can I do?
A lost paycheck must have a stop payment placed on it. Once the State is sure that it has not been cashed, a replacement check will be issued. This process can take 2-4 weeks. Stop payments are placed through the Financial Services Office.
6. How do I get a refund of my contributions to the various retirement accounts upon complete separation from the University?
All refund requests can be obtained at the Human Resources Office in Kendall Hall.
7. Where do I find out more about the Pre-Tax Parking Deductions?
Information about the California State University (CSU) Pre-Tax Parking Deduction Plan can be found online.
8. How do I earn vacation credit?
Vacation Credit is earned for each qualifying monthly pay period. For purposes of computing vacation credit, an employee who works eleven (11) or more days in a monthly pay period is considered to have completed a qualifying month. When an absence without pay of more than eleven (11) consecutive working days falls into two (2) consecutive qualifying monthly pay periods, one (1) of the pay periods is disqualified for leave accrual.
9. When does my vacation accrual increase?
Vacation accrual is based on months of service and bargaining unit agreements. This chart (opens in new window) provides the vacation accrual changes.
10. Do I lose my vacation if I do not use it in the current calendar year?
Eligible employees may accrue unused vacation credits up to the maximum allowed as of December 31. When computing the maximum allowable vacation limits include the December vacation accrual that is available the following January 1. This chart (opens in new window) provides the maximum vacation carryover.
Back to top11. How do I get more information about W-2s?
Go to our W-2 information online.
Back to top12. How do I verify employment - as an employee, employer, or financial institution?
Go to our Verifying Employment information online.
13. Do I need to submit an absence report even if no time was taken?
The Chancellor's Human Resources Management Office has determined that it is a best practice to have all staff and management employees submit an absence report each pay period. To align our campus with this new best practice, all staff and management employees should submit an absence report every pay period starting with their July 2010 time submission, even if no time was taken. To submit a 'No Time Taken' absence report, the employee needs to complete the top portion of the absence report like normal, write "No Time Taken" across the middle section of the absence report, and sign/date certifying the time being submitted. The supervisor must also sign to approve. If you have any questions, please contact your payroll analyst.
14. What is the CalPERS employer contribution rate?
California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS) Board of Administration adjusted the employer contribution retirement rates for Fiscal Year 2013/2014. The new employer contribution rate for State Miscellaneous member – Tier 1 is 21.203%. The new CSU contribution rates for CalPERS retirement are effective as of the July 2013 pay period. A CalPERS history of employer rates is available online should you need to view past years.
We encourage you to use the CSU’s Total Compensation Calculator to see the significant value of the CSU benefits package, which includes employer contributions to retirement.
If you have any questions, please contact your payroll technician or call the Human Resources Service Center at x6771.