Dear Penn Faculty and Staff Members:

Prior to the electronic payment of compensation, pay was predominantly made by check and the checks were then manually distributed across campus. To ensure timely check distributions before Thanksgiving and the Special Winter Vacation, a special process was developed to issue checks earlier than the normal schedule. A recent review of this special process indicated that it often required substantial subsequent adjustments because the pay was estimated. This often created confusion for employees.

In our current process, the use of direct deposit and pay cards in lieu of checks has eliminated the risk of untimely payment distribution.
Moving forward, the University will follow the normal payment schedule in the weeks before Thanksgiving and the Special Winter Vacation.

Timing and Awareness

While the actual dates are a minimal change, we understand that any adjustment to the timing of your pay may impact you and your household. Penn is communicating this change now so you can plan in advance. For weekly paid staff, the Thanksgiving week and the fourth pay in December both move from Wednesday to Friday. For monthly paid faculty and staff, the pay moves from December 21 to December 30.

Additional Benefits of a Normal Compensation Payment Schedule

You will now receive regular, steady payments based on your actual work, week-to-week or month-to-month, regardless of the season. This payment schedule eliminates the two- or six-week gap in paycheck payments.

Late Fall and Winter Compensation Payment Schedule

This change to the payment schedule is grounded in thorough research and attentive discussions with business administrators and others across the University schools and centers.

If you have any questions, contact the Payroll help desk at (215) 898-6301 or by email: dofpayroll@pobox.upenn.edu

—Jack Heuer, Vice President Human Resources 
—MaryFrances McCourt, Vice President Finance and Treasurer 
—Anita Allen, Vice Provost Faculty Affairs