Longevity Increases

Kalamazoo College’s strategic plan includes investing in human capital, meaning that the College is committed to using its resources such as time, money, and effort to enhance the working environment for our most precious resources – our people. One way of investing in our people is to increase base compensation.

Longevity Increases support the strategic plan while providing tangible recognition to individuals who dedicate their careers to Kalamazoo College. Details of the plan are below, including frequently asked questions.

Description

Longevity Increases are an additional increase to a person’s base compensation after completing years of service at Kalamazoo College in 5-year increments. The first four years include a phased-in approach from 60% to 100% of the full longevity increase amounts.

The salaried and hourly Longevity Increase rates.
Years of Service2023 Increase2024 Increase2025 Increase2026 Increase2027+ Increase
5$300
$0.14
$350
$0.17
$400
$0.19
$450
$0.22
$500
$0.24
10$600
$0.29
$700
$0.34
$800
$0.38
$900
$0.43
$1,000
$0.48
15$900
$0.43
$1,050
$0.50
$1,200
$0.58
$1,350
$0.65
$1,500
$0.72
20$1,200
$0.58
$1,400
$0.67
$1,600
$0.77
$1,800
$0.87
$2,000
$0.96
25$1,500
$0.72
$1,750
$0.84
$2,000
$0.96
$2,250
$1.08
$2,500
$1.20
30$1,800
$0.87
$2,100
$1.01
$2,400
$1.15
$2,700
$1.30
$3,000
$1.44
35$2,100
$1.01
$2,450
$1.18
$2,800
$1.35
$3,150
$1.51
$3,500
$1.68
40$2,400
$1.15
$2,800
$1.35
$3,200
$1.54
$3,600
$1.73
$4,000
$1.92
45$2,700
$1.30
$3,150
$1.51
$3,600
$1.73
$4,050
$1.95
$4,500
$2.16
Annualized, full-time rates

Eligibility

Benefits-eligible faculty and staff are eligible for Longevity Increases. Former benefits-eligible employees of the College who are rehired into a benefits-eligible position are given service credit in addition to time in their current employment. Adjusted service dates are calculated through our payroll system and can also be determined by downloading the Service Date calculator (xls.)  Pre-tenure faculty will receive their first increase in conjunction with the midpoint review.

Process

Longevity Increases are added to employees’ base compensation and paid on the first paycheck in October beginning with the first cohort in October 2023.

Frequently Asked Questions

Implementation Questions

How can I confirm when I will see my Longevity Increases and the amounts?

There are a couple of ways by which you can confirm when your Longevity Increase will be.

  • Check out the chart below to see when each cohort will receive the Longevity Increase.
  • In Spring 2023, Human Resources will be sending personalized messages to each person to confirm when and how much their first Longevity Increase will be.
Hire/Service Date Year2023*2024*2025*2026*202720282029203020312032
1983, 1988, 1993, 1998, 2003, 2008, 2013, 2018YesNoNoNoNoYesNoNoNoNo
1984, 1989, 1994, 1999, 2004, 2009, 2014, 2019NoYesNoNoNoNoYesNoNoNo
1980, 1985, 1990, 1995, 2000, 2005, 2010, 2015, 2020NoNoYesNoNoNoNoYesNoNo
1981, 1986, 1991, 1996, 2001, 2006, 2011, 2016, 2021NoNoNoYesNoNoNoNoYesNo
1982, 1987, 1992, 1997, 2002, 2007, 2012, 2017, 2022NoNoNoNoYesNoNoNoNoYes
* Graduated implementation of Longevity Increases.
If I am eligible for the 10-year increase in 2027, do I also get an additional $500 for when I completed five years of service in 2022?

Unfortunately not. The first cohort of Longevity Increases is in 2023 and is forward-looking. However, as an example, colleagues who are eligible in 2023 will also be eligible in 2028 and each 5-year increment thereafter.

If I am eligible for the Longevity Increase before 2027, why do I receive a reduced amount?

Longevity Increases recognizes milestone anniversaries in 5-year increments. Consequently, it will take a full cycle, or 5 years, for every eligible colleague to receive their first Longevity Increase. Meanwhile, annual base salary increases are expected to continue.

A phased-in approach is adopted to bring as much parity as possible between Longevity Increase cohorts, rather than causing additional disparity between each cohort by adding annual increases to full Longevity Increases.

Those who get the increase earlier will have a reduced amount. Those who get the increase later will have an increased amount. When coupled with projected annual increases, the phased-in approach results in very similar increases when the cohorts are compared.

How significant are the differences after the phased-in approach to the Longevity Increase implementation?
Implementation YearYears 5 and 4 Differences
Monthly
Years 5 and 4 Differences
Weekly
Years 5 and 4 Differences
Annually
2023: $300
Year 5
$14$3$162
2023: $600
Year 10
$27$6$325
2023: $900
Year 15
$41$9$487
2023: $1200
Year 20

$54
$12$649
2023: $1500
Year 25
$68$16$812
2024: $350
Year 5
$10$2$118
2024: $700
Year 10
$20$5$235
2024: $1050
Year 15
$29$7$353
2024: $1400
Year 20
$39$9$470
2024: $1750
Year 25
$49$11$588
2025: $400
Year 5
$6$1$76
2025: $800
Year 10
$13$3$151
2025: $1200
Year 15
$19$4$227
2025: $1600
Year 20
$25$6$303
2025: $2000
Year 25
$32$7$378
2026: $450
Year 5
$3$1$37
2026: $900
Year 10
$6$1$73
2026: $1350
Year 15
$9$2$110
2026: $1800
Year 20
$12$3$146
2026: $2250
Year 25
$15$4$183
Assumptions: $40,000 annualized salary, 3% annual increase
Contact Renee Boelcke for the supporting details

General Questions

Is there an easy way to remember the Longevity Increase cohorts?

Yes! One needs to look at their service anniversary year. For example, colleagues who were hired in years that end in three or eight will see their Longevity Increases in years ending in three (3) and eight (8.) Colleagues who were hired in years that end in four (4) or nine (9) will see their Longevity Increases in years ending in four (4) and nine (9.) The groups or cohorts are three and eight, four and nine, five and zero, six and one, and seven and two.

Or check out the chart below.

  • Find the year in which you were hired, or your service date year if you had a break in service.
  • Then follow the row over until the first green yes.
  • Follow the column up to the year in which you will see your Longevity Increase.

Example: If a full-time person were hired in 2013, their Longevity Increases would be $600 for 10 years in 2023 and $1,500 for 15 years in 2028.

Hired/Service Date Year2023*2024*2025*2026*202720282029203020312032
1983, 1988, 1993, 1998, 2003, 2008, 2013, 2018YesNoNoNoNoYesNoNoNoNo
1984, 1989, 1994, 1999, 2004, 2009, 2014, 2019NoYesNoNoNoNoYesNoNoNo
1980, 1985, 1990, 1995, 2000, 2005, 2010, 2015, 2020NoNoYesNoNoNoNoYesNoNo
1981, 1986, 1991, 1996, 2001, 2006, 2011, 2016, 2021NoNoNoYesNoNoNoNoYesNo
1982, 1987, 1992, 1997, 2002, 2007, 2012, 2017, 2022NoNoNoNoYesNoNoNoNoYes
* Graduated implementation of Longevity Increases.
How does the Longevity Increase and an annual increase work together in my Longevity Increase years?

They are added together. Here are a couple of examples.

  • An bi-weekly “annual” increase of $0.48 would be added to a Longevity Increase of $0.144 for a total increase of $0.62 in that increase year.
  • A monthly “annual” increase of $1,000 would be added to a Longevity Increase of $300 for a total increase of $1,300 in that increase year.
I am in a part-time, benefits-eligible position. Will my part-time status impact the amount that is added to my base pay?

The increase amounts are prorated based on full-time hours. Positions that are 12-months per year and 40 hours per year are considered full-time.
Example 1: A position that is 30 hours per week (75% of 40 hours) would receive 75% of the increase.
Example 2: A position that is 11 months per year (92% of 12 months) would receive 92% of the increase.

What will the Longevity Increases be starting in 2027?
Years of ServiceLongevity Increase
5$500
10$1,000
15$1,500
20$2,000
25$2,500
30$3,000
35$3,500
40$4,000
45$4,500
50$5,000
Full-time values
Is there an end date to this plan?

The College is committed to this plan and also recognizes that conditions might evolve over time that could cause changes. For instance, the College could determine that the amounts, conditions, or processes need to adjust and reserves the right to make changes.

I plan on leaving or retiring from K before my Longevity Increase. How will my departure/retirement impact a Longevity Increase?

Longevity Increases are added to the base, meaning that one needs to be actively employed in order to receive the increase. While you are leaving Kalamazoo College before a longevity increase can be added to your pay, please know that you would retain your prior service time if you were to return to Kalamazoo College in an eligible position.

Who can I contact with questions?

Questions can be directed to Renee Boelcke at renee.boelcke@kzoo.edu.