07-04.60 – Shift Differential

  1. Policy Statement:

    This procedure allows for Regular Non-exempt and Contingent hourly paid employees who render a service within a department that operates on two (2) or more regularly scheduled daily shifts to receive compensation.

  2. Reason for Policy:

    Towson University has established implementing procedures pursuant to the USM Policy VII-4.60 Policy on Shift Differential for Nonexempt Staff Employees. 

  3. Responsible Executive and Office:

    Responsible Executive:
    Associate Vice President for Human Resources

    Responsible Office:
    Office of Human Resources

  4. Entities Affected by this Policy:

    All divisions, colleges, departments and operating units; all Towson University regular non-exempt and contingent hourly paid employees in departments that operate on two or more regularly scheduled daily shifts. 

  5. Procedures: 

    1. Eligibility 

      1. Shift differential applies only to Regular Non-exempt and Contingent hourly paid employees who render a service within a department that operates on two (2) or more regularly scheduled daily shifts as defined by the department. 

      2. For departments operating two (2) shifts daily, employees who work a regularly scheduled shift between 2:00 p.m. and 1:00 a.m. shall be eligible for shift differential pay. 

      3. For departments operating three (3) shifts daily, employees who work an evening or night shift shall, as determined by the department, be eligible for shift differential pay. 

    2. Provisions 

      1. An employee eligible for shift differential, who works the entire scheduled qualifying shift, shall receive shift differential for the shift. 

      2. An employee eligible for shift differential, who works part of the scheduled qualifying shift, shall receive shift differential only for hours worked. 

      3. An employee eligible for shift differential, who is scheduled to work overtime from a non-qualifying shift into a qualifying shift, shall receive shift differential for hours worked in the qualifying shift provided the employee has worked at least one-half (½) of the qualifying shift. This payment is in addition to any overtime payment or compensatory time to which the employee may be entitled. 

      4. An employee eligible for shift differential, who is called back to work on a qualifying shift, shall be paid for hours worked on the qualifying shift. 

      5. An employee eligible for shift differential, who begins work on a qualifying shift and who works into the next qualifying shift, shall be paid shift differential for hours worked in each qualifying shift. This payment is in addition to any overtime payment or compensatory time to which the employee may be entitled. 

      6. An employee who fails to work an assigned qualifying shift due to leave without pay shall not be paid shift differential for that shift. 

      7. An employee eligible for shift differential, who uses approved paid leave for an entire qualifying shift for which they were permanently assigned, shall receive shift differential for that shift. Such payment of shift differential will cease, however, after ten (10) work days of continuous paid leave for which there had been shift differential payment. 

      8. An employee who is on an approved permanent schedule of rotating shifts is eligible to claim the shift differential only while on a qualifying shift. An employee is also eligible for shift differential payment while on approved leave with pay if the leave is taken while scheduled for a qualifying shift. All other restrictions in section V.A above apply. 

    3. Compensation

      Employees shall receive shift differential pay according to the rate established by the Chancellor or designee. When working a qualified shift, regular non-exempt part-time employees working 50 percent or more will be eligible for shift differential on a prorated basis. The shift differential rate is published for the general information of all employees. 

Related Policies:

USM Policy VII-4.60, Policy on Shift Differential for Nonexempt Staff Employees

Approval Date: 2/13/2007

Effective Date: 2/16/2007

Approved By: President’s Council 01/03/2007

Signed By: President’s Council

How to Request the Policy PDF

This online version of the policy may include updated links and names of departments. To request a PDF of the original, signed version of this policy, email the Office of the General Counsel, .