Employee Referral Program

Towson University recognizes that employee referral programs have proven to be an effective way to attract and retain qualified candidates. Research shows that new hires who are referred by current employees tend to perform better and stay with the organization longer, which is why TU is excited to offer the Employee Referral Program.

Effective August 31, 2023, faculty and staff may be eligible to receive a bonus totaling $1750.00 for referring a qualified, external candidate who is selected for a regular, full-time staff position through a competitive recruitment process.

This program is subject to being revised or discontinued at any time.

Primary Objectives

  • Generate larger pools of qualified external candidates for all regular, full-time staff job openings.
  • Provide a monetary incentive for employees to refer qualified, external candidates for open regular, full-time staff positions.
  • Eligible employees who refer external candidates to open staff positions that ultimately are hired will be eligible for a referral bonus of graduated/increasing amounts through the referred candidate’s first year of continuous employment to encourage and reward retention.

Eligibility

Positions Eligible

  • All externally posted regular, full-time staff positions during FY 24

Eligibility for Bonus

  • Faculty/staff of Towson University
  • Must be employed at the time of the scheduled bonus payout
  • The following are NOT eligible for a referral bonus:
    • Faculty/staff who refer a current employee to another position within TU
    • Faculty/Staff who refer a former employee eligible for reinstatement status (i.e., separation date from regular USM and/or State of Maryland service does not exceed three years)
    • VPs, Associate VPs, Assistant VPs, Deans, Associate Deans, Assistant Deans
    • Members of a search committee for the eligible position being filled
    • The direct supervisor/manager of the eligible position being filled
    • Any employee that assumes the role of supervisor, advocate, or judge with respect to conditions of employment, voting, recommending, or in any other way participating in a decision that may directly affect the appointment of the referred candidate

Payment

  • Total payout of $1750 (gross amount) for each candidate who is referred and subsequently hired for a regular, full-time staff position. It will be paid in 3 increments:
    • $250 at 90 days
    • $500 at 6 months
    • $1000 at one year
  • All payments in this program will be charged to a central HR account. No department funding will be needed or required.
  • Candidates will be asked at the time of completing application to select “Employee Referral” as recruitment source type.
  • No more than three names can be submitted as referring the same candidate. Any payout will be allocated equally across all the referring employees.

Notification

  • Employee referrals will not be shared with the hiring manager or the search committee members.
  • Talent Acquisition will ask new hires at the time of offer if they were referred by a current employee.
    • Recruiter will send Employee Referral Form to new hire to complete.
      *NOTE: Employee Referral Form is to be completed by new hire, not current employee.
    • Referring employee will receive a confirmation email letting them know their referral has been hired.

Frequently Asked Questions

Current TU faculty and staff with the exception of the following:

  • Faculty/staff who refer a current employee to another position within TU
  • Faculty/Staff who refer a former employee eligible for reinstatement status (i.e., separation date from regular USM and/or State of Maryland service does not exceed three years)
  • VPs, Associate VPs, Assistant VPs, Deans, Associate Deans, Assistant Deans
  • Members of a search committee for the eligible position being filled
  • The direct supervisor/manager of the eligible position being filled
  • Any employee that assumes the role of supervisor, advocate, or judge with respect to conditions of employment, voting, recommending, or in any other way participating in a decision that may directly affect the appointment of the referred candidate.

Positions are posted on TU’s employment site for external applicants. When an applicant applies, they must select the ‘Employee Referral’ option in the ‘Source Type’ field.

The referral must be for an externally posted regular, full-time staff position.

Yes, as long as the position does not report to you and you do not assume the role of advocate, or judge with respect to conditions of employment, voting, recommending, or in any other way participating in a decision that may directly affect the appointment of the referred candidate.

No, the applicant must select the ‘Employee Referral’ option in the ‘Source Type’ field on their online employment application.  

Yes. A representative from the Talent Acquisition team in HR will send the referring employee a confirmation email letting them know their referral has been hired. 

There is no limit on the number of candidates you can refer. 

Yes. A referring TU employee may receive a bonus totaling $1,750 (subject to tax withholdings), paid in 3 increments, for each eligible staff hire they refer who successfully completes one year of employment. 

Before each scheduled payment is made, it will be confirmed that both employees are active. The payment will be disbursed through Payroll and is considered taxable income. The Office of Human Resources will submit the request for payment of:

  • $250 to Payroll following the referred employee’s completion of 90 days of service
  • $500 to Payroll following the referred employee’s completion of 6 months of service
  • $1000 to Payroll following the referred employee’s completion of 1 year of service
No, only external applicants can be referred for the Employee Referral Program. 

Yes, you may refer a family member as long as you do not assume the role of supervisor, advocate, or judge with respect to conditions of employment, voting, recommending, or in any other way participating in a decision that may directly affect the appointment of your family member.

Yes. However, if the former employee is eligible for reinstatement status, meaning that their separation date from regular USM and/or State of Maryland service is within three years, then you will not receive the employee referral bonus.

The Employee Referral Program is effective August 31, 2023. Positions posted on or after August 31, 2023 are eligible for the program. 

Yes, the bonus can be split between employees. However, the bonus will not be split among more than three employees. Any payout will be allocated equally across all of the referring employees.

Please refer to the Guidelines and Eligibility above or email Nyasha Lumumba, , for questions about the program.

Contact Information

If you have additional questions, please contact Nyasha Lumumba, Manager of Talent Acquisition, at .