Employee categories

The purpose of this Policy is to identify and define the employee categories for all Lynn University employee positions.

It is the policy of Lynn University to classify all employees for purposes of application of University personnel policies, as well as eligibility for employee benefits. Employee Services is responsible for coordinating and communicating employment categories. The combination of employee category, classification, and FLSA exemption status determines the application of University personnel policies, as well as eligibility for fringe benefits.

Note: This Policy does not apply to those individuals who are at the University under independent contractual agreements; such individuals are not members of the employee classifications defined in this Policy.

Employee - one who is paid a salary or wage directly by the University.

Independent Contractor or Consultant—if the worker is not an employee and meets the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) criteria, the worker is an independent contractor or consultant.

Volunteer - means any uncompensated individual who is authorized by a University department, division, school or unit to perform humanitarian, charitable or public services on behalf of the University, or to gain personal or professional experience in specific endeavors. By definition, Volunteers perform services without promise, expectation or receipt of any compensation, future employment or any other tangible benefit.

Based on the conditions of employment, employees of Lynn University fall into the following categories:

Full-Time: An employee who works an average of at least 35 hours per week (or 130 hours of service per month) with no breaks in employment (for these purposes, 7-8 hours per day, 5 days per week). Full-time employees are classified as exempt or non-exempt.

Part-Time: Part-time employees are classified as exempt or non-exempt and work an average of less than 30 hours per week. Under the Affordable Care Act, all regular staff employees who work less than 30 hours per week and all temporary staff employees shall record and report all hours worked to determine health benefits eligibility. For part-time faculty, Employee Services will use a formula that applies a ratio of work hours to credit hours taught to determine whether a part-time faculty member is eligible for health benefits. The ratio Lynn University will use is 2.50 hours of credit for each credit hour taught. This crediting method takes into account time for preparation, teaching, grading, and similar activities needed to teach a course.

Temporary Employees: A temporary employee is hired for a specified project or time frame. A temporary employee in a non-exempt position is paid by the hour while a temporary employee in an exempt position is paid according to the terms of hire for that individual. Temporary employees do not receive any additional compensation or benefits from the University.

Volunteers: A volunteer is a non-employee who does not receive any compensation or benefits from the University. Volunteers are individuals who offer their services without cost to the University for civic reasons and for services which are not typically performed by permanent, part-time, or temporary University employees.

To learn more about this policy or the supporting procedures, please contact Employee Services.