Human Resources

Are Post Doc Associates eligible for adoption benefits?

Postdocs are not eligible for adoption benefits. If adopting a child, postdocs are eligible for parental leave via the Family & Medical Leave Act (FMLA). Note that FMLA leave is unpaid leave. Postdoc associates may use accrued postdoc leave (i.e. paid time off) while on FMLA leave. 

Are Post Doc Associates eligible for the Sick Leave pool?

Postdocs are not eligible for the sick leave pool as they do not accrue sick leave hours. Postdoc Associates accrue Postdoc Leave

What retirement plans are available to postdoc associates and fellows?

Postdocs may participate in the FICA Alternative Plan and are also eligible to participate in the 403b and 457 voluntary savings plans.

Note: Fellows are not employees and do not participate in either the FICA Alt or the voluntary savings plans.

Are any retirement and/or financial planning seminars offered for postdoc associates and fellows?

Post Doc Associates and Post Doc Fellows are welcome to attend the Financial Literacy and Retirement Education (FLARE) courses offered by Human Resources Services.

Are all types of leave described here (https://benefits.hr.ufl.edu/time-away/) applicable to postdoc associates and fellows?

Review the leave entitlement chart provided by human resources services. Postdoc Associates are eligible for Post Doc Leave, which is accrued at 5 hours per pay period up to 352 hours per year to use for vacation, sickness or injury.  Please use leave code "NRA 18 PL*" for reporting paid time off.

Postdoc Associates are also eligible for the four December Leave Personal Days as well as all holidays with pay.  It is important to know that Postdoc Leave cannot be cashed out at the end of employment and cannot be rolled over to other appointments at UF. Postdoctoral Associates can check their leave accrual in their biweekly paycheck under the Leave Balances section.  The leave benefits do not apply to Post Doc Fellows, since they are technically not employees.

If you have questions about how to record paid time off (leave) in your timesheet, contact a member of our Central Leave Administration team at 352-392-2477 or central-leave@ufl.edu.

Are postdoc associates eligible for FMLA (Family and Medical Leave Act)?

Yes, with certain eligibility factors fulfilled. 

Postdoctoral Associates are eligible for up to 12 work weeks of Family & Medical Leave Act (FMLA) leave, once they have worked at least 12 months (need not be consecutive), and also have worked at least 1,250 hours during the 12 months prior to the start of the FMLA leave. Breaks in employment do not affect this total. It is a cumulative total of the number of months the employee has been employed by the University. Note that FMLA may be used for parental leave. 

Learn more about FMLA, find out if you are eligible, and start the process of requesting FMLA leave.

Are postdocs eligible for maternity/paternity leave?

Post-Doctoral Associates, are eligible for up to 12 work weeks of parental leave, once they have worked at least 12 months (need not be consecutive), and also have worked at least 1,250 hours during the 12 months prior to the start of the FMLA leave. This is unpaid parental leave that falls under Family & Medical Leave Act (FMLA). While on parental/FMLA leave, a postdoc associate may use their accurred postdoc leave to continue being paid. 

How much leave can postdocs accrue? What happens once that limit is reached?

Postdocs can accrue up to 352 hours of postdoc leave.  Once that limit is reached, postdocs will stop accumulating leave.

At the end of a postdoc associate/fellow’s employment, will they receive accrued leave payouts?

Upon termination of employment with the university, postdocs will not receive payout for postdoc leave.

How do I record leave in my timesheet?

Follow the directions on Entering & Adjusting Time and Leave: Salaried TEAMS & Faculty (Exempt). In most cases the code for postdoc leave is "PDL" and the code for time worked is "PDA". If you are unsure which codes to use, call University Payroll and Tax Services at 352.392.1231.

Are postdocs eligible for unemployment after their contract ends?

Eligibility for unemployment benefits is determined by the state in which you are applying for the unemployment assistance. If you are no longer employed due to no fault of your own (i.e. you contract has terminated), you should apply for unemployment to determine if you are eligible.

Employed visa holders who pay taxes are permitted to apply for and accept unemployment benefits. This is based on a State-by-State basis. The applicant should contact the local unemployment office and inquire if they would be eligible. Receiving unemployment benefits is not considered public assistance/public ward, thus would not hinder any permanent resident applications. 

Who are the administrative contacts in Human Resource Services to address postdoc issues?

Contact LilyRLewis@ufl.edu who can help connect you with the appropriate Human Resources specialist. 

Are there salary minimums for Postdoctoral Associates at the University of Florida?

Yes.  New postdoctoral appointments beginning on or after July 1, 2016 must have an associated salary of $47,476 or more.  Human Resource Services will not approve or process requests for new appointments with salaries below that level.

Postdoc Associates are exempt from minimum wage and overtime provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). As such, they are exempt employees and may not be paid less than $35,568 regardless of FTE. Salary may be prorated from the minimum 1.0 FTE salary of $47,476 until it reaches the minimum of $35,568. Further FTE reductions may be made, however the salary may not reduce beyond $35,568.

Where can a postdoc go for help if they are experiencing difficulty with their employer?

The UF Ombuds is here to members of the university community, including postdocs, in resolving problems and conflicts that arise in the course of interacting with the University of Florida. By considering problems in an unbiased way, the Ombuds works to help find solutions to university related problems and concerns. Contact the Ombudsman

Postdocs may contact the Human Resouces Office of Employee Relations to file a formal compaint. 

If you are unsure where to turn for help, please contact LilyRLewis@ufl.edu to for assitance navigating your options. 

In transitioning from Postdoc Associate to Postdoc Fellow, what happens to my benefits and retirement plans?

Download the Guide to Postdoctoral Fellow Benefits

You are also encouraged to contact LilyRLewis@ufl.edu for assistance.

Are UF fringe benefits charged against postdoctoral fellow appointments?

No.

Does a postdoc fellowship appointment count toward years of work and wages contributed with social security?

No.

Does Social Security tax need to be paid by the postdoctoral fellow from the fellowship income?

No.

Can a postdoc associate or fellow be employed at UF as a student assistant?

No.

Is there a UF Template Letter of Offer for Postdocs?

Yes. Template Offer Letters for Postdoc Associates and Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for Postdoc Fellows can be found on the Human Resources Services website, in their Appointment Letter Library.

Is it possible to continue my health insurance coverage following termination of my postdoc appointment with the University of Florida?

Post Docs are eligible for COBRA after termination of employment.  An informational packet will be mailed after the termination date of your postdoc appointment, so please be sure to update your “Local Home Mailing Address” in the University of Florida directory. If you would like assistance determining your health insurance costs under COBRA, please contact benefits specialist Alisha Hargon (ahargon@ufl.edu) or Lily Lewis (LilyRLewis@ufl.edu).

Do you have a question you think might be helpful to address on this FAQ site? Please e-mail Dr. Brittany Hollister (b.hollister@uf.edu) the question (and appropriate answer if you have it.

 

Updated October 18, 2023