Updates for Supervisors, 2026 Pay Day Schedule Change

Preparing for Payday Change

Dear colleagues,Ìý

This message provides a brief overview of the University of Colorado’s for supervisors, as part of the broaderÌýÌýÌý

Starting September 27, 2026, Â鶹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØwill transition Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) nonexempt (federal overtime-eligible) employees who are currently paid monthly to a biweekly pay schedule.Ìý

  • The last monthly payday for nonexempt employees moving to biweekly pay will beÌýSept. 30, 2026.
  • The first biweekly pay period will runÌýSept. 27 – Oct. 10, 2026.
  • The first biweekly payday will beÌýOct. 23, 2026.Ìý

How will employees be affected?Ìý

  • Nonexempt employees on a monthly current pay schedule will move to biweekly pay in arrears in September.
  • 9-month faculty and 1500 series or graduate assistant student employees will remain on a monthly schedule.
  • Exempt (ineligible for federal overtime) employees hired before Sept. 27, 2026, will remain on monthly pay, with an optional biweekly opt-in opportunity in 2027.
  • All staff, 12-month faculty, and student new hires starting on or after Sept. 27, 2026, both exempt and nonexempt, will automatically be placed on biweekly pay in arrears regardless of FLSA exemption status.
  • Employees with multiple appointments:
    • Due to the complexity of multiple appointments, we are reviewing these employees’ FLSA status (exempt or nonexempt) to ensure pay group alignment for employees with multiple appointments is accurate  before making a final determination.
    • If you have an employee with multiple appointments, you and your employee(s) will receive individualized updates as soon as the review is completed, well before the Sept. 27 go-live.Ìý

Why is this change happening?Ìý

Transitioning monthly nonexempt employees to a biweekly pay in arrears cycle will:Ìý

  • Improve payroll accuracy and reduce manual corrections.
  • Reduce the lag time between earning federal overtime and being paid earned federal overtime.
  • Improve the timeliness of first paychecks for newly hired employees.
  • Allow leave taken in a pay period to be fully processed before payroll runs, ensuring leave balances are reflected accurately on pay stubs.
  • Standardize timekeeping processes across all Â鶹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØcampuses.
  • Align with industry standards for payroll and FLSA compliance. Ìý

With these key objectives, the four university campuses, Â鶹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØleadership, and Employee Services aligned to implement this change following a thorough analysis that began in early 2024.ÌýÌý

Support for EmployeesÌý

Â鶹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØwill provide:Ìý

  • A one-time transition payment to help affected employees adjust to the new schedule and to cover the time between their last monthly payday and the first biweekly payday. It will only be provided to nonexempt employees hired before Sept. 1, 2026, who transition from monthly pay to biweekly pay.
    • More information about the transition payment will be communicated closer to go-live in fall 2026.
  • Guidance, resources, and communication to help teams prepare for the new schedule.

Supervisor Action ItemsÌý

  • Begin preparing to support employees with questions by reviewingÌý.
  • Encourage staff to review their FLSA status (exempt or nonexempt), which can be found on the top of their paycheck. If an employee is eligible for federal overtime, their status is nonexempt.
  • Work with HR partners as needed to help employees understand the upcoming change.
  • Recruiting teams will begin communicating these changes to applicants soon and offer letters will reflect the transition where applicable.Ìý

Nonexempt employees moving from monthly pay to biweekly pay will receive an email on Jan. 22, 2026,outlining the PDSC. Supervisors will receive additional communications and resources as we approach the transition date, including training materials and guidance to support conversations with their teams.Ìý

If you have any questions in the meantime, please contact your HR representative and/or reach out to pdsc@colorado.edu. .Ìý

Thank you for your support as we move toward a more efficient and accurate payroll process.Ìý

Sincerely,Ìý

Robyn Fergus

Vice Chancellor of Human Resources

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