Tech Trustees Approve One-Time Bonus For Employees

The Tennessee Tech Board of Trustees unanimously approved a one-time bonus for all permanent full-time and part-time employees.

Each employee will receive a $500 bonus. The non-recurring bonus will cost the University some $650,000, according to Vice President for Planning & Finance Claire Stinson.

“I’m so happy we’re able to do this,” Board Chair Trudy Harper said. “I wish it could be more. But we’re obviously in financial times where we can’t. But I’m so happy we’re able to do this. I’m just glad we can do something, even though it’s not a lot.”

Part time employees will have their bonus pro-rated based on the number of hours worked. The bonus will be included in the December paycheck.

Tennessee Tech President Phil Oldham said the bonus represents a small way the University can recognize what he called extraordinary effort since March.

“This entire campus has done a phenomenal job of addressing the current circumstances where we find ourselves,” Oldham said. “The faculty and support staff have really gone above and beyond the normal call of duty. And really, they’ve all done everything asked of them. Plus, we’re really happy that we’re in a position to do this. We took a good, hard look at what we could do to certainly live within our means, but do something to recognize that effort that everyone on campus has put in over the last several months.”

Tech faculty did not receive a pay raise after the state cut all salary increases during its emergency COVID budget discussions.