Graduate Employees Organization -- University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign / Workload

From CGEU

VII. Hours of Work

A. Assistants’ hours of work are reflected in their percentage of appointment. Such hours of work are separate and distinct from the time required for an assistant’s own academic coursework.

B. It is understood that assistants in this bargaining unit are engaged in professional activities of such a nature that the output produced, or the result accomplished, cannot be precisely standardized or measured in relation to a given period of time and that the time necessary to accomplish an assignment may vary.

C. The appointment level (full time equivalency or FTE) shall be based on the appointing department’s determination of the amount of time it should normally take to perform the assigned duties including orientation and training. It is expected that a .5 FTE assistant will devote an average of 20 hours per week over the course of a full appointment period. Assistants appointed for other FTE levels would be expected to perform work for a proportionately greater or lesser average number of hours per week.

D. If an assistant reasonably believes that his/her duties routinely require hours which will cumulatively exceed the hours of effort required by the appointment percentage over the full term, he/she must raise the matter within 5 calendar days from the point the assistant deems the cumulative workload to be excessive with his/her department supervisor. Upon meeting with the assistant, if the department supervisor concludes that the assistant is working excessive hours based on his/her assigned FTE, the supervisor may suggest with the assistant’s cooperation, that the assistant meet with and be mentored by more experienced assistants or other academic staff members in order to develop strategies for completing the assigned duties at a high level of quality in time contemplated by the assistant’s FTE appointment. Further, the supervisor may determine: (1) that certain duties be reduced and/or reassigned to others; (2) the assistant’s FTE be increased; or (3) the assistant’s FTE be reduced with the consent of the assistant; and/or (4) that the assistant be reassigned to a different position.

E. An assistant may appeal the department supervisor’s final determination in writing to the Unit Executive Officer (UEO) within five (5) calendar days of the determination. The UEO will review the department supervisor’s determination and issue a letter to the assistant either agreeing with, modifying or reversing the determination within five (5) calendar days of the appeal.