Guideline: Graveyard Differential Pay
North Idaho College offers a pay differential for employees who work overnight (also known as graveyard shift), to recognize the distinct nature of the shift and the potential hardship from working during hours that most people sleep.
What is Graveyard Differential Pay
Graveyard differential pay is additional compensation provided for hourly, non-exempt employees who are required on a regular, ongoing basis to work overnight, such that all or most of their hours are worked between 8:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. as part of their normal duties, or to cover an overnight shift for another employee due to absences or leaves. Graveyard differential pay is determined based on the needs of the institution and is authorized only for positions that have been approved by the supervisor, respective PC member and Human Resources prior to any offer or implementation of graveyard differential.
Eligibility for Graveyard Differential Pay
To be eligible for graveyard differential pay, employees must fulfill the following conditions:
- Employee is hourly, non-exempt
- Required to regularly work overnight as a condition of the position or assigned shift
- Works overnight between 8:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.
- The employee’s position has been authorized and approved in writing by the supervisor, PC member, and Human Resources as a graveyard differential pay position
How Graveyard Differential Pay will be Calculated and Paid
Once written approval is obtained, employees eligible for this shift will have a new position added to their setup. This position will calculate graveyard differential pay based on the hours entered into self-service time entry. Employees will enter time worked for each overnight graveyard shift into the graveyard position. Note that employees will have 2 positions available – one for regular shifts and one for graveyard shift. Supervisors will verify that hours are entered correctly prior to approving the employee’s time entry.
Graveyard differential pay will be added to the employee’s base pay in the amount of an additional $2.00 per hour. Differential pay is included when calculating overtime pay. The employee’s entered time that falls between 8:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. will automatically calculate differential pay; hours during a scheduled graveyard shift that are outside of that timeframe will not include differential pay.