(Approved by USM BOR on April 21, 2017; ºÚÁÏÇ鱨վ President on July 1, 2017)
Purpose and Applicability
This policy is created to establish the terms and conditions in which Exempt and Overseas Staff employees; Collegiate Faculty members as defined in ºÚÁÏÇ鱨վ 181.00 – Faculty Appointment, Rank, and Promotion Policy; and Overseas Collegiate Faculty employees would be eligible for the payment of moving expenses by the ºÚÁÏÇ鱨վ (ºÚÁÏÇ鱨վ).
Administration
The President or designee may authorize the payment of moving expenses for employees when it is deemed to be in the best interest of ºÚÁÏÇ鱨վ.
As set forth in USM policy, the Chancellor may authorize the payment of moving expenses for the ºÚÁÏÇ鱨վ President.
The payment may include moving expenses of reasonable household goods and other expenses directly related to the relocation to the extent supported by this policy, including reasonable packing and unpacking charges. The goods and services purchased must be at reasonable and competitive prices. To support a request for reimbursement of moving expenses, the employee shall provide three (3) bids from reputable moving companies for prior approval by ºÚÁÏÇ鱨վ.
ºÚÁÏÇ鱨վ shall only authorize the payment of moving expenses when the distance between the employee's former residence and the ºÚÁÏÇ鱨վ location where the individual is required to work is in excess of 50 miles one way. Exceptions to the 50 mile limitation may be made for payment of relocation expenses when the relocation is for the convenience of ºÚÁÏÇ鱨վ.
ºÚÁÏÇ鱨վ is responsible for compliance with IRS regulations concerning reporting and withholding requirements associated with payments for moving expenses, and should exercise due diligence in processing taxable and nontaxable payments.
For purposes of determining an individual's salary, moving expense payments shall not be considered salary or bonus.
An employee who receives payment of moving expenses is responsible for paying any applicable income taxes on any taxable portion of the moving expenses that the employee incurs and ºÚÁÏÇ鱨վ pays and/or reimburses.
Nothing in this policy requires the payment of moving expenses and it is solely at discretion of the President (or the Chancellor when moving expenses are considered for the President).
Should the employee voluntarily leave employment with ºÚÁÏÇ鱨վ within one year of the date of hire, the employee shall be responsible for reimbursing ºÚÁÏÇ鱨վ for moving expenses for which ºÚÁÏÇ鱨վ paid and/or reimbursed the employee.
The ºÚÁÏÇ鱨վ President has designated the Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) to administer this policy; to develop procedures as necessary to implement this policy; to communicate this policy to the ºÚÁÏÇ鱨վ community; and to post the policy and any applicable procedures on the ºÚÁÏÇ鱨վ website.
Replacement for:
USM BOR VIII-16.00: Policy on Payment of Moving Expenses