Syracuse University students who work on campus or in University-sanctioned off campus jobs are considered part-time casual wage employees. Conditional language is included on all on campus student job postings and offer letters: As a part-time student employee, you are an employee at-will, meaning you have the right to end your employment at any time for any reason, and the University may do the same. Your employment is also specifically conditioned on your being and remaining a student in good standing, satisfactory performance of work, availability of work, and legal eligibility to work in the United States. Work may become unavailable due to health or safety concerns or a change in instructional format.
Closures and Disruptions
In the event of a University-sanctioned closure or disruption, active student employees may be unable to report to work during that time period.
In the event of a closure or disruption, student employees (both Federal Work-Study and Non-Federal Work-Study) will not be paid for any missed hours. Supervisors may provide an opportunity for the work to be done remotely, when feasible. If work cannot be accomplished remotely, then no hours should be recorded or paid.
University Holidays and Orange Appreciation Days
Student employees are not eligible to be paid for University holidays or Orange Appreciation days. If the hiring department is operating on any of these days and the student employee works, they will be paid for any hours clocked in/out.
Scheduling Hours
Student employees are not permitted to work when they are scheduled to be in class. Generally, student employees who are US citizens or permanent residents may work up to 40 hours per week, and no overtime (over 40 hours) is permitted. However, since their primary purpose is to be a student, please be mindful of the number of hours they are scheduled each week so that work does not conflict with their studies.
In accordance with student visa rules, international student employees are permitted to work up to a total of 20 hours per week inclusive of all on-campus jobs during the academic year. International students may work up to 40 hours per week during academic breaks.
If a student employee is scheduled to work 6 or more hours in one shift, they are required to take a 30-minute unpaid meal break, and they must clock out for meal breaks. For more information, please refer to NY State Department of Labor website.
Recording and Tracking Hours
All hourly student employees are required to track their hours through the web clock or a physical timeclock. The web clock and physical time clock are in real time, so student employees will clock in at the beginning of their shift, and clock out at the end of their shift. For more information, please refer to the Recording Time page.
Absence Due to COVID-19 Illness or Exposure
In situations when a student employee is unable to work due to COVID-19, student employees are eligible to receive pay for missed work hours or COVID-19 paid sick leave, as applicable, under the following limited circumstances:
- If the student employee is subject to a government-issued mandatory or precautionary order of quarantine or isolation due to exposure or potential exposure to COVID-19.
- If the University mandates that a student employee, who is not otherwise subject to a mandatory or precautionary order of quarantine or isolation, remain out of work due to exposure or potential exposure to COVID-19; or
- If the student employee is symptomatic for COVID-19, has been tested for COVID-19, and is awaiting test results.
Note in respect to category 2 above that, if the student employee (vaccinated or unvaccinated) is exposed and has symptoms, the student is required to quarantine and will be paid at their regular rate of pay for any missed work hours. Conversely, if the student employee (vaccinated or unvaccinated) is exposed but has no symptoms of COVID-19 and is not subject to a government-issued order, the student is not required to quarantine, may report to work (must wear a mask and be tested 3-5 days after exposure), and will not be paid for any missed hours resulting from the student’s decision not to work.
The student must forward a copy of any quarantine order they receive to cuseworks@syr.edu. The Office of Student Employment will notify the supervisor that the student employee has an excused absence from work. The supervisor will enter any missed work hours as “Sick-COVID 19 Exposure.”
NOTE: In accordance with Federal Work-Study (FWS) regulations, sick time cannot be paid using a student’s FWS award. The earnings will be paid directly from the department’s budget.
Absence Due to Non-COVID-19 Illness
In situations when a student employee is unable to work due to non-COVID-19 illness, they may use their accrued sick time. As of January 1, 2021, student employees are eligible for paid sick time in accordance with New York State Paid Sick Leave.
Sick time generally covers matters related to an employee’s health condition, a family member’s health condition, or domestic violence. More specifically, employees may use accrued sick time for absences necessitated by the following reasons:
- for a mental or physical illness, injury, or health condition of the employee or the employee’s family member, regardless of whether such illness, injury, or health condition has been diagnosed or requires medical care at the time that the employee requests such leave;
- for the diagnosis, care, or treatment of a mental or physical illness, injury, or health condition of, or need for medical diagnosis of, or preventive care for, the employee or the employee’s family member; or
- for an absence from work due to domestic violence, a sexual offense, stalking, or human trafficking, or for the employee to avail themselves or a family member of services or assistance.
Student employees earn one (1) hour of sick time for every 30 hours worked, up to 56 hours of sick time. Sick time that remains unused at the end of the calendar year will be maintained as carryover to the next calendar year. Please consult with the University’s Sick Pay Policy for eligibility details. Student employees can enter their sick time directly into MySlice.
NOTE: In accordance with Federal Work-Study (FWS) regulations, sick time cannot be paid using a student’s FWS award. The earnings will be paid directly from the department’s budget.
If a student employee does not have enough sick time to cover their missed hours, then the remaining time is unpaid.
Financial Hardship Due to Missed Pay
If unpaid absences cause a financial hardship, student employees are eligible to file an appeal with the Office of Financial Aid. Student employees should contact their Financial Aid Counselor for assistance. They may be required to provide documentation from their supervisor and/or copies of paystubs as part of the appeals process. For questions, please contact Student Employment at 315-443-2268 or cuseworks@syr.edu.