Merit Increase Program

The University of Pennsylvania’s Merit Increase Program is designed to recognize and reward the valuable contributions of faculty and staff by paying market competitive salaries in a fiscally responsible manner.

The University establishes a merit increase pool based on market trends and economic conditions. Schools and centers use this pool to provide salary increases as merited by performance. Performance reviews must be completed for all eligible staff to support the merit increase recommendation.

Eligibility for Merit Increases

Faculty

Faculty eligibility is determined by the deans. Deans give the department chairs their own guidelines at the school level.

Staff

Eligibility for the merit increase program includes individuals in positions with a staff employee type and who were employed by the University on or before the last day of February.

Ineligible Classifications

Individuals in the following classifications are not eligible for the Merit Increase Program: 

  • Staff hired on or after March 1
  • Staff who move from non-merit-eligible to merit-eligible job profiles on or after March 1
  • Student workers, temporary workers, contingent workers
  • Interns, and residents
  • Staff covered by collective bargaining agreements
  • Staff on unpaid leaves of absence
  • Staff on long-term disability
  • Faculty early retirement, emeritus, secondary appointment, part-time lecturers.

Workday Merit Process

The merit planning process is managed in Workday. For instruction and training details see the Merit Planning resources on the Workday@Penn webpage.

Questions

If you have any questions related to the Merit Increase Program, you can contact Human Resources in your school/center or the  Penn Employee Solution Center online, by phone at 215-898-7372 or email  solutioncenter@upenn.edu.