Graduate Workers Frequently Asked Questions

This article contains answers to frequently asked questions (FAQ's) about graduate workers' payroll and time reporting.

1. What is the difference between monthly and biweekly pay frequencies?
2. How much will I receive each biweekly pay period?
   1. Salaried Workers Paid via Stipend
   2. Hourly Workers Paid via Timesheet Entries
3. Why did my tax withholding increase?
4. What are the new deductions from my pay?
5. Where can I see my sick and vacation balances?
6. How do I report sick and vacation paid time?
7. Will I receive a pay increase in July?
8. How much will my pay increase in July?
9. When will I receive my pay increase in July?

Details 

1. What is the difference between monthly and biweekly pay frequencies?

• Monthly is paid on the last business day of each month and includes all pay earned in that same month.
• Biweekly is paid every two (2) weeks resulting in approximately 26 pay periods per year. The biweekly pay period runs Sunday through Saturday with payday being the Friday following (6 days later).  For example, the pay period ending Saturday, June 6th will be paid on Friday, June 12th.
• See the Payroll Schedule for details. Click “Filter Off and select “Filter: Upcoming Biweekly” to see the biweekly schedule.

2. How much will I receive each biweekly pay period?

2.a. Salaried Workers Paid via Stipend

• The biweekly stipend amount will be prorated based on the start and stop date of your appointment.  For example, if your appointment starts June 1, 2026 in pay period ending 6/6/26, you will paid exactly one half of the biweekly stipend amount.
  • If you worked 5/24-5/30/26, the first week of the pay period ending 6/6/26, your academic year appointment total was paid in full in the paycheck for pay period ending 5/23/26. You may view the appointment details by visiting Employee Self-Service > Pay > Contract and Additional Pay Details (Article - How to View Contract and Ad...) and selecting the 3/1/2026 date. The amounts will reconcile with pay statements.
  • Compensation amounts for new appointments may be found in Employee Self-Service > Pay > Compensation History. The amount shows as the annual salary and divided by 26 is the biweekly amount.  

2.b. Hourly Workers Paid via Timesheet Entries

• The biweekly amount will be based on the number of hours reported and approved for the pay period and the hourly rate.

3. Why did my tax withholding increase?

• Tax withholding for most unionized graduate workers increased 7.65% since April 2026 when they became subject to Medicare 1.45% (MED/EE) and Social Security 6.2% (OASDI/ER). (Non-US citizens will remain exempt from these taxes.)  For more information, visit 1040.20 Tax Withholding.docx and Article - Non-US Citizens Frequently Asked Questions.

4. What are the new deductions from my pay?

• Graduate workers covered by the union agreement and who have authorized union dues deductions will see the following deductions:
  • 375 GWU Dues: 1.095% of graduate worker earnings 
  • 376 GWU Initiation Fee: $10.00 one-time deduction
  • 377 GWU VCAP: optional authorized amount deducted from each biweekly paycheck
• Contact a union representative to make changes to union dues.

5. Where can I see my sick and vacation balances?

• Leave balances can be accessed via Employee Self-Service > Benefits > Leave Balance

6. How do I report sick and vacation paid time?

• Immediately report usage of paid time off via Employee Self-Service > Time > Timesheet using the appropriate time reporting codes provided.

7. Will I receive a pay increase in July?

• Union members currently being paid below the minimum outlined in the collective bargaining contract will receive pay increases effective July 1. The Wages and compensation schedules site also has the minimum and maximum amounts.

8. How much will my pay increase in July?

• Union members' pay will increase 3% or up to the minimum, whichever is greater but will also be capped at the maximum outlined in the collective bargaining agreement. The Wages and compensation schedules site also has the minimum and maximum amounts.

  • For summer appointments, increases may be viewed in Employee Self-Service > Pay > Compensation History by July 8th. The amount shows as the annual salary and divided by 26 is the biweekly amount.  

  • For fiscal year appointments, the new biweekly amount and goal may be viewed in Employee Self-Service > Pay > View Contract and Addl Pay Details (7/1 date). The new 7/1 data may not show until July 20th.

• 9. When will I receive my pay increase in July?

  • Graduate workers receiving pay increases effective July 1 will receive a prorated increase in their July 10th paycheck with the full biweekly amount increased in paychecks received thereafter. The biweekly pay period June 21-July 4 will include the current pay for June 21-30 and the new rate of pay July 1-July 4.