Nov. 22, 2024

Dear Westminster Team,

Last week, a federal court vacated the recent updates to the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), reversing the changes to the federal minimum salary thresholds for exempt employees that were set to take effect in January. While this decision temporarily shifts the regulatory landscape, this decision does not change our commitment to ensuring our employees feel valued and supported.

At Westminster, we view compensation and benefits as key components of our mission and values to attract, retain, and empower our team. As previously announced and as part of this commitment, the institution will increase its contributions to employee retirement plans by an additional 0.5% realized on the January 7 paycheck. Furthermore, despite a 13% rise in medical benefit costs, Westminster is absorbing this increase without passing it on to employees.

Over time, both employee needs and the collection of benefits that we offer have changed. We have the opportunity in the coming year to better understand available options and align employee priorities with resource allocation. Toward that end, we are launching a strategic review of our total benefits offerings, facilitated by a group of staff and faculty, and supported by Human Resources. This initiative will include opportunities for you to share your feedback about the benefits that matter most to you, including compensation.

We look forward to engaging with you throughout this process and will share more details about how to participate soon. In the meantime, if you have questions or would like to share initial thoughts, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Human Resources.

Thank you for your dedication and contributions to Westminster University.

Sincerely,
Debra L. Glenn, CPA