RECENT ISSUES

Health Insurance for Post-Doctoral Associates

Recently the post-docs title was changed from a student to a faculty title.  A major change that resulted is that Post-Doctoral Associates are now entitled to the same health insurance as faculty, paid for by the grants they are paid from.  Several post-docs have reported problems in the implementation of this new policy. 

Some examples include:

1. At least two post-docs have suffered salary reductions to pay for the cost of their health benefits.
2. At least two professors have stated they will not hire married post-docs because of the additional cost of health insurance for families.
3. Some post-docs are not being offered or told about health insurance.
4. Others are simply being told that there is not enough money on the grant and they will not be provided with health insurance benefits.
5. We have had one report of new post-doc positions being offered without health insurance benefits.

We have (i) met with Dr. Ken Gerhardt, Associate Dean of the Graduate School and (ii) addressed the Board of Trustees to raise the awareness of problems that post-docs are experiencing with the implementation of this policy.

Other issues raised by email and during meetings include:

- Participation in faculty meetings

- Obtaining the same benefits as other faculty (or employees of the university) - including leave and retirement benefits

- Minimum pay

- Independence to write grant applications as PIs

- Providing assistance to international post-docs

- Career development and mentoring

- PI accountability, integrity and honesty and protection of post-docs from exploitation