Keel announces most full-time AU employees to receive one-time bonus of $1,000

Jenna Ingalls | Staff writer 

The University System of Georgia is following the state plan of giving full-time employees a one-time bonus of $1,000. 

Full-time USG employees working at least 30 hours a week and earning less than $80,000 will receive the one-time bonus. Part-time workers and temporary workers are not eligible for this bonus. This includes employees of Augusta University, President Brooks Keel announced Friday, Feb. 19. That was one day after the Board of Regents met on Thursday, Feb. 18, to discuss the bonus for USG employees.

House Speaker David Ralston and Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan had urged USG Chancellor Steve Wrigley to give the same $1,000 bonus that other state employees were being given.

In an email sent out to employees, AU’s Keel said this bonus was a way to say thank you to the “Augusta University heroes” working on the frontline during the pandemic. 

The bonus will be in the March 26 paycheck for those paid every two weeks and March 31 for employees paid monthly, according to Keel.

Keel added in a Feb. 23 email: “To mirror the state plan, part-time and temporary employees will not be eligible for this one-time supplemental payment.”

Katrina Keefer and the leadership of AU Health System are working on their own plan to supplement the health system employees’ compensation. Details for this plan will be announced soon, according to Keel. 

Contact Jenna Ingalls at JEINGALLS@augusta.edu.