Employee Manual

A Note to Our Employees:

This Employee Manual (hereafter referred to as the Manual) is designed to help you understand the college’s mission, policies, procedures, and responsibilities as an employee at Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT).

It will inform you of what you should expect from FIT, and what FIT expects from you as a valued employee. This Manual is not a contract of employment, nor is it intended to create contractual obligations for FIT of any kind. Manual information is for explanatory and illustrative purposes only and does not supersede the precise language of FIT’s institutional policies, employment policies and practices, or its benefit plans.

FIT reserves the right to modify this Manual at any time. FIT will make every effort to notify employees when an official change has been made, but employees are ultimately responsible for keeping current on all FIT policies, procedures, benefits, and working conditions.

This Manual has been updated in both content and format since the last edition. You will notice that much of the information provided is in the form of web links (URLs). This format allows for the most current content to be provided to employees via the FIT website and is environmentally friendly: it does not require printed updates!

If you have questions or need clarification regarding the contents of this Manual, please contact the Office of Human Resources at (212) 217-3650 or [email protected] or through the HR Solutions Center.

Copyright © 2020, Office of Human Resources, Fashion Institute of Technology. All Rights Reserved. 

One of New York City’s premier public institutions, FIT is an internationally recognized college for design, fashion, art, communications, and business. We’re known for our rigorous, unique, and adaptable academic programming, experiential learning opportunities, academic, and industry partnerships, and commitment to research, innovation, and entrepreneurship.

While our pedagogical mission is to prepare our students for professional excellence in design and business, our broader ethos is to foster creativity, inspire leadership, impart a global perspective, and educate students to embrace inclusiveness, commit to sustainability, and engage with community. We encourage students, scholars, teachers, and industry colleagues to cross traditional boundaries of both geography and disciplines. Together we strive to develop innovative design and strategic business solutions that will upend the status quo, create personal and professional opportunity, and have a lasting and sustainable global impact.

Click on the following links to learn more:

FIT’s policies connect the college’s mission to the everyday actions of our community, clarify the institution's expectations of its individual members, mitigate risk, enhance efficiency, and support FIT’s compliance with laws and regulations. All policies can be found in the College Policy Library. The following policies are especially relevant for all employees. As a new employee, you will receive an email with directions on how to complete required training related to these policies; annually, you may be required to complete a recertification course:

The college will formally communicate announcements of any new policies, as well as substantial revisions to existing policies, upon publication. It is the responsibility of the employee to ensure they maintain current knowledge of all applicable FIT policies.

Oath of Allegiance

New York State law mandates that all employees of public colleges sign an Oath of Allegiance. This oath is part of confidential information completed by all college employees. The state requires that employees of the college subscribe to and sign the Oath of Allegiance before beginning work.

The health and safety of our employees, students, and visitors is of utmost importance at FIT. You can find extensive information regarding safety and security procedures, how to get a FIT ID card, as well as emergency text notifications at the links below:

The following links provide important information for you as a new employee as well as for your continued career at FIT. If your position is in the bargaining unit, please also refer to the FIT-UCE collective bargaining agreement*. If your position is not covered by the collective bargaining unit or specific employment contract, your employment with FIT is at will. This means your employment is for an indefinite period of time and it is subject to termination by you or FIT, with or without cause, with or without notice, and at any time. Note that resignation without notice could affect your separation benefits.

Dress Code

FIT expects employees to dress appropriately and maintain a positive and professional appearance. Employees are expected to demonstrate good judgment and professional taste and to dress appropriately for the activities at hand.

Legal Inquiries

If anyone from a government or regulatory agency seeks information from you on campus or by telephone, please direct that individual to the Office of the General Counsel at extension (212) 217-4030 or [email protected]. The same goes for inquiries involving legal or litigation matters.

Media Inquiries

Employees and students, other college-affiliated individuals, and all external parties, including media, must work directly with the Media and Public Relations unit of Communications and External Relations before planning, approving, or carrying out any interactions with the media. Please review the Media Relations policy for detailed protocol. 

Employee Classifications and Salaries

  • full-time staff: regularly work 35 hours per week
  • full-time non-classroom faculty and classroom assistants: regularly work 30 hours per week
  • full-time faculty: have 12 classroom contact hours per week plus four office hours
  • part-time staff: work no more than 25 hours per week
  • part-time non-classroom faculty and classroom assistants: work no more than 22 hours per week
  • part-time faculty: maximum teaching hours vary according to date of hire

Employment offers are made for specific positions at FIT. Each job title is assigned to a corresponding salary schedule which outlines the complete range of pay for that position. 

Payroll is directly deposited into your bank account. If you have questions regarding your paycheck, please contact the Payroll Office at (212) 217-3890 or
[email protected].

Payroll schedules can be viewed by logging in to MyFIT, then: Finance and Administration > Payroll > Schedules.

Timekeeping

All employees are responsible for reporting their time usage. Full-time employees must report their paid time off (PTO) taken on FIT’s online attendance system. Those who work part-time are to submit their approved time sheets to the Payroll Office in accord with the payroll schedule posted on MyFIT.

Union Membership

College employees whose job titles are included in the Collective Bargaining Agreement negotiated between the Fashion Institute of Technology and the United College Employees of Fashion Institute of Technology (UCE), are not required to join the union and pay associated agency fees. Union-provided welfare plan benefits (see below) are still available to employees choosing not to join the union but otherwise eligible.

Employees who choose to join the union will provide signed dues authorization cards and will see the associated union fees deducted directly from their paycheck

FIT offers an extensive benefits program for full-time and part-time employees and their eligible dependents. This section of the Employee Manual provides you with detailed information on the benefits offered. If you have questions, please email the Benefits Staff at [email protected] or call the Benefits Help Line at (212) 217-3670.

Full-Time Employees

Part-Time Employees

  • PT Healthcare Plan
  • PT Flexible Spending Account Plan
  • PT Retirement Plans
  • PT Commuter Benefit Plan
  • PT Tuition Exemption Plan
  • PT SUNY Tuition Assistance Program for Employees
  • PT Employee Assistance Program
  • PT Wellness Program
  • PT Life Insurance Plans

UCE of FIT Welfare Fund

The UCE of FIT Welfare Trust Fund offers benefits to both full-time and part-time employees on a contributory basis. You can visit the UCE of FIT Welfare Trust Fund office on campus in Business and Liberal Arts Center, Room B902 or contact them by phone at (212) 217-3377 for more information. 

Welfare Fund Benefits

  • hearing aid reimbursement plan
  • dental plan
  • legal services plan
  • optical reimbursement plan
  • health advocate program

Social Security Disability Benefits

There are circumstances in which disabled employees who are insured under Social Security may become eligible for monthly Social Security Disability Income benefits. The eligibility requirements are quite detailed and specific. To find out about eligibility requirements or the procedure to apply for benefits, visit the Social Security Administration or call (800) 772-1213.

Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (COBRA)

COBRA is a federal law that allows for continuation of health care plan coverage that would otherwise end due to certain qualifying events. Following a qualifying event, an individual choosing COBRA continuation coverage of their health benefits will be at the full cost of the plan plus an additional 2% administrative cost. 

In compliance with federal COBRA law and New York State Continuation Coverage law, FIT’s health care plan coverage may be extended for up to 36 months due to termination of employment or reduction in work hours. FIT’s health care plan coverage may also be extended under COBRA for up to 36 months for an enrolled employee’s covered spouse (and dependents) due to divorce, for enrolled dependents due to an employee’s death, or if an enrolled child meets the age limitation under a health care plan. In lieu of federal COBRA, a child who loses
coverage due to the plan’s age limitation may elect the New York State “Age 29” Dependent Coverage Extension (Young Adult Option) for up to 36 months and which has a different cost and different eligibility requirements than COBRA.

The Office of Human Resources and Labor Relations is responsible for notifying enrollees in a FIT health care plan of their COBRA and New York State Continuation Coverage rights. In the case of divorce, it is the responsibility of the employee to notify Human Resources within 60 days of the event and in the case of a child meeting a plan’s age limitation, it is the responsibility of the employee to notify Human Resources within 30 days of the event. For questions related to continuation coverage please contact a benefits representative at (212) 217-3670.

Unemployment Insurance

When an employee’s work relationship with FIT is ended, they may be eligible to receive unemployment insurance benefits if they meet requirements established by the New York State Unemployment Insurance Division (“NYSUID”). To determine a former employee’s eligibility for benefits, the NYSUID requires the college to provide specified information on that person, including details surrounding the employee’s termination. More information about unemployment insurance is available on the NYSUID website.