Nova Scotia Community College
PA-9: Employee Compensation

As stated in the Guidelines to employment at NSCC, “Nova Scotia Community College recognizes that one of our most important assets is our people. Our Strategic Plan outlines our commitment to “create an environment that drives our passion for learning and our commitment to making a difference, while developing extraordinary people who bring out the best in others and apply their talents in pursuit of our Vision. By focusing on learning, flexibility, and wellness, we are an employer of choice and create an environment of celebration.” At NSCC, compensation is only one part of our people philosophy ‘towards being an education without boundaries employer.’ We provide compensation that actively supports our ability to recruit and retain talented employees to help achieve our mission. Guiding Principles:  We ensure our compensation practices contribute to an environment where individual and collective contributions are recognized and valued.  Career level salaries are complemented by competitive people practices, meaningful work and collegial relationships, opportunity for career growth and learning, flexibility, and a realistic opportunity to balance work and life.  Compensation is determined through a mix of internal and external review of job scope, balanced with our financial position and ability to pay in the markets in which we compete for talented employees.  We are committed to open communication and transparency of practice, and balancing internal and external equity considerations in determining career level salaries. All full time and part time employees of NSCC are remunerated based on standards/policy that were developed to support fair, equitable and sustainable compensation. Examples of the standards for the various levels are provided below: Management and Confidential Management and Confidential staff are compensated based on the Leadership Career Compensation program, which is administered by Human Resources. Career Ranges (salary scales) are established based on regular surveys of pay rates, benefits, and other components of compensation. Employees are paid according to their contribution to the organization and the attainment of their Employee Success Plans and goals and which are tied to growth/development and the business plans and objectives of the college. Faculty Faculty at NSCC are compensated based on standards outlined in the Collective Agreement between NSCC and the Nova Scotia Teachers Union. Operational Operational Support staff are compensated based on the Collective Agreement between NSCC and the Nova Scotia Government and General Employees Union. As noted above, all of NSCC’s full time and part time employees are covered by a policy; however, casual employees or contractors are not included. Casual Employees: The average hourly rate is for casuals vary, but for students and summer help the range is between $11.50 – $15.50/hour. This is over the current minimum wage in Nova Scotia of $10.70/hr. Contractor Groups: The contractor groups at NSCC include some campuses with food services and day care services provided by third party companies. These groups are not directly covered by NSCC compensation guidelines.

The current minimum wage standard in Nova Scotia is $10.70 per hour. However, Living Wage Canada reference a report on their website titled “Working for a Living, Not Living for Work: The Halifax Living Wage 2015” which estimates the living wage for a typical four-person family in Halifax, Nova Scotia’s Capital City, where 3 of NSCC’s Campuses are located. The living wage for Halifax is a conservative estimate can be applied to other communities in Nova Scotia because of the relatively higher cost of living in Halifax compared to other predominantly rural Nova Scotian Communities. A unique aspect of the report is that the formula for the living wage calculation factors in a parent who is enrolled in two three-credit classes at NSCC. The report estimates that the living wage for Halifax is $20.10 per hour per adult earner. When comparing NSCC’s compensation rates to this standard of sustainable compensation, 87% of NSCC employees (including casual and student employees) earn more than $20.10 per hour. If casual and student employees are excluded then 93% of NSCC employees earn more than $20.10 per hour. Source: http://www.livingwagecanada.ca/index.php/living-wage-communities/nova-scotia/ Source:https://www.policyalternatives.ca/sites/default/files/uploads/publications/Nova%20Scotia%20Office/2015/06/CCPA-NS_Halifax_Living_Wage2015.pdf

All of NSCC’s full time and part time employees are covered by a policy; however, casual employees or contractors are not included.

Casual Employees: The average hourly rate is for casuals vary, but on average for students and summer help they are around $11.50 – $15.50/hour. This is over the current minimum wage in Nova Scotia of $10.70/hr.

Casual Employees: The average hourly rate is for casuals vary, but on average for students and summer help they are around $11.50 – $15.50/hour. This is over the current minimum wage in Nova Scotia of $10.70/hr.

As per the Faculty Collective Agreement, the lowest paid FT Term faculty paid at step 1 (57,509.73 per year).

As indicated above, on average students and casual summer help are paid between $11.50 – $15.50/hour