COVID Retention Bonus Payment

June 7, 2023

Good afternoon, employees.

On September 19, 2022, the Gaston County Board of Education approved the payment of three COVID-19 retention bonuses for the 2022-2023 school year.  Please see the information below regarding each of the bonuses.

1. The first semester bonus amounted to $1,000 for each full-time, qualified employee.  This bonus was paid on January 24, 2023, to the qualified employees who worked for the entire first semester (August 9, 2022 through December 21, 2022). 

2. The second semester bonus amounts to $1,000 for each full-time, qualified employee.  This bonus will be paid on June 19, 2023, to employees who meet ALL of the following criteria:

• Must have been employed from January 5, 2023 through May 26, 2023;

• Must be a permanent employee (contract, interim, and temporary employees are not eligible);

• Works at least 50 percent on a regular basis.

Qualified employees who work less than full-time will be paid the bonus on a prorata basis.  For example, a qualified employee who works 50 percent of the time will receive $500.

3. The entire school year bonus amounts to $1,000 for each full-time, qualified employee.  This bonus will be paid on June 19, 2023, to employees who meet ALL of the following criteria:

• Must have been employed from August 9, 2022 through May 26, 2023;

• Must be a permanent employee (contract, interim, and temporary employees are not eligible);

• Works at least 50 percent on a regular basis.

Qualified employees who work less than full-time will be paid the bonus on a prorata basis.  For example, a qualified employee who works 50 percent of the time will receive $500.

Employees who qualify for both the second semester bonus and the entire school year bonus will receive one bonus payment on June 19, 2023, for the combined amount of both bonuses.

As a reminder, bonus payments are subject to the IRS supplemental tax withholding rate of 22 percent, the 4.9 percent state withholding tax rate, the Social Security withholding rate of 6.2 percent, and the Medicare withholding of 1.45 percent. This bonus is not subject to retirement.

We would like to thank you for your hard work and extra efforts to give us a successful 2022-2023 school year.  We hope you have a great summer!

Gary Hoskins, Chief Financial Officer