Employee Types

The primary relationship between an employee and SMU determines the individual’s employee type. 

The correct classification is necessary to ensure compliance and accurate reporting in the areas of:

• FICA tax withholding
• Unemployment wages
• Benefit charges applied to the GL
• Grants and contracts 

To determine what type of employee you are hiring, ask yourself the following questions: Why is the person here at SMU? What is the person’s primary relationship with SMU?

• Is she here to attend as a student, and is working part-time in addition to her studies? This is a student worker employee.
• Is she here to work and is also taking a class? This is a staff employee.
• Is she a graduate student, enrolled in for-credit classes herself, but is teaching a class this semester? This is a student worker employee.

Further clarification about SMU employee types:

Type of Employee	Biweekly Payroll	Monthly Payroll
Staff	"Non-exempt": covered by overtime provisions under FLSA Generally paid an hourly rate times the number of hours reported per pay period Regular or temporary employees; full-time or part-time	"Exempt" from overtime  provisions under FLSA  Paid a salary (flat dollar  amount) each pay period  Regular employees only;  full-time or part-time
Faculty	N/A	Paid a monthly salary or  contract amount each pay  period  May be regular or adjunct
Student Worker	Non-exempt: covered by overtime provisions under FLSA Generally paid an hourly rate times the number of hours worked per pay period - OR - Teaching assistants or research assistants paid a biweekly salary (flat dollar amount)	Teaching assistants or research  assistants paid a monthly  salary (flat dollar amount),   typically when wages are charged  to a grant