Benefits and Policies Manual

Welcome to Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI)! 

You are a valued employee, and you have joined a dedicated team of employees and supervisors. Your efforts are important to the functioning of the University, and you play a significant role in maintaining WPI’s reputation as an outstanding educational institution. 

This Manual is for staff, faculty, and administration. It is intended to serve as a practical guide to employee policies, procedures, practices, and benefits, though it may not cover all topics or circumstances that you will encounter. We encourage you to read this Employee Benefits and Policies Manual (“Manual”) carefully and reference it often. If you have any questions or need additional information, the Division of Talent & Inclusion staff will be happy to assist in all matters concerning your employment. You can email us at talent@wpi.edu.

To access the Faculty Handbook, please visit this page.

We wish you success. We hope your employment with WPI will be rewarding and challenging.

CONTACT
Location: Boynton Hall
Phone: 508-831-5470

February 5, 2024 Update

In 2023, the Division of Talent & Inclusion undertook a comprehensive review of WPI's Employee Benefits & Policies Manual, last published as a PDF in July of 2021. On February 5, 2024, the first online edition of the manual was published to reflect the changes made during this review. 

By far, the greatest number of changes in the 2024 update have come in the form of revisions to simply and clarify the language used throughout the manual's various sections. There are few new or updated policies, and we will attempt to highlight those in the list below. 

The primary goal of this latest revision has been to eliminate redundancies and inconsistencies across sections, to replace the former print format and features with online formatting and features, and to reflect a modern sensibility in the language of employee relations and experience. 

In addition, some sections have been re-organized and re-ordered for better functionality and content flow, and some policies have been replaced with hyperlinks to webpages that are more regularly updated and maintained.

If you discover material changes in the manual that this section overlooks, please bring them to our attention using talent@wpi.edu. You can send general feedback or questions to the same email address.

Primary Changes to the Employee Manual since the July 2021 PDF Edition
  • The Opening/Welcome section, particularly its legal disclaimers, have streamlined and simplified.
  • Names of contacts who address Notice of Non-Discrimination feedback have been updated.
  • Affirmative Action Program – Equal Employment Opportunity section has been revised to align with current law.
  • Remote and Flexible Work section has been added to the manual.
  • Social Media policy has been simplified and streamlined.
  • Grievance Procedure language has been simplified and revised for clarity.
  • Weather-Related Closing and Delays has been updated to reflect current practice.
  • Emergency Management has been aligned with content found on the website.
  • Fleet Safety Policy has been made current.
  • Disability Accommodations section has been substantially revised to align with current law and best practices.
  • Pregnancy & Pregnancy-Related Accommodations have been revised to be gender neutral and to highlight what is protected under the law.
  • Vision Insurance benefit added.
  • MPFL Massachusetts Paid Family Leave section added.

 

 

Table Of Contents

A PDF version of this Table of Contents is available here.

Table Of Contents

About WPI

Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), a global leader in project-based learning, is a distinctive, top-tier technological university founded in 1865 on the principle that students learn most effectively by applying the theory learned in the classroom to the practice of solving real-world problems. Today, WPI recognizes the essential nature of preparing and supporting future scientists, engineers, and business leaders in their journeys to become the empathetic, collaborative, and resourceful STEM professionals the world needs now. 

WPI’s award-winning, pioneering project-based and globally engaged curriculum engages students in solving important scientific, technological, and societal problems throughout their education—on campus and at more than 50 project centers in the Americas, Africa, Asia-Pacific, and Europe. In both academics and research, undergraduate and graduate students pursue interdisciplinary collaboration with each other, with faculty across WPI’s four schools, and with public and private partners to develop broad-scope solutions to socially relevant problems. 

More than 70 PhD, master's, bachelor’s, and certificate programs are offered both on campus and online, providing flexible options and opportunities for students to advance their careers and succeed in today’s—and tomorrow’s—world. 

Learn More: About WPI 

Mission & Values

WPI’s Mission 

WPI transforms lives, turns knowledge into action to confront global challenges, and revolutionizes STEM through distinctive and inclusive education, projects, and research. 

(Adopted by the Board of Trustees, October 29, 2021) 

Our Values 
Respect  
Community  
Inclusion  
Innovation  
Achievement 

Learn More: Mission & Values 

Commitment to Diversity

WPI is committed to creating an inclusive workplace culture where everyone feels a sense of belonging; a place where every student, faculty member, and staff member is valued and respected so that they may study, live, and work comfortably, reach their full potential, and make meaningful contributions to its institutional goals. WPI thrives on innovative practice and welcomes all perspectives, insights, and people from varied lived and professional experiences. This diversity enhances community capabilities and helps propel the institution in a competitive, global marketplace. 

Notice Of Non-Discrimination
Non-Discrimination

WPI is committed to the principle of equal opportunity in education and employment. It is the policy of WPI to provide each qualified individual - regardless of race, sex, age, color, national origin, religion, genetic identity, disability, gender identity or expression, marital or parental status, sexual orientation, transgender status, veteran status, or any other legally protected status – the opportunity to participate in the University’s educational and employment programs and activities, including admissions, in discrimination and harassment-free environment, in accordance with state and federal laws, including Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, and the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, and their respective implementing regulations. 

Furthermore, WPI prohibits and will not tolerate unlawful discrimination or harassment. Unlawful discrimination or harassment consists of treating a person differently in any WPI program or activity based on their race, sex, age, color, national origin, religion, genetic identity, disability, gender identity or expression, marital or parental status, sexual orientation, transgender status, veteran status, or any other legally protected status. This includes, for example, the display or circulation of written or electronic materials or pictures degrading to a person’s gender or to racial, ethnic, or religious groups; and verbal abuse or insults directed at or made in the presence of members of a racial, ethnic, or minority group. 

WPI will administer any complaint of discrimination or harassment with the utmost degree of privacy and confidentiality possible under the circumstances of each matter and as permitted by law. Failure of any participant to respect confidentiality, both during or after an investigation process, may constitute retaliation and subject the violator to discipline. WPI prohibits and will not tolerate any form of retaliation against persons who have complained about, or participated in an investigation of a complaint about, unlawful discrimination or harassment. 

WPI will make an independent inquiry into complaints of unlawful discrimination and harassment, according to applicable WPI policies and procedures, and violations by Students/Employees will be subject to disciplinary action, including suspension, expulsion, or termination, where appropriate. 

Student/Employee inquiries concerning discrimination or harassment based on sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, or pregnancy should be referred to the Title IX Office: 

Stan Horton  
Title IX Coordinator  
100 Institute Road  
Worcester, Massachusetts 01609  
Campus Center, Room 233 
508-831-6514  
SHorton@wpi.edu 

Student/Employee inquiries concerning discrimination or harassment based on disability should be referred to the Office of Accessibility Services (students) or Talent & Inclusion (employees):

Students - Amy Curran 
Director, Office of Accessibility Services  
100 Institute Road  
Worcester, Massachusetts 01609  
Daniels Hall, Room 124  
508-831-4908  
acurran@wpi.edu 

Employees - Stan Horton  
Director, Equal Opportunity & Outreach 
Campus Center, Room 233 
100 Institute Road 
Worcester, Massachusetts 01609 
508-831-6514 
SHorton@wpi.edu

Student/Employee inquiries concerning discrimination or harassment based on any other protected status should be referred to the Dean of Students (Students) or Talent & Inclusion (Employees). 

Affirmative Action Program – Equal Employment Opportunity

WPI is committed to the principle of equal opportunity for all persons and WPI affirmatively seeks to employ and promote the best qualified employees without regard to race, color, creed, ancestry, national origin, citizenship, sex or gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, and pregnancy-related conditions), gender identity or expression (including transgender status), sexual orientation, marital status, religion, age, disability,  genetic information,  service in the military, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws and ordinances.   

WPI seeks to employ individuals with​ diverse backgrounds and experiences who will contribute to a culture of creativity, collaboration, inclusion, problem solving, innovation, high performance, and change making.  All supervisors, managers, and administrators are responsible for helping the campus fulfill its equal opportunity responsibilities. This is accomplished by making good faith efforts toward meeting affirmative action objectives and committing to maintaining a workplace that is free of discrimination and harassment.   

Inquiries regarding WPI’s Affirmative Action Program may be directed to the Division of Talent & Inclusion. 

WPI also invites all employees to voluntarily self-identify themselves on the Personal tab within Workday. 

Legal Disclaimers

This online Manual supersedes any previously issued employee manuals or policy statements and serves as the final authority with reference to the subjects discussed herein. WPI reserves the right to interpret, modify, or supplement the provisions of this Manual at any time.