Benefits and Policies Manual

Welcome to WPI

You are a valued member of the WPI community, and you’ve joined a dedicated team of employees and supervisors committed to the university’s mission. Your contributions are vital to the daily operations of the university and to maintaining WPI’s reputation as a premier institution of higher education.

This Employee Benefits & Policies Manual is designed for staff, faculty, and administrators. It serves as a practical guide to WPI’s policies, procedures, practices, and benefits. While it may not address every situation you encounter, it provides a strong foundation for understanding your role and resources as an employee.

We encourage you to read the Manual carefully and refer to it often. If you have questions or need additional information, the Division of Talent & Inclusion is here to help. You can reach us at talent@wpi.edu.

To access the Faculty Handbook, please visit this page.

We wish you success in your role and hope your experience at WPI is both rewarding and fulfilling.

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

July 1, 2025 Update

In January 2025, WPI leadership convened the Paid Time Off Task Force—a collaborative group representing Talent & Inclusion, Staff Council, and the Fringe Benefits Committee—to gather community feedback and benchmark industry practices, with the goal of informing potential recommendations for updates to several WPI policies. In June, T&I announced that the following changes had been accepted for implementation effective July 1, 2025.

  • A 37.5-hour work week that aligns with core operating hours of 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday.
  • Additional Holidays and Holiday hours.
  • Change from Float Days to Personal Days.
  • Changes to Vacation Accruals to accelerate time earned for non-exempt employees.
  • New, reduced vacation carryover caps phased over two fiscal years to reduce the university's vacation liability and encourage the use and reporting of staff vacation time.
  • Changes to Sick Time to provide a more equitable system.
  • Expanded application of Bereavement Time and an expanded definition of family members on whose behalf it can be taken.

These changes are now incorporated into the Benefits & Policies Manual.

 

February 5, 2024 Update

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

The majority of updates in the 2024 edition focus on simplifying and clarifying the language used throughout the manual. While only a few policies are new or significantly revised, we’ve highlighted the most notable changes below.

The primary goals of this revision were to:

  • Eliminate redundancies and inconsistencies across sections;
  • Transition from a static PDF to a dynamic, web-based format; and
  • Modernize the language to reflect current employee experience and values.

Additionally, some sections have been reorganized for improved navigation, and certain policies now link directly to webpages that are regularly updated and maintained.

If you notice material changes not listed here, please contact us at talent@wpi.edu. We welcome your feedback and questions.

Primary Changes Since the July 2021 PDF Edition
  • Opening/Welcome section: Legal disclaimers have been streamlined and simplified
  • Notice of Non-Discrimination: Contact names updated
  • Affirmative Action Program – Equal Employment Opportunity: Revised to align with current law
  • Remote and Flexible Work: New section added
  • Social Media Policy: Simplified and streamlined
  • Grievance Procedure: Language revised for clarity
  • Weather-Related Closings and Delays: Updated to reflect current practice
  • Emergency Management: Aligned with website content
  • Fleet Safety Policy: Updated to current standards
  • Disability Accommodations: Substantially revised to align with law and best practices
  • Pregnancy & Pregnancy-Related Accommodations: Made gender-neutral and clarified legal protections
  • Vision Insurance: Benefit added
  • Massachusetts Paid Family Leave (MPFL): New 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 Inclusive Excellence

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 approach 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 Equal Opportunity & Outreach 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.

Am I an Exempt or Non-Exempt Employee?

The primary distinction between Exempt and Non-Exempt employees is that Exempt employees are salaried and not paid overtime, although they may be compensated for working extra hours through benefits packages. Non-Exempt employees are paid hourly wages, must submit time sheets, and are entitled to minimum wage and to overtime pay when they work more than 40 hours per week.

For further background, context, and resources, please visit this article by WPI payroll provide, ADP.