Supervisors should work out with each student the number of hours per week he or she will work. Student workers may not work during scheduled class times. Massachusetts state law requires that employees take an unpaid break after six consecutive hours of work.
Use the Earnings Charts to help you determine how many hours per week a student should work, based on pay rate, Work-Study award amount, and your department’s budget.
Discuss your overall scheduling expectations with students when they are hired. Although spring class schedules are usually not set until December, it is helpful for students to know approximately how many hours per week supervisors expect them to work throughout the academic year.
Limitations on Hours Worked
Student workers may not work during their scheduled class times and are subject to further Restrictions on Hours Worked.
Students who consistently work 40 hours or more per week are considered full-time employees and must be paid on a staff (MD, OT, CR, or FY) payroll level. Students who are active as employees on the MD, OT, CR, or FY levels may not be paid as student employees until they have been terminated from the other payroll level.
Students’ Academic Progress
Academic performance should be the first priority for college students. In addition, continued eligibility for Work-Study depends partly on a satisfactory grade point average.
Sometimes, students begin jobs and then become overwhelmed. Supervisors are expected to be flexible if a student’s academic progress becomes a concern and he or she needs to decrease work hours or resign mid-semester.
