Who this policy applies to:

Employees who have retired and desire to return to work.

Rationale:

After you retire from an employer covered by the Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS), you may return to work with a WRS employer as a rehired annuitant, provided certain requirements are met.  Review those requirements and other factors to consider by visiting the UW System rehired annuitant policy page.

Policy Detail:

UW System policy

After you retire from an employer covered by the Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS), you may return to work with a WRS employer as a rehired annuitant, provided certain requirements are met.  Review those requirements and other factors to consider by visiting the UW System rehired annuitant policy page.

UWL policy for academic departments

Departments that need to hire instructors to teach one or more courses may consider hiring retired former members of their department, consistent with WRS and UW

System policies

Such faculty members who are interested in serving the University and its students maybe afforded opportunities to serve as part-time instructors under the following guidelines:

• If the employee retired prior to 7/2/2013: WRS participants must have a 30-calendar day break in employment prior to beginning their post-retirement employment.
• If the employee retires on or after 7/2/2013: WRS participants must have a 75-calendar day break in service before beginning their post-retirement employment. (per 2013 Wisconsin Act 20)
• No post-retirement agreements can be in effect at time of retirement.
• Appointments will be academic staff appointments, at no more than .50 FTE.
• Appointments may be made for one, two, or three years, and may be renewable.
• Salary will be set no higher than 40% of the final academic year salary for the equivalent of a .50 FTE appointment.
• Appointments will be made only upon the recommendation of the department and the dean, and the approval of the Chancellor.

Provided these requirements are met, departments may hire retired faculty as instructional academic staff without conducting a regular or pool search in Workday, Starting a Direct Hire.

Supporting tools:

• UW System Administration Rehired Annuitant Information Webpage: https://www.wisconsin.edu/ohrwd/benefits/life-events/empcha/ra/
• Workday: Starting a Direct Hire

Responsibilities:

Rehired annuitants are responsible for maintaining a log of their hours and of their expectations so they do not exceed the statutory limits to how much they may work in retirement.  

Links to related information:

• UW System Rehired Annuitant Employment Policy Page: http://www.uwsa.edu/ohrwd/benefits/empcha/ra/

Revision history:

Last reviewed was July 2020

Format updated June 2025