Full-time Bilkent University employees who have earned the right to retire under Social Security Institution (SGK) regulations may apply to be re-employed in the same position at Bilkent after becoming SGK retirees on a future date of their choosing.
Applications to continue working in retired status are evaluated by two separate commissions, one for academic staff and the other for administrative and support staff. Applications from academic staff are evaluated by the Retirement Commission mentioned in Article 5 of the Regulations for Age-Related Retirement and End-of-Service for Academic Staff. Applications from administrative and support staff are evaluated by a commission chaired by the Vice Rector for Administrative and Financial Affairs, and a members the Human Resources Manager and three other employees appointed by the Rector whose identities are kept confidential.
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- The employee submits a written application at least two months before their planned retirement date, indicating the desired retirement date and the wish to continue working in the same position after retirement. Applications are submitted to the Dean’s Office for academic staff and to the unit supervisor for administrative and support staff.
- Deans and unit supervisors forward the applications, along with their written evaluations, to the Provost Office for academic staff and to the Vice Rector for Administrative and Financial Affairs for administrative and support staff within two weeks. The evaluations should detail the applicant’s performance and importance within the unit.
- Applications are evaluated by the relevant commissions, and the decision is submitted for the Rector’s approval. After approval, the decision is communicated to the applicant through the Dean or unit supervisor.
- In case of a rejection, the employee is free not to submit a retirement petition. If they choose to retire, they cannot be employed full-time at Bilkent University for at least one year; however, if needed, academic staff can be assigned on a part-time hourly basis and administrative staff on a fixed-term basis.
- For employees whose applications are accepted:
A. The employee submits a retirement petition and signs a consent form accepting the conditions of working in retired status.
B. Retirement procedures are carried out by Human Resources, but any severance pay (“kıdem tazminatı”) they are entitled to is not paid at this stage.
C. After the completion of retirement procedures, the employee is reappointed to the position they left. A new employment contract is made between Bilkent University and the employee.
D. The reappointed employee’s benefits continue without change. In this context:– The net salary remains the same.
– Leave rights continue, but any accumulated leave older than one year is not carried over.
– Employees who were receiving institutional contribution to their Individual Retirement Fund (BES) or who were in the waiting period before the contribution start date continue their BES status as is.
– Group health insurance membership continues under the same conditions.
– School and university discounts, if any, continue.E. Employees continuing to work in retired status are subject to the provisions of Bilkent University’s Regulations for Age-Related Retirement and End-of-Service for Academic Staff and the Retirement Regulations for Administrative and Support Staff (University Executive Board decision dated 31 August 2015, No. 383).
F. Academic staff continuing to work in retired status are subject to all academic evaluation, reappointment, and end-of-service regulations of Bilkent University. Employees appointed on a fixed-term basis will end their duties if not reappointed at the end of their term.
G. Severance pay (“kıdem tazminatı”) for those who leave the University permanently while working in retired status is calculated as follows:– In terms of severance pay entitlement conditions and calculation method, the legislation in force on the date of the employee’s final departure from the University and the salary on the final departure date are taken as the basis.
– If the employment of the employee ends in a way that entitles them to severance pay:a. Employees who became SGK retirees while working at Bilkent University and were not paid severance pay at the time of early retirement are paid severance pay for the period from their initial employment date to their final departure date.
b. Employees who became SGK retirees while working at Bilkent University and were paid severance pay at the time of early retirement are paid severance pay only for the period from the date they became SGK retirees to their final departure date.
c. Employees who started working at Bilkent University after retiring from another institution are paid severance pay for the period from their employment start date to their final departure date.– If the employment of the employee ends in a way that does not entitle them to severance pay:
d. Employees who became SGK retirees while working at Bilkent University and were not paid severance pay at the time of retirement are paid severance pay only for the period from their initial employment date to the date they became SGK retirees.
e. Employees who became SGK retirees while working at Bilkent University and were paid severance pay at the time of retirement are not paid any severance pay.
f. Employees who started working at Bilkent University after retiring from another institution are not paid any severance pay. - Any future changes to these Regulations will apply to all Bilkent University employees unless decided otherwise.
Temporary Provisions: For employees planning to retire in 2024, the application deadline is 1 November 2024, and the deadline for Deans and unit supervisors to send their evaluations is 8 November 2024.