AFSCME Update
Fact-finding was conducted last month as part of the contract negotiations between Kent State University and Local 153 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME).
Fact-finding is part of the bargaining process outlined by the State Employment Relations Board (SERB). The fact-finder heard from both sides on a number of unresolved issues from previous negotiations and mediation. The fact-finder will issue a written recommendation on the unresolved issues, and that report is expected by the end of February. The recommendations are not binding. The recommendations must be submitted to both parties and will be accepted unless either party rejects them by a 3/5 vote.
There have been some inquiries from managers and department heads about issues related to union employees in the event of a strike. Human Resources has prepared some FAQ for managers and department heads, in case you receive questions from employees. The FAQ are provided for information purposes only; AFSCME has not indicated any intent to strike. Any intent to strike would have to be filed with SERB 10 days in advance of any work stoppage.
HR and General Counsel to Conduct Mock OFCCP Audit
As a federal contractor, Kent State University is subject to the regulations of the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP). The federal organization protects workers by enforcing the legal requirements that federal contractors must follow related to affirmative action and equal opportunity in the workplace.
Last year the OFCCP announced it would be increasing the number of companies and institutions being selected for a full desk audit. To help prepare for this possibility, Human Resources is partnering with the General Counsel Office to perform a mock audit Feb. 7-9.
A full desk audit involves an OFCCP review of HR workforce metrics, interviews with employees, business managers and senior management, and collection of data and documentation. The mock audit will also include a compensation analysis to ensure there is no gender or race discrimination against employees.
An outside firm will conduct the mock audit. While it will take place on the Kent Campus, it will be inclusive of all campuses. The auditors may select a random sampling of faculty, staff or managers to interview during the three-day review. Those employees will be identified on the first day of the audit and will be contacted by HR to schedule a time for the interview.
If you or a member of your staff is selected for an interview, please make time in your schedule to participate.
Questions should be directed to the Compensation Office at 330-672-8333.
New Student Employment Resource
The Career Services Center has launched the Students@Work Program, a new retention initiative. This program is one of five, high-impact initiatives that President Lester A. Lefton and the senior leadership team have recommended move forward as a result of the November symposium on student success.
Students@Work was created to help student employees reflect on their experiences and further integrate and apply what they are learning on the job, and in the classroom, to their future careers. The program will be piloted this spring. While a small group of supervisors have been recruited to participate in the pilot, a few spots remain. If you are interested in participating, please contact Ann Motayar at amotayar@kent.edu or 330-672-8372, or Ami Hollis atahollis@kent.edu or 330-672-8380, by Friday Feb. 3.
You can visit the Students@Work Program website for more information.
Mail Services Offers Webinars
Mail Services will be offering two webinars this spring. Mailology 101 will be offered on Wednesday, Feb. 15, at 10 a.m. In this one-hour webinar you will learn money-saving tips and easy processing methods related to the different mail classes, delivery standards and sizes. There will also be information on how to handle change of address mail and an explanation of the new postage rates.
The second course, Mailology 102, will be offered on Tuesday, March 13, at 10 a.m. and will provide an overview of what Mail Services can provide for your department. This will include information about presorted mail, automated mail, barcodes, business reply mail and using USPS for package shipping.
You can register for the February webinar by clicking on this link: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/172546698.
Registration for the second webinar may be done at this link: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/932020770.
For additional information, contact Steve Finley, manager, Mail Services at 330-672-8703 or sfinley7@kent.edu.
Second Class of Institute for Excellence Underway
The Institute for Excellence (IE) kicked off its second year of programming last month. A 10-month professional development program offered by the Training and Development unit in the Division of Human Resources, the program is designed to align the university’s strategic goals with personal leadership development to create and promote a culture of excellence.
The IE has two program tracks: one for administrators and one for individual contributors who are not currently in a managerial role. The 2012 class has 16 participants in the administrator track and 10 in the individual contributor track.View the 2012 IE class.
President Lester A. Lefton addressed the opening session for the administrator group and will be spending time with the individual contributors in February. The IE groups will continue to meet monthly for either a full- or half-day session. A partial list of session topics includes discussions with members of the President’s Cabinet, increased financial literacy, emotional intelligence, two 360° assessments to benchmark skills, diversity in higher education and understanding team dynamics. The sessions will combine in-class discussions, self-development tools and opportunities for hands-on application.
FlashCart Training
Procurement will be offering FlashCart training in late February/early March for both experienced users and employees who are new to the online tool. FlashCart is the university’s primary means of ordering products and services. The system allows departments to place purchase orders and credit card orders with a variety of suppliers.
Basic FlashCart training for requisitioners will be offered first, followed by training for approvers and more advanced applications. The frequency of training will be based on demand, and interested parties will be informed of training dates and locations. If you or anyone in your department is interested in this training, contact Larry McWilliams atlmcwilli@kent.edu, by Feb. 10.
Looking for Answers? Check out the Employee Resource Manual
If you receive questions about the university from employees in your area and aren’t sure of the answer, check the Kent State Employee Resource Manual. The online document is a reference and information source for faculty and staff. The manual is divided into nine chapters and contains general information and guidelines on a variety of topics related to employment at Kent State. The manual does not replace the existing university policy register but rather provides an overview of the policies and procedures for employees in user-friendly terms. All faculty and staff are encouraged to view the manual and become familiar with its contents. View the Employee Resource Manual.
For more information, contact Amelie Anderson at 330-672-0043 or aanders3@kent.edu.
Spring Recognition Events
Mark your calendars now for the university’s two annual spring employee recognition events. The Office Support Staff Luncheon will be held April 25, in the Kent Student Center Ballroom. This program recognizes university employees who provide office support in departments throughout the eight campuses. Invitations will be mailed in March. Managers and supervisors are asked to coordinate work coverage in their units so those who are invited may attend.
The 20-Year Club dinner will take place on Thursday, May 24, in the Kent Student Center. There are 10 staff members who will mark 20 years of continuous service at Kent State during the current fiscal year. The list of inductees and more details on the dinner will be available next month on the 20-Year Club website.
For more information on either event, contact Carla Wyckoff at 330-672-5857 or cwyckof1@kent.edu.
Don’t Forget Tips for Reporting Time During a University Closing
Winter in Northeast Ohio has been mild so far, but managers should still be prepared in the event of a campus delay or closure. Guidelines on how to report time for classified, unclassified and student employees in the event of a university delay or closing are available at http://www.kent.edu/hr/records/upload/emergencyclosing.pdf. Please review the guidelines and share them with your staff. You may also want to bookmark the website for future reference.
HR Kudos for Diversity Recruiting
Kent State University was recently recognized as one of the top employers in 2011 who posted their job openings on the Hispanic-Jobs.com website. The bilingual job search site praised those companies who “demonstrated their commitment to reaching out to bilingual and diversity candidates.” The Talent Acquisition department in the Division of Human Resources has been posting Kent State job openings on the site since 2009. The university was one of 17 companies recognized, and the list represents a wide range of industries including education, banking, insurance, transportation and entertainment.
Dates to Remember:
Black History Month
Feb. 2 Groundhog Day
Feb. 3-4 Maulid an-Nabi: Islamic observance begins at sundown
Feb. 7-8 Tu B’Shevat: Jewish observance begins at sundown
Feb. 14 Valentine’s Day
Feb. 20 Presidents Day (University open, observed on Dec. 27)
Feb. 21 Mardi Gras
Feb. 22 Ash Wednesday
Feb. 29 Leap Year Day
Tell Us What You Think
This e-newsletter is designed to keep you, the managers and supervisors, informed. Please take a few minutes to let us know what you think of it, along with any comments or suggestions. You may contact us atmanagersfeedback@kent.edu. We look forward to hearing from you.
For information about events and programs for university employees, please check out the Faculty and Staff calendarand share the information with your staff.