Human Resources
April 2008
Human Resources Advisory Group
Meeting Minutes
April 2008
Attended: Laurie McKenzie-Crane, Sheryl Pustay, Tom Reese, Amber Schott, Belinda Carr, Chris Hardy, John McOsker, Deborah and Bennett Ed Best
Absent: None
Scribe: Barbara Lay
Cc: Seth Patton, Jim Ables
NEW BUSINESS:
o What’s the University’s policy on FMLA for part-time employees that don’t meet the hourly requirement of working 1,250 in 12 months? Barbara expressed that the University is pretty liberal about its leave policy and if an individual needed the time off for FMLA that HR would discuss options with that individual. A question was asked if a part-time employee would be eligible for leave donation. Barbara answered “yes”.
o Wage Continuation, Vacation & Sick Leave Accruals. Employees should receive full vacation and sick leave accrual while receiving wage continuation benefit based on a limitation required by a physician. Is this the case always, and will this be noted for the record as part of the University’s handbook. Essentially what occurred was an employee did not receive leave accruals while on wage continuation and questioned this practice. After seeking advice from the Bureau of Worker’s Compensation (BWC) and others, Human Resources reassessed their practice and changed its position. Employees will accrue leave when they are in wage continuation status. The University doesn’t have a policy concerning wage continuation, and doesn’t believe that a policy is necessary to ensure employees receive the benefit that they have in place.
o Higher Ground Campaign Solicitation. Some support staff received solicitation from the Higher Ground Campaign asking them to reconsider giving. Some staff had expressed feeling a bit weird about receiving the letter and wondered why they were asked again.
The Chair of HRAG asked Maureen Feeney about this and this was her response. Denison, a non-profit organization, depends on gifts from various constituencies which include alumni, parents, faculty, staff and friends of the College, in order to keep the College running. The mission of the Annual Fund is to solicit for funds from these groups. By doing so, the Annual Fund operates the same way many other non-profit organizations operate. For example, the Red Cross, the Cancer Society, art museums and hospitals and other colleges and universities all solicit their employees for gifts. Solicitations are made via letters, emails and phone calls (phon-a-thons). The Annual Fund respects the fact that not all employees will chose to make a gift and does not wish to make any employee feel uncomfortable or pressured to do so. Should an employee wish to not receive solicitations (phone, email, mail) they are encouraged to contact Maureen Feeney (x5762, feeneym@denison.edu) and their name will be removed from the solicitation list. This is a quick and private process.
HR UPDATES:
o Training in Westerville. Barbara reminded the group that training opportunities are still available in Westerville at the Leadership Development Institute. Barbara also encouraged the group to revisit the available courses on-line and seek approval from their supervisor. The trainings are an all day event.
The next and last HRAG meeting for this academic year will be May 7, 2008 in Burton Morgan Room 317.