Human Resources
February 2007
HR Advisory Group - Meeting Minutes
Attended:
Barbara Lay, Edwin Best, Belinda Carr, Lynn McIlyer,
Laurie McKenzie-Crane, John McOsker, Sharon O'Reilly,
Linda Payne, Sheryl Pustay, Sally Scheiderer
Scribe:
Sally Scheiderer
Cc:
Seth Patton, Jim Ables
New
Business
1. Security Representative - Barbara introduced John McOsker as the new security representative.
2. Funeral Leave Policy - An employee requested that
grandchild be added to the list of immediate family in the funeral leave
policy. They felt that a grandchild is as close a relationship as a
half-sister, half-brother, step-father, step-mother, current father-in-law, and
current mother-in-law. The committee felt this was a good addition to the
list. The committee also discussed the possibility of adding legal
guardian to the list. This phrase would cover the fact that someone may
be raised by a person other than the biological parent.
A representative asked if employees must sign a form
stating they have read the handbook, and the answer was that employees must
sign a form printed in the front of the handbook stating that they have
received a copy, and return it to HR, but not that they have read the handbook.
3. Wage and Salary Questions - One representative asked how long it would take for an employee
to get to the middle of the wage range. It appears that each year the
mid-point gets raised when the wage range increases. Service trades have
steps of salary increase, but SOS staff has a range. It was pointed
out that service trades people make the same amount after four years as someone
that has been at
The question of differential pay for second or third shift
employees was also discussed. Currently there is no difference in pay
between first and third shifts, and one representative questioned whether this
could be an option or question to be considered. The committee was
uncertain if this question has been raised before or whether a proposal has
ever been submitted to the administration. The policy might consider
something like a twenty-five cent differential between first and second shifts,
and possibly a fifty cent differential between first and third shifts.
Some shifts work so many days on first shift, then so many days on night
shift. Others regularly work day or night shift, but are moved from one
shift to another for summer work.
The issue of unused sick leave arose again. Currently
an employee receives 75 days of unused sick leave upon retirement. Could
this be raised to half the unused sick leave hours? Would this provide an
incentive for people not to abuse their benefit? Could there be a sick leave
bank for unused hours? Barbara stated that doing this is not
something that the Human Resource Office is looking at right now. One
representative asked how far this issue has gone with the administration.
Does the conversation from the HRAG meetings go to Jim, Seth, or Dale?
Barbara discusses with Jim issues raised in HRAG. Jim will discuss items
with Seth as appropriate. Some issues and proposals are shared with Dale
as well. The representative asked how the committee would know if an
issue was taken to the top of the ladder before it was denied, and Barbara said
that question would specifically have to be asked to Seth. She knows that
policies have been taken to Dale because some of them have to have an aye or
nay. She felt that Dale did not know everything that went on in this
committee, but he would be aware of the committee as an active participant in
the community. The committee felt that sick leave policy issues would
have to be discussed with the Trustees. The committee asked Barbara to
check on whether the Board has considered the issue of paying for all sick
leave an employee has not used, instead of just a partial amount. If it
has not gone to the Board in the past, can it be proposed to them? There
was discussion, again, about how some people misuse their sick leave time.
The benefit is for something catastrophic that happens to an employee or
family. As an employer, this is a benefit that does not have to be
offered to employees. Some felt that misuse of sick leave should be an
issue handled by supervisors, and others felt that supervisors were not dealing
with employees that misused their leave. The committee felt that the
underlying problem is that too many people are turning their heads to people
that are misusing the benefit.
One representative asked how decisions were made about
adding staff. There have been all kinds of endowments given to add
buildings to the campus, but the representative believed there was not enough
staff (building maintenance, plumbers, security, etc.) to maintain those
buildings. Does the management think about these issues when raising
money or designing buildings? Barbara stated that the administration
would give this some thought when determining budgets. The committee
pointed out that several services are hired from the outside. An outside
company provides some of the painting, mechanics or heating/cooling
services. Some thought that having someone on campus that would provide
these services would be cheaper for the University.
Updates
1. SOS Handbook Policy Changes - The Human Resource office is continuing to make changes to the
SOS Handbook to be in line with the Administration Handbook. In some
instances there will be changes in policy or procedure, and in others HR is
attempting to mirror what is in the Administrative Handbook.
a. Employment
of Relatives. It was suggested that grandchild and legal guardian be
added to this list of relatives to be the same as the funeral leave
policy. The policy changes are being made to mirror the Administrative
Handbook.
b. Nondiscrimination
Policy. There were no major changes made to this policy. The Office
of Institutional Equity and Diversity has been changed from Affirmative Action
Office. The contact information has also been listed.
c. Acceptable
Use Policy for Computer Use. This policy was not listed in the SOS
Handbook before, and it is in the Administration Handbook.
2. Thanks to Laurie McKenzie-Crane for
bringing ginger cake to the meeting.
Next Meeting
The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, March 7, 2007,
at 9 a.m. in Burton Morgan 317.