Human Resources

May 2004

HR Advisory Group - Meeting Minutes

Attended: J. Ford; S. Thorp; B. Rusch; C. Green; J. Etz; J. Welsh; E. Sandbrink; S. Simpson; C. Park; L. Payne; B. Carr; L. McIlyar

Absent:

From: Jim Ables, Office of Human Resources

Date: June 21, 2004

Subj: HR Advisory Group Meeting Minutes - May Meeting

Cc: Seth Patton; Bill Acklin

New Items

1. Service Award Program - Jim Ables explained that human resources is reviewing the service award program. Specifically, the kind of gifts that are awarded for years of service (based on years of service in 5 year increments). We are meeting with a local vendor that assists in coordinating award programs. The goal is to enhance the gift selection and provide a variety as well. We should have more to discuss in September.

2. Job Descriptions - Jim Ables explained that human resources is planning to update job descriptions on a regular basis. The goals is to 20% of the support staff job descriptions each year so that all descriptions are reviewed at least every five years. All job descriptions are reviewed when a vacancy occurs so that many jobs will be reviewed on a more frequent basis. Having a goal of reviewing at least 20% of the job descriptions will ensure we are keeping our descriptions up do date.

3. Newsletter from Human Resources - Committee member brought up the issue of whether or not human resources can restart the newsletter for support staff. The consensus from the group was that staff appreciate a newsletter that informs them of new or transferred staff, marriages, births, important benefit briefs, and the like. Human Resources will again look at publishing the newsletter again. Possibly a quarterly newsletter would be doable.

4. Telephone Directory - A committee member suggested an idea of putting in the telephone directory the number of years of service of each staff member, as one way of recognizing years of service. After discussion of this idea, it was determined that it would be difficult to automatically gather that information for such a publication.

5. Performance Reviews - A committee member inquired about the inconsistency of performance review completion for support staff. Jim mentioned that Human Resources is working on a plan to improve the performance review system and should have more to share with the group next academic year.

Updates

1. HRAG Elections - All three openings have been filled. Lynn McIlyar will replace Steve Simpson, representing Physical Plant Office and Trades. Belinda Carr will replace Connie Park, representing Admission, URPA, and the Health Center. Additionally, Linda Payne will replace Jenny Etz, representing part-time staff. The new committee members joined the group for the May meeting and were welcomed and introduced.

2. Employment of Relatives Policy - HRAG's ideas regarding possible changes to this policy were shared with the Personnel Committee (see April's minutes). The Personnel Committee discussed this policy during a couple meetings. Human Resources did a survey of other Ohio colleges. The main finding was that many colleges allow the employment of relative in the same department, even reporting to the same supervisor, as long as one relative is not supervising the other relative. The Personnel Committee in conjunction with Human Resources are review possible changes to Denison's policy.

3. Purpose & Goals of HRAG - We briefly discussed the goals of HRAG and decided that we would revisit the purpose and goals in September so that everyone had a common understanding about what the group should be doing. Also, a committee member suggested placing a payroll stuffer in pay checks of the revised HRAG brochure, which lists committee members and goals of HRAG. We will do this in September.

4. HR Communication Meetings - There is one meeting left for Trades and Grounds. An email reminder will be sent to physical plant supervision and Lynn Millar as a reminder. Also, Human Resources will summarize the meetings and share with all support staff, like we did last year.