November 2007
HR is back to full staff at long last! Welcome to Michelle Flynn, who replaces Corin Huff as our HR Recruiter. Michelle just started a couple of weeks ago, and if I may speak for her, is looking forward to meeting and assisting everyone with their hiring needs.
We’ve been very busy not only working to fill your openings, but also to enhance your benefits and work life at the College. Our new LTD (long-term disability) benefit becomes effective November 1, 2007. 60% of salary to a monthly maximum of $5,000 with 13% contribution to pension (MAPB) is a rich new benefit for which we can all be grateful. Thanks to the Executive Administration for approving this 100% College-paid benefit for all full time employees with one year of service. Meetings were held to complete enrollment forms and update beneficiaries. Since this is a fully employer-paid benefit, it is not voluntary, and all eligible employees MUST enroll. For those who attended the meetings, many thanks for your cooperation. For those who remain elusive, your cooperation will be appreciated as we track you down! Make-up sessions are scheduled for November 8th at 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. in the Faculty Dining Room.
Enrollment meetings for our Flexible Spending Account (FSA) plan are scheduled for Monday, November 12 at 9:00 a.m., 10:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m., 12:00 a.m., and 2:00 p.m. in the Student Center Upper Lounge. Jack Orr, our representative from the third party plan administrator, BAI (Benefits Analysis, Inc.) will be present to describe the benefit. In short, it is an opportunity to pay for all medical expenses (including over the counter products, deductibles, massages, etc.) on a pre-tax basis. This will be our third year offering the plan and the approximately forty participants have been very pleased. If you will have one year of service by January 1, 2008, you are eligible to join. Please plan to attend one of the sessions to find out how you can save some of your hard-earned money in 2008! Refreshments will be served.
There will be no increase to employee or employer premium costs as of our renewal on December 1st. In fact, we are working on a small rate reduction! That’s great news, but even better news is the fact that since we are largely experience rated, it means that our employees have been healthier.
Speaking of healthier employees, by now you should have received the flyer from our own Health Services about flu shots. The HR benefits budget underwrites the cost of these shots for employees. Please take advantage of them! We want you here and we want you well as winter approaches.
Having trouble figuring out what our medical plan covers? Not always sure? Sandie Hall, our account representative will be on campus during the first week of December to hold an open meeting to describe our plan and answer all of your questions and concerns. You will be notified of the specific date and time as soon as it is confirmed.
Many thanks to Dr. Rosann Bar for presenting a well-attended and very well-received Lunch ‘n Learn on the multi-generational workforce in October. Rosann presented an informative and fun hour of team-building activity. Age-based diversity presents both challenges and opportunities in the workplace. It was wonderful to hear Rosann’s insights.
Our first in the third year of the Brown Bag Lunch series began with “…a day in the life of Alumni Affairs” on October 25th. Many thanks to Kathleen Buse, Megan Hurley and their guest speakers for their interesting presentations. Mark you calendars for November 14th, Campus Safety, January 30th, Residence Life, February 27th, Undergraduate Admissions, and April 3rd, Student Activities. Come and support your colleagues as they communicate the valuable contributions their teams make to keeping the promise at Caldwell College.
A Supervisor’s Forum has been scheduled for Thursday, December 13th from 9:00 – 10:00 in the faculty dining room. This will be the first in what we hope will be a series of meetings to communicate and brainstorm on certain issues and best practices. HR will select the topic for the first meeting and then solicit input for future meetings. Putting our heads together to develop better supervisory and managerial skills will result in a better experience not only for those we lead, but also for our students. Details about our first meeting will follow. Please save the date.
Our traditional Thanksgiving Breakfast will be held on Tuesday, November 20th at 8:30 in the Student Center Upper Lounge. Now is the time to express your thanks – your gratitude - to colleagues who have kept the promise or who have helped you to keep the promise. Send an email to KeepthePromise@caldwell.edu. HR will send a card and a prize to the recipient passing on your kind words. Excerpts will be read and prizes presented at the breakfast to those who receive and send the most e-mails.
Following are some excerpts of recent emails:
- Thank you so much for your assistance in inputting students into the database. You have helped us more than you are aware.
- You are always first to say thank you and to send a very special Keep the Promise notice. I now want to thank you for being so supportive and motivational. Your special words of appreciation and encouragement keep the morale up for everyone who has the privilege of working with you. (WOW!)
- Our thanks for always going above and beyond to help. You are always willing to help with anything that is asked and you do it with a smile!