Author: Megan MacGregor

In case you missed it, here are the August 2018 HR Source newsletters: Source Newsletter for Support Staff and Source Newsletter for Faculty, Academic Staff and Executive Management.

You can find older editions of the newsletter on the HR website.

Here are the headlines at a glance for this month’s Source:

Support Staff:

• Welcome to a New Academic Year
• Ask ALEX about Leave of Absence
• Introducing MIBlue Skill for Amazon Alexa
• Use WorkLife Office Resources in the New Academic Year
• Paycheck Checkup – 2018 Federal Tax Changes
• Educational Assistance: Proof of Payment for Non-Credit Course
• New International Travel Insurance
• Presidential Search
• Applicant Tracking System Reporting Enhancement
• Applicant Tracking System Navigation Updates
• Support Staff Holiday Posting Schedule

Faculty and Academic Staff:

• Welcome to a New Academic Year
• Ask ALEX about Leave of Absence
• Introducing MIBlue Skill for Amazon Alexa
• Use WorkLife Office Resources in the New Academic Year
• Paycheck Checkup – 2018 Federal Tax Changes
• Transport Research Materials Across Campus
• New International Travel Insurance
• Presidential Search
• Applicant Tracking System Reporting Enhancement
• Applicant Tracking System Navigation Updates

This is a guest post written by Dr. Barbara Roberts, Executive Director, MSU WorkLife Office.

Fall has always felt like the real new year to me. The heat begins to abate and cozy fall clothes come out of the closet. Summer flowers make way for the more hearty autumn foliage, and barbecue menus give way to crisp apples. School starts, with new courses, books, apartments and friends, and as faculty and staff, we gear up to meet the new class and a year full of challenges and triumphs shared, both at home and at work.

This fall in particular, many of us look forward to a fresh start, after tumultuous spring and summer semesters. I want you to know that the WorkLife Office is here to help you with all of those transitions, added stresses and busy fall tasks as you start afresh. From relocating to a new home to locating care for children or elders, we can help.

Studies show we are more inclined to spend the same amount of money on objects that don’t provide happiness than on help that would save us time and energy. Turn over a new fall leaf in your favor, and try logging in to Care.com to find the support you need with in-home services like housecleaning, fall garden clean-ups, pet care, errands, etc. Let someone else help so you can do more of what brings you joy in this new academic year.

The WorkLife Office is also committed to helping connect you to the resources you need and connecting you to your community in meaningful ways. We are dedicated to helping you start this new year smoothly, honoring your work and personal lives with fresh approaches.

We encourage you to join our email list to keep updated on the many educational opportunities available to you through our office as well. Stay tuned for information about this year’s Fatherhood Forum, Women’s Networking Association and Academic Women’s Forum schedules, our annual WorkLife Conference – this year’s focus is on “Building Community in a Culture of Change,” and several Lunch and Learn workshops to help set you up for success this year!

This week’s job of the week is a Producer/Host Radio II (#523034) for the College of Communication Arts and Sciences. WKAR Public Media, the NPR & PBS affiliate at MSU, is seeking a passionate, experienced and dedicated journalist for its AM/FM broadcasts and digital media.

This person should have extensive knowledge of local, regional and national current events and issues. Responsibilities for this role include researching, reporting, writing and producing multimedia spot and feature stories for WKAR’s air and digital platforms. The candidate must be able to cultivate sources and consistently pitch creative, thoughtful and original story ideas that demonstrate an understanding of the issues facing the communities served by WKAR.

The ideal candidate would possess knowledge equivalent to that which normally would be acquired by completing a four-year college degree program in Telecommunications, Journalism or Broadcast Production; three to five years of related and progressively more responsible or expansive work experience in radio production, broadcast operations, rules and regulations and interviewing; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

For more details on the responsibilities of this position, and to view all our current postings, visit careers.msu.edu. Internal applicants should access postings through the Careers @ MSU tile in the EBS Portal.

In April, we rolled out a new benefit called Livongo – a diabetes management program completely free to MSU employees, spouses and dependents. If you are living with diabetes, Livongo can empower you to take control of your health.

Enroll for Livongo at any time – it takes less than 10 minutes to sign up. Once you register, you will receive a welcome kit in the mail. The kit contains your own Livongo connect meter, unlimited strips, a lancing device, lancets, a carrying case, and optional coaching by a healthcare professional.

Watch the following videos to learn how people have used the Livongo Diabetes Management Program to improve their health and make living with diabetes easier.

Questions? Visit the Livongo website or call Livongo Member Support at (800) 945-4355.

Want to share your own experience with the Livongo Diabetes Management Program? Get in touch with the MSU HR Communications team.

This week’s job of the week is a Human Resources Professional (#512503) for MSU Human Resources. This position is seeking an individual to lead the reappointment, promotion, tenure and no pay mass update process. The individual will review, approve, and process fixed-term faculty, academic, graduate, and undergraduate human resource personnel actions (hires, reappointments, rehires, terminations, etc.).

The ideal candidate would possess knowledge equivalent to that which normally would be acquired by completing a four-year college degree program in Human Resources Administration, Labor and Industrial Relations, or a related field; three to five years of related and progressively more responsible or expansive work experience in human resources administration, human resource systems, project management, data and/or statistical analysis and/or program development and implementation in a Human Resource area related field.

For more details on the responsibilities of this position, and to view all our current postings, visit careers.msu.edu. Internal applicants should access postings through the Careers @ MSU tile in the EBS Portal.

This is a guest post written by Lydia Weiss from the MSU WorkLife Office.

The summer months on campus often mean fewer parking headaches, shorter lines at our favorite restaurants, and better weather for enjoying nature. At the same time, the summer also brings with it juggling coworkers’ vacation schedules and shifts in the focus of our work. Whether you’re in grounds maintenance and have to shift to new equipment and maintenance schedules, or are in an academic unit and preparing for summer programs and already busying yourself with fall planning, the summer might be a good time to try a flexible work arrangement.

Many unit leaders are already accustomed to shifting schedules around to maintain coverage while also honoring vacation requests. That means that flexibility is already at the front of the minds of managers and also our coworkers. The summer might be a great time for you and your unit to pilot a flexible work arrangement. That could mean anything from working four 10-hour days to teleworking one day per week, and lots of other options in between. For more information about flexible work arrangements, visit the WorkLife Office website. You could also set up a consultation with someone from the WorkLife Office to consider all of your options.

Need a caregiver, dog walker or odd-job professional over the summer?

Sometimes that summer breeze can also blow in additional challenges for caregiving responsibilities. When kids get out of school for their summer break, finding care for them can prove difficult if you don’t already have something lined up.

Additional projects, such as yard work, can also be time-consuming during the warmer months in Michigan. And vacations, four-day weekends, and days at the beach might cause an additional need for a house sitter or dog walker.

All of these changes and seasonal needs may be resolved by posting a job on Care.com. By signing up with your MSU Net ID, you will receive free access to hundreds of caregivers, dog walkers, and odd-jobs professionals who can help ease these shifts in your summer schedule. Then you can negotiate directly with the provider of your choice on wages, hours, and tasks. Learn more about Care.com here.

If you have any questions about managing your summer work-life needs, please don’t hesitate to contact the WorkLife Office at (517) 353-1635 or worklife@msu.edu. Have a happy and safe summer!

This week’s job of the week is a Secretary III (#504817) in the Integrative Biology Department for the College of Natural Science. This position is seeking an individual to provide confidential clerical support to the department chairperson.

Responsibilities for this role include researching and collecting information to provide data requested by the chairperson, coordinating the appointment calendar, maintaining files, preparing agendas, taking minutes, and processing travel for the entire department. This person must be able to complete assignments with frequent interruptions.

The ideal candidate would possess knowledge normally acquired through a high school education; three to five years of related and progressively more responsible or expansive work experience in an academic unit with word processing and spreadsheet software; ability to multi-task and prioritize work to meet deadlines; self-starter whose strengths include problem solving, teamwork, attention to detail and excellent communication skills.

For more details on the responsibilities of this position, and to view all our current postings, visit careers.msu.edu. Internal applicants should access postings through the Careers @ MSU tile in the EBS Portal.