Month: January 2023

Answers to Your Questions About Vacation/Personal Paid Time Off (PTO)

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Do you have a plan for using your vacation/personal paid time off (PTO) this year? According to this Forbes article, “American workers are notorious for being workaholics. Since March of 2020, an overwhelming majority of U.S. employees have shortened, postponed, or canceled their vacation time.” While most of us are aware that time away from work is crucial to maintain mental health and support our relationships, we sometimes have a hard time truly disconnecting.

While it may seem harmless to check in a couple of times while you’re away, to really benefit from a vacation you need to disconnect entirely. Review these tips for setting boundaries so you can get adequate rest and reset. Having a plan for setting boundaries with your team before, during, and after your vacation will help reduce pre- and post-vacation stress.

We encourage everyone to work with their supervisor to schedule a well-deserved break. And don’t forget, employee discounts for travel are available through MSU Benefits Plus and the HR website.

Your Top PTO Questions

The following are the most common questions HR receives regarding PTO and answers vary based on the employee’s personal details. These answers are only applicable to regular, benefit-eligible employees working half-time or more. Please make sure to reference the appropriate policy page for further details: support staff, faculty and academic staff, librarians, and MSU extension.

  1. How do I find out how much PTO I currently have?
    • Log into the EBS Portal and select My Time & Payroll from the top navigation, then select the Time Quota Balances tile. For support using the application, please review the Time Quota Balances help page.

  2. How do I find out how much PTO I have used?
    • Log into the EBS Portal and select My Time & Payroll from the top navigation, then select the Time Quota Usage Monthly Report tile. For support using the application, please review the Time Quota Usage Monthly help page.

  3. How do I enter my PTO in EBS for supervisor approval?
    • Login to the EBS Portal and select My Time & Payroll from the top navigation, then select the Time Entries & Statement tile. Enter the number of hours in the cell for the correct date in the row with the appropriate absence type. For support using the application, please review the Time Entries and Statement help page.

  4. What is the difference between personal leave and vacation PTO?
    • Eligible support staff are granted both personal leave and vacation PTO. Eligible faculty and academic staff are granted vacation PTO.

      For support staff, up to 24 hours of personal leave PTO is granted each fiscal year (July 1 – June 30). The amount granted is proportional to employment percentage. You may not carry these hours over to the next year, so make sure you use this PTO before the fiscal year ends. Please review the support staff personal leave policy page for more details. Please note: POAM employees should review the POAM union contract for their unique personal leave policy.

      Vacation PTO is granted to eligible employees and varies based on employee type, union affiliation, employment percentage, length of employment, and new hire status. Please review the appropriate policy for further details: support staff, faculty and academic staff, librarians, and MSU extension.

  5. I’m a new employee. Do I have access to my vacation PTO immediately?
    • This depends on your employee type. Eligible faculty, academic, and support staff have access to vacation PTO after 6 months of service. Eligible librarians and MSU Extension employees have access immediately upon employment. Please review the appropriate policy for further details: support staff, faculty and academic staff, librarians, and MSU extension.

  6. If I leave the university – such as through retirement or termination – what happens to my unused PTO?
    • Employees will receive payment for unused vacation PTO when they leave the university. Support staff will not receive payment for unused personal leave PTO.

  7. For Time Entry Roles Only: What are the absence and attendance codes?
  8. Support Staff Only: How do I accrue vacation days?
    • Eligible support staff accrue vacation days on a monthly basis. The amount accrued depends on union affiliation, employment percentage, and length of employment. Please review the support staff vacation time policy page for more details.

  9. Support Staff Only: Is there a maximum amount of vacation PTO I can accrue?
    • Yes. The maximum amount eligible support staff can accrue depends on union affiliation, employment percentage, and length of employment. Please review the support staff vacation time policy page for more details.

      Support staff cannot earn vacation time beyond the accrual limit. You are encouraged to use your PTO so you don’t lose out on valuable vacation time.

More information about PTO for eligible employees can be found on the HR website (support staff and faculty/academic staff). We encourage you to review the appropriate policy pages thoroughly to help answer any questions you may have. If you need further assistance, please contact the HR Solutions Center at SolutionsCenter@hr.msu.edu or 517-353-4434.

February Events Round-Up

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Are you looking for activities for you and your family in the upcoming month? There are events (in-person and virtual) on campus and in the Greater Lansing community. Many events require registration, so be sure to click the links to learn more.

Campus Events

February 13 – The Excellence in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Awards Ceremony: Join the campus community in recognition of the exceptional and innovative contributions of students, staff and faculty in advancing diversity, equity and inclusion in teaching, research, programming, service, community outreach and organizational change.

Starts February 17 – Charlotte’s Web: Enjoy this classic story at the Fairchild Theatre from the MSU Department of Theatre. 

February 17 – DIE/GEST Opening Reception (free): Visit the Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum to see the opening of this interactive mixed media installation. This will include a special live music and spoken-word performance by jazz musician, Albert Marquès and Keith LaMar, a writer, artist and activist who has spent almost 30 years in solitary confinement on death row in Ohio.

February 26 – National Geographic Live: Head to the Wharton Center to learn all about whales.

Learning Opportunities

Starts February 7 – Implicit Bias Certificate (free): This series allows participants to examine the multiple facets of implicit bias and the impact on our community through a series of modules.

Starts February 7 – Crucial Conversations for Accountability: This in-person series teaches nine powerful skills for resolving performance problems, strengthening trust and reliability and eliminating inconsistency through group discussion, real-time practice, and group support and coaching.

February 7 – Disbursement Voucher Processing (free): This virtual class will provide detailed information about processing a disbursement voucher (DV) in KFS. 

February 8 – Building Cohesive Teams: Learn tactics for building collaboration within a team and skills for improving team performance in this virtual course.

February 10 – An Introduction to MSU Commons (free): This workshop will provide an introduction to the new open access platform, MSU Commons. This platform allows you to deposit your educational and scholarly work and connect with others. 

February 14 – Adoption Through Foster Care (free): The Family Resource Group is hosting this Zoom presentation to discuss the process of adoption through the foster care system.

February 15 – Building a Framework for Resilient Leadership: Explore with other campus leaders some essential resilience skills required for effective leadership for the common good.

February 15 – Emotional Intelligence as a Foundation to DEI Work (free): As part of the “Confident Women Series,” this Zoom session will help you develop a deeper understanding of emotional intelligence as it relates to DEI.

February 15 – Identify and Maximize Your Strengths: This assessment identifies your natural patterns of thinking, feeling and behaving, so that you can discover what makes you exceptional and maximize your potential.

February 16 – Creating and Sustaining a Positive Workplace: This humorous virtual session will cover the seven habits of negativity.

February 20 – Cultural Competency (free): This in-person session will cover cultural awareness and inclusivity skills that strengthen cultural competence.

February 21 – Finding Time: Time Management Strategies for Busy Professionals (free): This class will explore strategies to more efficiently allocate your minutes, streamline workflow and relieve some pressure in the process.

February 22 – Strategic Planning: Learn how to move from ideas to action in this virtual workshop.

Health and Wellness

Starts February 8 – Boundaries (free): This weekly Zoom workshop will help you learn how to establish boundaries in the workplace and at home.

Starts February 1 – Food and Nutrition Counseling (free): Take advantage of a one-on-one session with a registered dietitian to discuss how your lifestyle and eating habits may impact your health.

Family-Friendly Activities

Starts February 3 – Skywatchers of Africa: Visit the Abrams Planetarium to learn about the diversity of African astronomy in this new show. 

Starts February 5 – A Story of Survival Dinosaurs: Visit the Abrams Planetarium to see this fictional story about real-life dinosaur evolution. 

February 4 – Family Day: EDIT (free): Join the MSU Broad Art Museum for their monthly family day. For this month’s theme, copy, cut and paste to see something new.

Starts February 11 – Ice Safari: Visit the Potter Park Zoo to see ice sculptures and some of your favorite winter animals.

February 13 – Monday Night Open House (free): View insects from all over the world at the MSU Bug House. 

Starts February 25 – Greater Lansing Orchid Society Show and Sale (free): Enjoy the beautiful flowers and exhibits while learning how to grow orchids.

Job of the Week: Assistant Director/Multicultural Development Manager

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This week, MSU Human Resources features a posting from the Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion for an Assistant Director/Multicultural Development Manager (posting 843580). The Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion guides and supports efforts to advance a diverse and inclusive campus community, consistent with MSU’s core values.

The Multicultural Development Manager would be working within the Diversity Research Network (DRN), which supports faculty of color and diversity researchers. They will supervise designated staff and oversee outreach efforts to promote and disseminate DRN information. They will also maintain a relationship with University Advancement to raise funds for the DRN. Find a list of all responsibilities on the MSU Careers website.

The future Multicultural Development Manager should be a highly motivated and innovative individual with a four year degree in behavioral sciences or business administration. It’s preferred that candidates have a master’s or Phd in education, social sciences or a related field. Their working knowledge should include five to eight years of experience in organizational development and diversity programming.

To learn more about the Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion, visit inclusion.msu.edu. To apply for this position, prepare a resume, cover letter, report or summary writing sample, contact information for 2 professional references and apply here by February 7.

an open laptop, notebook, eye glasses on a desktop.

Your Benefits: New Year Checklist

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For benefit-eligible employees, the start of a new year is a great time to review all the benefit options available to make sure you’re fully utilizing them throughout the year. The following list of tips and resources to consider will help you get the most out of your employee benefits:

  1. Schedule Wellness Check-ups: if you’re enrolled in an MSU health, dental, and/or vision plan, you’ve just entered a new plan year. Even though an annual check-up is usually recommended by doctors, many people miss out each year because they forget to schedule an appointment. Set your family up for success by scheduling any annual or wellness check-ups now.
  2. Prepare for Illness: Teladoc is an online medical care service that gives you 24/7 access to a health care professional via web, phone, or mobile app in minutes. A doctor can even write you a prescription if necessary. Enroll in Teladoc now so you’re prepared when illness strikes. Available to employees and their dependents that are enrolled in an MSU health plan.
  3. Review Retirement Contributions: the IRS sets new retirement contribution limits each year. Make sure you’re saving as much as you can by reviewing the 2023 IRS retirement contribution limits and make adjustments if needed.
  4. Note Flexible Spending Account (FSA) Deadlines: if you’re enrolled in an FSA for the 2022 and/or 2023 plan year, please note important deadlines and resources for utilizing your FSA funds.
  5. Use Educational Assistance Funds: support staff and academic specialist employees have access to educational assistance funds to use towards professional development opportunities. These funds reset each fall, so make sure you don’t miss out. If you’re looking for learning opportunities, we recommend checking out courses offered by HR’s Organization and Professional Development department.
  6. Note Mental Health Resources: the MSU community offers a variety of mental health resources to employees and their dependents.
  7. Save Caregiver Resources: the MSU WorkLife Office has an extensive list of resources for caregivers. Bookmark this page so you’re prepared when you need it.
  8. Schedule Vacation/Personal PTO: taking time to rest and reset is important to maintain mental health. Make sure you’re using all your PTO by planning out and scheduling your time off in advance.
  9. Employee Discounts: Visit the MSU Benefits Plus website for deals and discounts on everything from travel and experiences to electronics and toys. Additional discounts can be found on the MSU Human Resources website.
  10. Voluntary Benefit Options: you may enroll in, change, or cancel auto, home, and pet insurance benefits at any time through the MSU Benefits Plus website. Legal, critical illness and vision insurance only allow benefit changes during Open Enrollment in October.
  11. Register for Free Diabetes Management Program: if you or a dependent are living with diabetes, Livongo by Teladoc Health can help by providing free necessary medical supplies and optional coaching. Employees or dependents enrolled in Medicare are not eligible.
  12. Get a Second Medical Opinion: if you are facing a serious medical diagnosis, Teladoc Medical Experts can review your case and offer a second medical opinion from leading health care specialists. Coaching and online educational tools are also available. Employees with mandated insurance under the ACA are not eligible.

We hope this list will help keep you on track as you plan out how you and your family will use your employee benefits this year. You can learn more about these benefit options on the HR website.

Nominations are Open for the Student Employee of the Year Award!

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If you work at MSU, you know how important student employees are to the success of your department and the university. Do you know a student who consistently goes above and beyond in their work? Supervisors have the chance to recognize these exemplary Spartans by nominating them for the Student Employee of the Year award by February 10, 2023.

Find more details and the nomination form on the Department of Student Life website.

Eligible nominees must be:

  • Currently registered in an MSU degree-granting program.
  • Employed on student employee payroll for a minimum of three months between June 1, 2022 and May 31, 2023.
  • Nominated by their supervisor. Only one student employee may be nominated per supervisor. Complete an online nomination form here.
    Note: Graduate assistants, residence hall staff and other student employees who do not fall under the jurisdiction of MSU Student Employment or the Student Employee Payroll may not be nominated for this award. They are eligible for other recognition programs.

All nominees will be honored with certificates. The MSU Student Employee winner’s name is submitted for consideration for the State of Michigan competition. All nominees will be acknowledged at a reception on Tuesday, April 11, 2023 at Kellogg Hotel & Conference Center, Big Ten A. Learn more about the award on the Department of Student Life website.

Job of the Week – Extension Specialist: Health and Nutrition Institute Associate Director

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This week, MSU Human Resources features a posting from MSU Extension for a Health and Nutrition Institute Associate Director (posting 835156). MSU Extension aims to be part of community conversations, maintain positive environments, and foster inclusivity. Learn more about MSU Extension.

The Associate Director is part of MSU Extension and the Health and Nutrition Institute (HNI), and provides statewide leadership and support of health, food safety and more. They will provide leadership to the institute’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed) grant and Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP). They will also work with the HNI Director to provide support for HNI staff and program management. Find a list of all responsibilities on the MSU Careers website.

The applicant should have a Master’s degree in nutrition, food science, or a related health field of study, but a Ph.D. is preferred. Their working knowledge should include five years of experience in Extension or similar organization with an emphasis on nutrition education, food science or community and public health. They should also have experience and proven ability working productively with a team serving in both leadership and contributor roles and development of multi-disciplinary collaborations. 

To learn more about MSU Extension, visit www.canr.msu.edu. To apply for this position, prepare a resume, cover letter, four professional references and apply here by February 6. 

Job of the Week: Project Manager

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This week, MSU Human Resources features a posting from the College of Arts and Letters for a Project Manager (posting 837257). The College of Arts and Letters educates actors, artists, designers, filmmakers, linguists, philosophers, poets, teachers, translators, writers and much more in a creative, learning and nurturing environment.  

The Project Manager would support the efforts of the Mellon Funded HuMetricsHSS initiative. This initiative creates and supports values-enacted frameworks for understanding and evaluating all aspects of the scholarly life well-lived and for promoting the nurturing of these values in scholarly practice. The Project Manager will develop, coordinate and implement projects affiliated with the HuMetricsHSS strategic initiatives. They will also analyze and summarize information and studies for use by management. For a list of all responsibilities, click here.

The future Project Manager should be a detail oriented communicator with a four-year degree in business administration, management or a related field. Their working knowledge should include project management, business analysis, facilitation and training with a focus on business management. Project Management certification is preferred. They should be extremely well organized and have excellent written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills. This is a full-time 12-month end-dated position with expectation of annual renewal. 

To learn more about the College of Arts and Letters, visit cal.msu.edu. To apply for this position, prepare a resume and apply here by January 17.

Employee Discounts to Support your 2023 Resolutions

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Another new year means new resolutions, and MSU Benefits Plus wants to make those goals and tasks more achievable than ever. Below, you can learn more about these exclusive health, wellness, and other helpful discounts for MSU employees and start your journey to a happy new year today!

To access these discounts and more, login to MSU Benefits Plus today. If you haven’t used MSU Benefits Plus previously, register using your employee email address and set up an account. 

Exercise and Mental Health

  • Future â€“ Receive 50% off your first 3 months of 1:1 custom personal training through Future Fitness. Discount is automatically applied at checkout.
  • Yours â€“ Sleep, meditate and heal. Save up to 70% on a yearly plan or 40% on a monthly plan through Yours. Use code CORESTREAM2022.
  • Calm â€“ 57% off a one-year subscription for the Apple App Store and Google Play Store’s most popular mental wellness application ($29.99 instead of $69.99).

Travel

  • CoreStream â€“ Specializing in finding the cheapest flights on the best carriers, use CoreStream’s online booking engine to search for flights, comparative shop, and book online with just a few clicks. Save up to 70% on your next flight!
  • Tickets at Work â€“ Find deals of up to 60% off hotels in tons of destinations using this exclusive link.

Education

  • Spartan Bookstore â€“ If you are looking for books to learn something new or just to enjoy some reading, visit the Spartan Bookstore for 10% off new and used books with your faculty/staff ID.
  • Rosetta Stone – Get 12 months of language learning from Rosetta Stone for only $95.88 (normally $119.88) when you sign up through the exclusive link!

Tech

  • Apple – Get ready for the best deals if you choose to spend your holiday gift money on new Apple products, because MSU employees get exclusive pricing through the Employee Purchase Program.
  • Dell â€“ Ready to upgrade your workspace in 2023? Save up to 30% on select systems through Dell Member Purchase Program Discounts.

The HR website also offers other deals you can find on-campus through the MSU Tech Store, MSU Bakers, and the Kellogg Hotel & Conference Center, among others. You can check out some of those deals through the MSU HR Website. For more information on discounts from MSU Benefits Plus, visit the HR website. If you have any questions about the discounts, please call MSU Benefits Plus at 888-758-7575.

New Year, New Professional Development Courses!

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HR’s Organization and Professional Development (OPD) department has spots open in the following courses to support your learning and development in January and February:

  • Maximizing the Spartan Experience | January 17 | Virtual
    This engaging training provides a foundational perspective related to enhanced customer service delivery.
  • Everything DiSC: Behavior Styles at Work | January 18 | Virtual
    Everything DiSC® helps you build more effective working relationships based on an understanding of different behavioral styles.
  • Grammar Refresher | January 24 | Virtual
    Strengthen your grammar and usage skills and present a more polished, professional image.
  • The Power of Habit | January 25 | Virtual
    Learn how to spot your habit loop, turn bad days into good data, and create habits that get the results you want.
  • Promapp, Interactive Process Creation | February 1 | Virtual
    Learners will continue their process improvement journey and build upon the knowledge and skills learned in Introduction to Process Mapping.
  • Implicit Bias Certificate Series | Starts February 7 | Virtual
    The Implicit Bias Certificate series allows participants to examine the multiple facets of implicit bias and its impact on our community through a series of modules.
  • Crucial Conversations for Accountability | Starts February 7 | In-Person
    This engaging two-day course, previously titled Crucial Accountability, teaches nine powerful skills for resolving performance problems, strengthening trust and reliability, and eliminating inconsistency through group discussion, real-time practice, and group support and coaching.
  • Building Cohesive Teams| February 8 | Virtual
    Explore strategies to increase team cohesiveness and establish positive day-to-day interactions to enhance communication, build team awareness and cultivate trustworthiness in the work culture.
  • Creating and Sustaining a Positive Workplace| February 16 | Virtual
    This course provides humorous insight into the seven habits of negativity, including tips to stop gossip, techniques for getting along with others, and strategies to reap the many benefits of a positive and engaged workforce.
  • Cultural Competency | February 20 | In-Person
    One of MSU’s guiding principles is to lead inclusively, actively, and intentionally to promote full participation and a sense of safety and belonging for all employees and staff. Join us in building cultural awareness and inclusiveness skills that strengthen cultural competence.
  • Strategic Planning| February 22 | In-Person
    Participants will gain a foundational base for implementing strategic planning in a unit.

You can find all the current Organization and Professional Development courses on the HR website. Class enrollment is completed within the EBS Portal. Employees may use available educational assistance funds towards course fees (if any).