Mar 2006 Human Resources Communication

March 13, 2006

PHONE: 818-677-2101

MAIL DROP: 8229

UNIVERSITY HALL 165

CSU Benefits Portal

HR QUICKLINKS:

HR Communication Archive

http://www-admn.csun.edu/hrs/newsletters/

Benefits Administration

http://www-admn.csun.edu/hrs/benefits/

Compensation & Employment

http://www-admn.csun.edu/hrs/comp/

Payroll Administration

http://www-admn.csun.edu/hrs/payroll/

Employee Relations

http://www-admn.csun.edu/hrs/relations/

Professional Development Programs

http://www-admn.csun.edu/hrs/training/

Announcing the new "CSU Benefits Page." The link below is a central online portal for CSU specific information created to help you link to important resources including forms, brochures, certificates/evidence of coverage booklets, and provider networks. Please use the link as a tool when looking for CSU specific benefit information. http://www.calstate.edu/hr/benefitsportal/

Background Checks

Reminder - background checks are required for selected positions which deal with control of resources, access to drugs or security-sensitive equipment, or contact with minor children. Your employment manager will inform you when you are recruiting for a position that requires a background check.

CSU Fee Waiver and Reduction Program

Enrollment for the spring session has reached an all-time high of 538 participants. Summer session enrollment has been extended until March 24th. Enrollment applications are now automated to make the process easier. To obtain more information on the Fee Waiver and Reduction Program or to register for future sessions, visit the website at http://www-admn.csun.edu/hrs/benefits/feewaiver.html.

Human Resource Forms - Name Changes
In response to requests from users, we have made changes to the names of many of our Benefits, Employment, Payroll, Professional Development, and Employee Relations forms that will make it easier to identify which form to use, and easier to locate them on our website. This change will go into effect in April. We have included a easy reference guide below with the current name of the form and the new name to help you with these name changes. We welcome your feedback and thank all of you who offered suggested changes. (http://www-admn.csun.edu/hrs/forms/forms_new.htm)
Master Payroll Certification (MPC)
MPC is now ONLINE! Master Payroll Certification has gone high tech and is online as of March 15, 2006. This is not a new process. Many know Master Payroll Certification as the large white gridded forms mailed monthly to departments to certify that the employees listed on the forms were indeed authorized to be paid for the current pay period. These forms were known as the 672 Time and Attendance Reports. These reports included employee names and social security numbers, and were circulated through interoffice mail. Not the best option as we try to protect against identity theft. The new MPC Online process takes care of that issue. Instead of handwriting check marks and routing the document for signatures, employees authorized to certify a department's payroll go online to the MPC page to click check boxes associated with employees names and PeopleSoft IDs. This helps CSUN with audit compliance as well, as the criteria for certifiers include: (1) the certifier must not certify themselves, and (2) the certifier must not pick up pay warrants or have the ability to enter data that would affect a pay warrant. The 672 has always been a cumbersome tool, and now MPC Online has streamlined the process! No more shuffling of the big white documents, no more security risks. Exceptions? There's a small, letter size form available online that can be faxed to Payroll. No more snail-mail! The 672 was mailed from Sacramento to CSUN the first week of the new pay period. By the time departments received them, they were already outdated! The new MPC process shows you up-to-the-minute information - whatever transactions HRIS/Payroll has received and entered, it's there for you to see!A special thank you to our "pilot" departments who helped to shape the process as it is today. If you have questions about MPC Online, or suggestions or comments, please contact pshelp@csun.edu, or call ext. 6685.
Notification of Life Event Changes
Please report life event changes which may affect your eligibility or your dependents' eligibility immediately to the Office of Human Resources, Benefits Administration. Examples of reportable life event changes are marriage, divorce, birth/adoption, reduction/increase in timebase, and dependents who reach age 23.
Professional Development Programs
Using university resources wisely is essential for our campus' long-term success. Enrollment in any professional development program is a benefit that should be valued and utilized wisely by each staff member. When enrolling in a program, ensure that you have the time available to attend. Recently we have incurred a high rate of people who enroll but do not attend the class. The result is that people who would like to attend cannot sign up because classes are filled. To eliminate this situation, a non-attendance policy has been created for those who excessively enroll but do not attend them. Effective immediately, any staff member who signs up for two classes within a 6-month period and does not attend without canceling will be placed on a "watch" list. Staff members who are placed on this list will be notified that they will not be allowed to attend any classes offered by Professional Development Programs for 6 months. To avoid being placed on this list, cancellations must be made two full business days in advance of the class start time. This will ensure that each class is full and that development is cost efficient for the university. Any questions related to this policy should be emailed to laurie.walton@csun.edu.
Insurance Plans
Have you reviewed your insurance plan coverage lately? Do you and your family have enough coverage? Keep in mind the CSU offers Voluntary Plan Programs designed to work with benefits already offered to you. The Voluntary Plans include Life Insurance through Standard http://www.standard.com/mybenefits/csu/voluntary.html. Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D), Hospital Income Plan, Travel Assistance, and Cancer Medical Reimbursement through Sanders & Associates http://sanders1.com/Home/home.shtm. Automobile and Homeowner's insurance policies through A+ Auto & Home Insurance Plus found at http://aplus.com/csun/.
Service Opportunities Offered by Environmental Health and Safety
The CSUN Ergonomics program helps employees arrange their workspace in a manner that prevents repetitive motion injuries. The program is administered by Environmental Health and Safety (EH&S) and consists of the following services: Ergonomic Assessment EH&S will provide workspace assessments for all campus employees. EH&S will consult with you regarding your workstation setup and your postural habits, and make any recommendations for improvement. Please notify your supervisor before requesting an assessment. Web-Based Training / Self Evaluation In addition to the assessment, an interactive training course is available on the EH&S webpage at http://www-admn.csun.edu/ehos/painless.htm. Completing this training course is a great first step to the evaluation process. Group Training EH&S can provide department-wide training in the form of group presentations (to larger groups of employees) and group workstation assessments (to smaller groups). Furniture and Ergonomic Product Consultation EH&S can provide consultation on recommended workstation furniture and accessories (desks, chairs, keyboard trays, etc.) before purchasing or prior to a remodeling project. In addition, EH&S attempts to maintain ergonomic products for employees to test and try out in the comfort of the EH&S office. In most cases, EH&S will invite you to stop by following an assessment, but any employee is welcome to schedule a visit to the EH&S office. Requests for these services can be made by calling the EH&S office at x2401.
Upcoming State Election for CalPERS Board of Administration
During 2006, the California Public Employee's Retirement System (CalPERS) will be conducting an election for the state member representative on the CalPERS Board of Administration. The term of office for the current representative will expire January 15, 2007. The new term of office will begin January 16, 2007 and end January 15, 2011. Eligible active state members of CalPERS will have an opportunity to vote for one candidate on the ballot. The deadline to submit a nomination petition to CalPERS is March 24, 2006. For additional information go to http://www.calpers.ca.gov.