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Office of Human Resources September 2012
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HR REVIEW
Your Source for University Human Resources News and Information
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Announcements
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Exempt Staff Kronos Time Entry Deadline is September 6
Exempt staff and librarians must enter all fiscal year 2012 time off into Kronos no later than Thursday, Sept. 6. Exempt staff will report their FY 2012 absences -- this includes any sick, vacation, personal floating holiday(s), and bereavement time taken between Sept. 1, 2011 and Aug. 31, 2012 -- in the normal manner by Sept. 6. Managers of exempt staff must approve the time off for their direct reports by Wednesday, Sept. 12.
For detailed instructions on accessing and using Kronos, see the PDF instruction manual or review the Time Entry webpage. Please note the FASIS Update in this newsletter regarding the correct Java version to use.
Important Pharmacy Network Update
ExpressScripts, the company which manages Northwestern's prescription-drug benefit, has reached successful contract negotiations with Walgreens. Effective Sept. 15, the pharmacy chain will again be a part of ExpressScripts' network. Prescriptions can be filled at any Walgreens location, all of which can be found at express-scripts.com, a website with around-the-clock assistance, and important health information.
How to Contact The Hartford for Approval of Extended Sick Time for Staff
Beginning Sept. 1, absences for a personal health issue that last seven or more calendar days (five business days) must be reported to The Hartford, which can be reached at 888-541-7283. Remember to also contact Northwestern's Benefits Division at 1-7513 to apply for a FMLA leave.
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Work/Life News
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New Child Care Center to Open Near the Evanston Campus
A brand new, state of the art child care center, Bright Horizons at Evanston, located at 1629 Orrington Avenue, plans to open this month, pending licensing by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services. The center will serve children from age six weeks to six years. It will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, all year.
Northwestern families will receive priority enrollment, a 10 percent discount and a registration discount. There is also a fee assistance program to help eligible families with the cost of child care. For additional information, click here or contact the center directly at 847-491-9032 and sign up for a tour. For additional information about this and other child care options, contact the Northwestern Office of Work/Life Resources at 1-3612.
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Compensation
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Merit Pay Increases Seen in September Checks
Salary planning for fiscal year 2013 is complete and approved merit pay increases will be reflected in the Sept. 7 paycheck of non-exempt staff, and the Sept. 28 paycheck for all other eligible employees.
All questions regarding a merit increase should be directed to a staff member's immediate supervisor.
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Upcoming Events
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Workshop: Resilience Amidst Life's Challenges
Tuesday, Sept. 18, 12 noon to 1:30 p.m., University Library Forum Room (Second Floor, S. Tower), Evanston
Thursday, Sept. 20, 12 noon to 1:30 p.m., Gray Seminar Room, Lurie Center, Chicago
 Life challenges are inevitable. A survey by the American Psychological Association found that 8 out of 10 Americans are feeling stressed due to finances and the weakened economy -- among other life pressures. For many, this can affect their overall sense of well-being, their relationships with family and friends, and sometimes their job performance. On a more personal level, developing resilience in response to life's challenges can help you overcome adversity, realign how you deal with difficulties and intense change, and reframe how you see things. Join us and gain some insight into:
- The potential impact(s) of various life challenges
- The key factors that promote resilience
- Ideas and strategies that can help people move forward during life's challenges
Gretchen Renfro, a Perspectives account manager and an experienced EAP professional, will facilitate this workshop. To RSVP, please contact Phyllis Ellis at 7-1460. Elder Care Support Group The Elder Care support group shares best practices from the many caregivers who attend this monthly meeting. Please contact Phyllis Ellis at 7-1460 if you would like to attend a meeting or have any questions about this group.
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FASIS Update
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Kronos and Java Compatibility
Java has recently released Version 7 that has been installed and used across the University. However, the Kronos Time System requires Java Version 6 for complete compatibility. If you are experiencing operating issues with Kronos, please contact your IT support staff and ask to have Java Version 6 (Update 33 is preferred) installed on your computer. If installing Java 6 is not an option, please contact the Kronos Help Desk or access Kronos via the non-Java URL.
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Learning & Organization Development
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The Northwestern University Learning & Organization Development (L&OD) team collaborates with faculty and staff who want to develop their talent and advance their workplace outcomes, processes and engagement. L&OD provides consulting, coaching, workshops, retreats and tools for individuals, groups and organizations.
Registration Open for Fall Workshops
L&OD offers a variety of workshops and opportunities to help improve workplace performance. Learn more.
Questions? Comments? Contact the L&OD team at workplace-learning@northwestern.edu or 7-5081.
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Work/Life Resources
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First Home Buyer Closes with Help from University's Employer Assisted Housing Program
A University staff member recently closed on a Live Evanston condo, becoming the first recipient of the Northwestern University Employer Assisted Housing award. This $3,000 stipend for her closing costs and down payment was made through the Northwestern University Employer Assisted Housing Program, which is pleased to be able to support University employees as they take advantage of this unique opportunity to be residents of Evanston and live in the community where they work. Many more faculty and staff members have applied to the program and are poised to take adva ntage of this program as new homes and condos come on the market. For additional information about the Northwestern University Employer Assisted Housing Program, please refer here or contact the Office of Work/Life Resources at 1-3612.
Need Help Applying for a Mortgage or a Refinance?
Northwestern has a preferred banking relationship with three local institutions: First Bank & Trust, First Northern Credit Union, and Harris Bank. All three banks have discounted mortgage interest rates for all faculty and staff, and either waive or discount fees for a mortgage application, a credit report, and an appraisal report. Please go to the HR Work/Life Financial Resources' website and click on the Mortgage Summary Spreadsheet for more information.
Please inquire about specific offers with these designated representatives:
Galen Tallas at First Bank & Trust, 847-733-7400
Sandy Federici at First Northern Credit Union, 847-332-0240 or 312-332-6357, ext. 443
Dan Barnes at Harris Bank, 847-675-1085 or 847-334-1202
University Children's Center is Now Serving an Organic Menu
The University Children's Center, 446 East Ontario, Chicago, will be offering an organic menu through their relationship with Organic Life. The Center's Open House, Wednesday, Sept. 26 at 6:00 p.m., is for students' parents and the parents of prospective students.
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Staffing
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A Temporary Employee May be a Good Way to Fill a Role
The NU Temporary Center manages the pool of temporary, available employees at Northwestern and it provides the same services of an outside staffing firm -- and more. The Center:
- costs less than using outside staffing firms.
- is managed by knowledgeable, internal University employees familiar with the University's departments/units, as well as the types of temporary positions and the core skills required of temporary employees.
- has a pool of employees who have been screened, interviewed, and tested for proficiency on Microsoft Office programs.
- conducts reference, education, and background checks on candidates in the pool, at no cost to a
department / unit. - will complete the paperwork -- including the I-9 e-Verify process -- to place the temporary employee in the position.
Whether short- or long-term coverage is needed, please consider the NU Temporary Center. Using a temporary employee can be an effective way to gauge a person's skills for the role before making a permanent hire. For additional information about the NU Temporary Center, call 3-1234, or visit the website. |
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NU Athletics
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The Northwestern Football Season is Here
 Cheer on the Wildcats this fall at Ryan Field and receive a discounted price for season tickets and enjoy preferred seating. Faculty and staff who are Northwestern Football season ticket holders have a dedicated Account Executive who can help with any ticket-related needs throughout the season, access to bowl games and away game tickets, purchasing season parking passes, and invitations to exclusive Northwestern Football events.
This season, one lucky faculty or staff member season ticket holder will be randomly selected to win a VIP game-day experience including pre-game sideline passes, a parking pass and personalized football jerseys. For additional information or to purchase tickets, call 888-GO-PURPLE (888-467-8775), visit nusports.com or click here.
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University Policy
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Required Compliance with Federal Copyright Law
A new fiscal year is a good time to highlight the importance of complying with federal copyright law.
Northwestern University requires members of its community to respect the intellectual property of others and to abide by all applicable laws.
The use of Northwestern's network or equipment to download or share copyright-protected material in violation of federal copyright law is prohibited. Employees who engage in these practices are in violation of University policy and this type of activity is subject to disciplinary action, as well as civil and criminal penalties.
If you have engaged in file-sharing activity (such as the downloading of movies, music, TV shows or software) in violation of federal copyright law, you should immediately cease any such activity, as well as the use or distribution of any illegally obtained material. Peer-to-peer software should be deleted from University-owned machines unless there is a business, educational, or research need for the software. Also, when working remotely on the traditional VPN, keep in mind that all your traffic goes through the Northwestern network and is subject to these same penalties.
Media owners continue their efforts to curtail unlawful file sharing, including that of movies, music, television shows, and software. Several high profile cases have been resolved over the past few years, with substantial financial awards given owners of the property.
Questions? Need additional information? Contact Roger Safian, Senior Data Security Analyst, at 7-6437.
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Wellness Meetings
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Weight Watchers
Every Thursday, 12:30 p.m. (weigh-ins begin at noon), Lower Level, 600 Foster St., Evanston (Chambers Hall/Transportation Center)
New members can sign up through a NU Employee Portal (company ID: 8908, company passcode: WW8908).
Monthly Pass holders are always welcome.
For additional information about Evanston campus meetings, contact Tamara Rosner at 1-2209.
Every Monday, 1:00 p.m. (weigh-ins begin at 12:30 p.m.), suite 1400, 680 N. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago (Department of Preventive Medicine Building)
For additional information about Chicago campus meetings, contact Veronica Jackson at 8-8655.
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