Dialog, UA Faculty and Staff News

HRD Training

Building Community
Diversity
Communication
Computer Courses
Continuous Quality Improvement
Personal Growth and Development
Personal Safety
Policy and Procedures
Job Openings
Miscellaneous

Benefits Update

BamaFlex News: Changes in Processes
New Policy, New Benefit: Sick Leave Pool for Non-Exempt Employees

Building Community -- Human Relations for the 21st Century.

Human Relations for the 21st Century is designed to develop human relations skills, heighten awareness of others and foster a sense of community throughout the UA campus. Workshops that bear the Building Community logo are available to UA employees.

Sexual Harassment Awareness and Prevention -- HRD Team, date TBA. HRD encourages employees to look at the on-line opportunity for training in this topic: www.newmedialearning.com/psh/ua/.

Diversity

The Diversity HRD presentations are part of the "Building Community" program.

The Diversity Experience -- HRD Team, date TBA
"Who Moved My Cheese?" -- HRD Team, April 1, 10:30 a.m.-noon

Communication

Business Communication for Today -- HRD, April 2, 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Advanced Connections -- Moving Quality Service Beyond the Basics -- HRD Team, call to schedule a workshop

Computer Courses

E-Course -- HRD, April 23-25, 8:30 a.m.-noon
Windows for E-Course -- HRD, April 23-25, 8:30 a.m.-noon
Advanced Word -- HRD, April 15 and 16, and April 21 and 22, 1-4 p.m.
Advanced Excel -- HRD, March 31-April 1, 1-4 p.m.

Continuous Quality Improvement

CQI Leadership Seminar Series. CQI workshops are part of the Leadership Seminar Series designed for people in academic and administrative organizations, such as deans, department chairs, directors, managers, assistant and associate directors and faculty who lead projects, or plan on moving into leadership roles. All workshops will be facilitated by John Dew, director for Continuous Quality Improvement. Contact the CQI Office at 348-9831 to schedule workshops, which are designed for 2-4 hours.

Personal Growth and Development

Training and development opportunities are available through UA's Employee Assistance Program.

The following workshops may be scheduled based on participant demand and instructor availability:

Getting Organized through Paper Management
Stress Management and Time Management
Dealing with Difficult People
Listening Skills for the Workplace

Personal Safety

Right to Know -- Janie Fowler, Health and Safety, April 3, 8:15 a.m.

Policy and Procedures

UA Budget Procedures -- Janis Conway, UA Budget Office, March 18, 1:30-4:30 p.m.
On-Line Purchasing Procedures -- Susan Petty and Judy Voss, UA Purchasing, April 16, 9-11 a.m.
Effective Affirmative Action Recruiting Strategies -- Shirley Darr, Auxiliary Services, date TBA

Job Openings

The University of Alabama is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer. For the latest employment information, call the UA job line at 348-7780 or visit the Employment Office web site. Remember that office, technical, clerical, maintenance and service positions stay on the Job Line only five days. Faculty positions are listed under the appropriate college or school.

Miscellaneous

New Employee Orientation introduces all new UA employees to campus life and provides them and employees with a status change (regular, part-time or temporary) an opportunity for benefits advisement and enrollment. New employees and employees with status change must pre-register and attend a New Employee Orientation session within the first 30 days of employment to be eligible for health insurance. Sessions are offered every Monday.

Three ways to register and to check out training material:

Call 348-7125
Fax to 348-2072
E-mail dharbin@bama.ua.edu

Human Resources Development training sessions will be conducted at G54 Rose Administration building unless otherwise stated. Persons with special needs should contact Daphne Harbin.

The Training Resource Center (TRC) offers videos for a staff development "lunch and learn" program. The TRC accommodates six to eight people.

Benefits Update -- BamaFlex News: Changes in Processes

There are several changes in the BamaFlex processes that affect filing claims:

Claim statements will be sent by e-mail. Participants in BamaFlex should make sure their e-mail address is current. To check on e-mail addresses, contact Isabella Wilson at 348-7018 or at jwilson@fa.ua.edu.
The reimbursement request form is available only on the Web site; paper forms are no longer available. At the UA home page, either type in "accounts payable" in the UA Quick Search box on the right or scroll down to "Site Index" and click on A. At the Accounts Payable site, click on "accounts payable forms," then "BamaFlex." At the spreadsheet, go to the "instructions" tab at the bottom left of the screen and follow directions. Mail the printed spreadsheet page to the BamaFlex Office or place in the BamaFlex drop box located behind Rose Administration Building.

Benefits Update -- New Policy, New Benefit: Sick Leave Pool for Non-Exempt Employees

What is the Sick Leave Pool?

The Sick Leave Pool was recommended by the Faculty and Staff Benefits Committee. Its purpose is to provide emergency sick leave to members of the program who have suffered personal catastrophic injury or illness and who have exhausted all their accrued sick, annual and compensatory leave.

Who is eligible to join?

Non-exempt staff (paid hourly) with at least one year's service who have at least 9 days sick leave accrued are eligible to join.

When can I join?

During Open Enrollment from April 1-30.

How do I join?

Complete and return the Application for Sick Leave Pool Membership. This is available from the HR Service Center and in HR Forms at http://bama.ua.edu/~hr/forms/index.htm.

How many people must sign up?

At least 125 eligible employees must enroll in order for the Sick Leave Pool to become effective.

How many days must I contribute to the Sick Leave Pool?

Each member must contribute 2 days initially. After that, up to 2 days per plan year may be requested if the Sick Leave Pool becomes depleted. Donated sick leave is non-refundable.

Can non-members contribute days to the Sick Leave Pool?

No, only those eligible for the benefit may contribute.

Who can use days from the Sick Leave Pool?

Members of the pool who experience catastrophic illness or injury. This is defined as a severe condition or combination of conditions affecting the physical or mental health of the employee and resulting in a life-threatening or life function altering condition, for example, loss of physical senses, loss of physiological processes, or loss of a limb.

Can Sick Leave Pool days be used for family members who experience catastrophic illness or injury?

No. The Sick Leave Pool is only to be used by employees for personal catastrophic illness or injury.

How would I apply to use Sick Leave Pool days?

Complete and return an Application For Pool Sick Leave, available at http://bama.ua.edu/~hr/forms/current_events.htm

Who decides who receives Pool Sick Leave?

The Sick Leave Pool Committee evaluates applications and decides who will receive Pool Sick Leave based on the reason for the application, other requests and available Sick Leave Pool time. Membership in the Sick Leave Pool is not a guarantee that time will be granted.

Who is on the Sick Leave Pool Committee?

One professional staff member, one faculty member, one non-exempt office professional staff member, one Facilities' staff member and one additional staff member, preferably a medical professional.

How much Pool Sick Leave can I get if my application is approved?

Up to 20 days for one request.

What if I don't want to participate anymore?

Participation is voluntary and a member can elect not to participate any more at any time by completing and returning the Request to Cancel Sick Leave Pool Participation Form, which available in the HR Service Center or at http://bama.ua.edu/~hr/forms/current_events.htm.

Where can I get more information?

Read the Policy at http://bama.ua.edu/~hr/empl_rel/policy-manual/sick-leave-pool.html. Learn more about Sick Leave Pool Administrative Procedures at http://bama.ua.edu/~hr/forms/current_events.htm. Look at Sick Leave Pool forms at http://bama.ua.edu/~hr/forms/current_events.htm.

Additional information is available from the HR Service Center at 348-7732 or from Human Resources at 348-8213.