From: HR/Payroll Department Contacts [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Janet Walker Sent: Wednesday, December 07, 2011 8:07 AM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Instant HR/Payroll: Pre-Winter Break Logistics, W-2 Reminder for Faculty, New Minimum Hourly Rate for Wage Employees, Mini Flex is Flexible This Year, Tick Tock Discounts and Everyday Valet Closing Pre-Winter Break Employment Offers & Job Postings 'Tis the season to make job offers! To help us accommodate the high volume at this time of year, HR requests that submission of offers to be made prior to the winter break be sent via eWork no later than Tuesday, December 20, 2011. This will ensure ample time to contact candidates, allow them to consider, and make any necessary negotiations. Keep in mind that the closer we get to the break, some candidates may have already gone out of town for the holidays and we may not be able to reach them. Similarly, please try to submit any new job posting requests by the same date. Departments may want to consider that, historically, the holiday season is not the best time to place external advertisements for maximum candidate exposure vs. advertising cost. Reminder: Get the Jump on 2012 With Your W-2 While 2011 is still in full swing, it's not too soon to be thinking about 2012. Please remind your faculty in December that they can look for their electronic W-2 by early-January 2012. During January, your faculty may not be checking email as often since classes aren't in session. An electronic W-2 is something they may be interested in! Please let them know that it's fast, simple, and on their timetable. Simply log-in to PatriotWeb, then select "Employee Services" then "Tax Forms". That's it. No waiting for the mail. No forms in triplicate. Access a W-2 whenever they need it, as many copies as they need. Be on the lookout. A targeted e-mail will be sent to all W-2 recipients when the W-2s are available in early January. This is just a heads up to ask that you help us spread the word. Thanks! New Minimum Hourly Rates for Wage Employees Effective January 1, 2012 the Mason minimum hourly pay rate for all non-student and most student wage employees will be increased to $8.00 per hour. An exception is given for work study positions. Departments are encouraged to pay at least the new minimum rate for work study positions whenever funds allow. Human Resources & Payroll will be entering the new pay rates for employees and no action on the part of departments is needed. The affected departments have been contacted. Anyone with questions should email Sharon Thompson at [log in to unmask] or Ilse Riddick at [log in to unmask] Mini Flex As you may recall, we've held a Mini Flex for the last couple of years during the week before Winter Break begins because they were shortened work weeks. Because this year has a 4-day work week before Winter Break officially begins on Friday, December 23, we won't be holding a formal Mini Flex. That said, supervisors should feel free to institute an informal flex arrangement for telework for a day or two that week if they choose. An informal arrangement doesn't require any paperwork -- think of it as permitting someone to informally telework because a moose sat on their car (an actual reason someone couldn't come to work from an employer in Maine). Please keep in mind that telework before winter break is work -- people must account for the hours of their regular work day. Supervisors should be mindful of discussing measurable work product with their staff who telework. Tick Tock Discounts A reminder that we have some "Tick Tock" discounts on the work/life discount page <http://mymasonhr.gmu.edu> (discounts with a deadline). Featuring Famous Dave's in Oakton and Falls Church. Everyday Valet Closing Speaking of discounts, we're sad to report that Everyday Valet is closing. The dry cleaning day and Costco Day scheduled for this month are canceled. The discount has been removed from the work/life discount page. <http://mymasonhr.gmu.edu> Please share excerpts of Instant HR/Payrolls with your faculty and staff as appropriate. We rely on you to help us "get out the word". Thanks!