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Melinda Barnhart Exec. Director, Finance & Administration Volgenau School of Engineering 703-993-8663 ph; 703-993-1734 fax From: HR/Payroll Department Contacts [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Janet Walker Sent: Tuesday, March 05, 2013 4:46 PM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Instant HR/Payroll: Telework Week Underway, Life Planning Seminar on Social Security, It's Chronicle Survey Season, Background Check Reminder, New Discounts, DMV2Go in Fairfax Next Month, and Some Calendar Notes Telework Week Underway This week, March 4-8, Mason is celebrating Telework Week. It's an opportunity to start (or continue) the discussion on how flexible work options may help departments with: * Recruitment and Retention * Despite the current discussion about telework at Yahoo, flexible work options can improve productivity and morale. * Work/Life Flexibility * Reducing the time and cost of commuting * Allowing faculty/staff to have more control over their time * Sustainability Impact * Fewer cars on the road and on campus * Continuity of Operations * Have agreements in place so people are set up to work even if Mason's offices are closed/classes canceled * Use compressed scheduling to expand service hours For details on Telework Week and flexible work options, please visit the work/life flexible work page. <http://hr.gmu.edu/worklife/flex> Questions, please email [log in to unmask] or call 3.2604. Life Planning Seminar: Understanding Social Security Do you have questions on how Social Security works and how it can be a part of your financial planning (or the planning of a loved one)? We're delighted to have Diana Varela from the Social Security Administration available to do a presentation on this important topic on Thursday, March 7 at noon in University Hall. To register, please visit http://hr.gmu.edu/learning and click on the "Courses" tab. This is a terrific opportunity to hear about Social Security on-site from an expert in the field. This session will be videoconferenced to Arlington and Prince William. It's Chronicle Survey Season As in years past, Mason is once again participating in The Chronicle of Higher Education's Great College to Work For program. This is a great opportunity to benchmark Mason as an employer. As part of the process, 600 full-time faculty and staff will be randomly selected to complete a survey. New this year however, the Chronicle is piloting adjunct faculty participation. Mason has agreed to participate in the pilot hence 300 randomly selected adjunct faculty will also receive the survey. The survey runs from March 18 - April 15. If you are selected, you will have an opportunity to represent yourself as well as your colleagues; we hope you can take a few minutes to complete the survey. Thank you for all you do to make Mason a great place to learn and work. Criminal Background Check Disclosure This is a friendly reminder to departments who conduct the hiring process outside of eWork. If you do not already provide an opportunity for your new employee to disclose possible convictions, please refer to the Forms page on the Human Resources website and have your employee fill out the Generic Disclosure Form <http://hr.gmu.edu/emp_relations/cbc/docs/GenericDisclosureForm.pdf> . Once filled out, send the form by mail to MS 3C3, fax (3.1275) or email [log in to unmask] The employee will then receive an email from our vendor, HireRight, to complete the background check. Questions or concerns? Contact Jessica Cain at 3.1275. New Discounts Available We hope you regularly check the work/life discount page. We especially wanted to invite you to take a peek as we've added two new opportunities -- Busch Gardens (including their other parks such as Sea World and Sesame Place) and Title Boxing Club. For details, please visit http://hr.gmu.edu/worklife/discounts. DMV2Go Coming Back to Fairfax in April Because the DMV2Go visit to Fairfax had to be cut short this month (due to damage sustained at the Leesburg DMV office), DMV2Go will be back on the Fairfax campus on Monday, April 29 from 9:00 am - 4:00 pm in the University Hall parking lot. Details are on the DMV2Go flyer <http://hr.gmu.edu/worklife/docs/Spring2013FairfaxMakeupDay.pdf> . Calendar Notes Just a few dates to put on your calendar regarding some upcoming national dates: * Sunday, March 10 - Daylight Savings Time - Just a reminder to "spring ahead" this weekend. Daylight savings time <http://www.timeanddate.com/time/dst/2013.html> officially begins at 2:00am on Sunday, March 10 (think of it as late, late Saturday night). If you have folks who will be at work at that time, you may want to check out guidance from the Department of Labor. <http://www.dol.gov/elaws/esa/flsa/hoursworked/screenER11.asp> * Tuesday, April 16 - National Healthcare Decisions Day - No matter your age, it's always a good idea to have your wishes documented and to review your choices on a regular basis. This is a great time to suggest to your faculty and staff that they review the choices they've already made in such areas as: * Insurance and retirement beneficiaries * Wills * Advance Directives * While the topic isn't one any of us like to think about, making choices about who you would like to represent your interests should you be unable to do so for yourself is actually a gift to your loved ones. Making these choices before something happens to you empowers them to help you if you can no longer help yourself. Additional information is available at National Health Care Decision Day <http://www.nhdd.org/> . * Monday, April 22 - Earth Day - at Mason <http://sustainability.gmu.edu/community/earthweek/index.html> , in DC/VA/MD <http://dc.about.com/od/specialevents/a/EarthDay.htm> * Week of April 21-27 - Administrative Professionals Week <http://www.iaap-hq.org/events/apw> * Thursday, April 25 - Take our Children to Work Day <http://www.daughtersandsonstowork.org/>