Human Resources and Payroll

If you're interested in seeing archived announcements prior to July, 2010, please contact the Human Resources and Payroll webmaster

Posted January 13, 2012

The 2011 CVC Campaign Extended Through Midnight on January 31

As of December 31, the 2011 Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign (CVC) has reached 75% of its goal of $3,870,000. While there are many forces that impact charitable giving, we also hear that some of our CVC member charities have had to turn clients away because they do not have the funding to serve the increasing number of people in need. There is still time to make a difference and there are several ways to give including online through EmployeeDirect (CREDIT CARD ONLY) through midnight, January 31. To give by check, cash, credit card, or payroll deduction using a paper pledge card, please contact Helga Yunker at hyunker@gmu.edu. Mail completed forms to Helga at MS3C3. A list of approved CVC charities may be found on the donor directory.

Posted January 12, 2012

W-2s are Available Online: Download Yours for a Chance to Win!

Your 2011 W-2s are available on line. Retrieving your electronic copy is easy and immediate. Simply log in to http://patriotweb.gmu.edu, select "Employee Services," then "Tax Forms," and "W2 Year End Earnings Statement." By electing to access your W-2 form electronically, a Mason generated paper W-2 will not be mailed to you. Going electronic puts time on your side; download yours today.

If you download your W-2 before 5:00 pm on Wednesday, January 25th, your name will automatically be entered into a drawing for a special prize. There will also be special recognition for those departments with high participation rates in accessing W-2s electronically.

Please contact the W-2 Hotline at 703-993-2311 or w2info@gmu.edu should you have questions.

For those who do not download an electronic copy, paper W-2 forms will be mailed no later than January 31st, 2012. Please remember: You must ensure that your Permanent Mailing Address is accurate in Patriot Web Self Service.

Posted December 22, 2011

Leave Reporting Guidance

Today, Thursday, December 22, 2011, across all campuses of George Mason University, administrative offices are closing at 3:00 pm, unless designated services are being provided. Designated employees should remain until the end of the work day unless otherwise advised by your supervisor. Please contact your supervisor if you have any questions.

Please note:

* We're asking academic and administrative departments to manage leave reporting for their classified staff and administrative/professional faculty.

Bi-Weekly Salaried Employees (time sheet due January 1, 2012)

* Bi-weekly time sheets for the period including today are due on January 1, 2012.
* Salaried bi-weekly employees who leave two hours early should account for this closure by reporting two hours of university leave on their timesheet.
* Employees who are on leave today should incorporate two hours of university leave on their time sheet
* If classified, designated employees were asked to work their entire day, they should report two hours of compensatory leave on the time sheet in addition to the hours worked.

Semi-Monthly Employees (amended time sheet needed)

* If a time sheet was submitted to record leave on December 22, an amended time sheet may be submitted to incorporate two hours of university leave taken.
* If non-exempt employees (overtime eligible) left two hours early due to the closing, they should account for their time by including two hours of university leave.
* If classified, designated employees were asked to work their entire day, they should report two hours of compensatory leave on their amended time sheets.
* Amended time sheets are due in HR & Payroll by 5:00 pm on Thursday, January 12, 2012. Flexible Work and Alternate Schedules
* Two hours of university leave should be taken into account if December 22 is a normal workday.

Part-time (.5 FTE and above)

* Part-time employees who are .5 FTE and above receive one hour of university leave if December 22 is a normal workday.
* Follow guidance above as appropriate.

Wage Employees

* Wage employees are paid for hours worked.

Additionally, George Mason University administrative offices are closed and classes are not in session, beginning Friday, December 23, 2011 through Monday, January 2, 2012. Administrative offices return to normal operations on Tuesday, January 3, 2012.

Posted December 15, 2011

Winter Break is Coming Soon....

Please check out our winter break timesheet guidance.

Posted November 10, 2011

Give Thanks in November

The month of November is an appropriate time to thank the people with whom we work and to express our appreciation for everything they do. HR & Payroll’s Rewards & Recognition team provides many ways to recognize a colleague, an employee or student worker for their valuable contributions. Find creative and inventive ways to say “Thank you for a job well done!” at Reward & Recognition. Let people know that their contribution matters to you and to the Mason community.

Posted November 7, 2011

Gobble, Gobble!

Please check out our annual timesheet guidance for the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday.

Posted November 7, 2011

UNUM Long Term Disability Open Enrollment Underway Until November 30

If you're a non-VSDP employee who is not yet participating in UNUM or a current participant who wants to change the amount of your coverage, open enrollment runs November 1-30th. Long-term disability insurance is designed to protect your income should you become medically unable to work. Additional information is available on the benefits website. To obtain a customized enrollment form based on your age and salary, please call HR & Payroll at 3.2600 and ask for a Benefits Administrator or email us at benefits@gmu.edu. Enrollment forms must be received by HR & Payroll by Wednesday, November 30, 2011.

Posted November 4, 2011

eWork Upgrade Status

We are happy to announce that the majority of the issues in the eWork upgrade have been resolved, including the migration and access to see historical and current postings, guest user account access, the ability to update the hiring proposal, and the email trigger function. We do still have a few minor issues pending and appreciate your patience and input as we work to finalize this upgrade.

As always, we are here to assist. If you are having any difficulties please e-mail us at jobs@gmu.edu. Please be sure to provide:

• Your user name
• The error message you are receiving
• Details about the position
• Any additional information that would help in resolving the issue

We look forward to being better able to serve you with the new technology.

Posted November 3, 2011

eWork Upgrade Complete and Some Notes on the Transition

The eWork upgrade has been completed as scheduled. We have a few quick notes to help you with the transition.

* Your saved quick links/bookmarks may not work; please visit https://jobs.gmu.edu/hr and re-save it as your bookmark (If your email links to Internet Explorer, please copy and paste the link into another browser, see note below).

* Currently we are on a temporary server and are experiencing some performance issues. You may find that eWork performs better if you do not use Internet Explorer; try other search engines such as Google, Fire Fox, etc. We will be moved to the production server tonight and you should see improved performance beginning tomorrow.

* As with any major transition, we have discovered some gremlins in the system. We are working with the vendor to resolve any outstanding issues.

* If you are receiving a log-on error, try using your complete email address for your user name.

As always we are here to assist. If you are having any difficulties please e-mail us at jobs@gmu.edu. Please be sure to provide:

* Your user name

* The error message you are receiving

* Details about the position

Thank you for your continued patience and understanding as we complete this import upgrade. We look forward to being better able to serve you with the new technology.

Posted October 6, 2011

Faculty-Staff Enrichment Day

We are excited to be addressing the important topic of civility at this year's annual Faculty-Staff Enrichment Day to be held on Wednesday, October 26th. Civility can help us manage conflict and ensure it is not a drain on our productivity, creativity, and well being. This year's sessions will focus on providing you with insights and practical tools to empower you to be an emissary of civility at Mason. For additional information and to register, please visit the FSED website.

Posted October 4, 2011

Fidelity Webinar on Investing

Join Fidelity Investments on Thursday, October 20 for an online webinar entitled,"Building a Portfolio for Any Weather." This beginner-level session is designed for individuals who are enrolled in Mason's 403(b) tax-deferred annuity savings plan and are looking to help improve their investment mix through asset allocation and diversification. Choose from three different session times. You don't need to be a Fidelity participant to sign up. For details and to register, please visit Fidelity Webinar.

Posted October 3, 2011

Special Offer for Faculty & Staff: Discounted Entertainment 2012 Books

2012 Entertainment Books are available to purchase at the same low price as last year -- $15.00 per book. Local and national vendors, thousands of dollars of potential savings. Makes a terrific gift! Email worklife@gmu.edu to pre-order your book(s). Books will be available for pick up in University Hall, Room 4102 on Thursday, October 27 from 12:00-3:00pm. You can pay for your book(s) by cash, check (payable to Entertainment Publications), or credit card (Visa, M/C, Amex) on the day of pick-up. Not on the Fairfax campus? Email worklife@gmu.edu and we'll make arrangements to get the books to you via inter-office mail (checks only please).

Additional information is available on the work/life homepage.

Posted September 29, 2011

DMV2Go is Coming to Arlington

DMV2Go visited the Prince William and Fairfax campuses in September. They'll be at the Arlington campus on October 26-27. For details, please see the DMV2Go Flyer.

Posted September 21, 2011

Flu Shot Information

Flu shots are part of your wellness benefit through COVA Care and Kaiser Permanente. There are multiple ways to get a flu shot this season, including at on-site clinics. For details, please visit Flu Shot Information 2011. 

Posted September 19, 2011

HOURS CHANGE: DMV2Go on the Fairfax Campus

DMV2Go was originally scheduled to be on the Fairfax campus on Wednesday and Thursday, September 21-22 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. We just learned late this afternoon that the Red Cross has asked DMV2Go to attend an event for hurricane victims late Wednesday afternoon. We want to support our fellow Virginians in their time of need. So the hours for DMV2Go in Fairfax have been shortened on Wednesday only.

New Hours for DMV2Go in Fairfax:
Wednesday, September 21:   9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Thursday, September 22:   9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. (unchanged)

Thank you for your understanding.

Posted September 13, 2011

Updated: DMV2Go is Coming to Mason

Take care of your Department of Motor Vehicle (DMV) needs at a convenient Mason location. DMV2Go has extended its stay at Prince William through Wednesday, September 14. They will be in Fairfax on September 21-22 and in Arlington on October 26-27. For details, please see the Updated DMV2Go Flyer.

Posted September 4, 2011

Registration Underway: Happy Heart Walk

The 3rd annual Happy Heart Walk, held simultaneously on the Fairfax, Arlington, and Prince William campuses, will be held at noon on Wednesday, September 28, 2011. Register at the Happy Heart web site.

Posted September 4, 2011

Nomination Deadline Extended

The deadline to nominate an employee or colleague for an Outstanding Achievement Award has been extended. Nominations are now due in Human Resources & Payroll (MSN 3C3) by the close of business on Monday, September 19, 2011. The presentation ceremony is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, October 19, 2011 in Dewberry Hall. For a detailed list of these awards, please visit Reward & Recognition.

Posted August 31, 2011

Performance Evaluation Season Underway

While informal feedback can and should be given throughout the performance year, the start of the new academic year heralds the beginning of the formal performance evaluation process for administrative/professional faculty and classified employees. Performance evaluations are a key form of communication between a supervisor and his or her employees. Open and honest evaluations of performance are an opportunity for supervisors and employees to discuss job interests, issues encountered, areas for improvement and departmental and employee goals. Performance appraisals for Administrative/Professional faculty and Classified staff are due in HR & Payroll by Tuesday, October 25th. For details please see the memorandum from Linda Harber.

Posted August 25, 2011

2011 Member Benefit Profiles (MBP) are available

Enrolled in the Virginia Retirement System (VRS)? Your annual benefit statement, the Member Benefit Profile (MBP) is now available at myVRS. If you have any questions regarding your MBP or accessing it online, please call 3.2600 and ask to speak with a member of the Benefits team. Or you can email benefits@gmu.edu.

In addition to viewing your MBP, at myVRS you can:
* View your member information, including service credit and compensation reported to VRS by Mason;
* Check the status of an application for retirement, purchase of prior service or refund;
*Estimate your retirement benefit using current information;
*View and update your personal contact information online.

Posted August 16, 2011

Action Needed: DHRM Policy on Electronic Communications and Social Media

As more Mason departments use Facebook, Twitter and other social networking sites and as most of us use email and IM, it's important to review the Department of Human Resource Management's (DHRM) policy 1.75 "Use of Electronic Communications and Social Media".

Current employees must go to myMasonHR, review the online Certificate of Receipt and acknowledge receipt of the policy. New employees will be advised at orientations to visit myMasonHR. Once you acknowledge receipt, the Certificate will be removed from view in future visits to myMasonHR. Because the Certificate is a potential audit point, it is very important that all faculty and staff acknowledge receipt of the policy.

If you have any questions, please contact Jennifer Irvin at 3.2616 or by email at jirvin@gmu.edu

Posted August 9, 2011

TRICARE Supplement Available This Fall

There will be a special enrollment period beginning August 22 through September 6 for coverage effective October 1, 2011 for those who are eligible for both TRICARE and the State Health Benefits Program. The supplement is part of a legislative package to offer education and health care assistance to Virginia's military families.

Additional information is available on the Benefits homepage.

Posted August 8, 2011

Compressed Schedules and Labor Day

If you are a salaried employee, utilizing the compressed schedule flexible work option of four 10 hour days, and your typical schedule is Tuesday-Friday, you may wonder how to handle the upcoming Labor Day holiday held on Monday, September 5th this year.

With your supervisor's approval, you can go off your compressed schedule for the week, work 8 hours each day, and take the 8 hours of holiday leave on Monday. If you stay on your compressed schedule, when you complete your timesheet, enter 8 hours under comp time earned. You then have 8 hours of comp time that can be used, with the approval of your supervisor, anytime during the 12 months after September 5, 2011.

For those of you who compress your schedule and normally work on Mondays, please remember that you receive 8 hours of holiday pay for Monday, September 5. If you are on a 9 hour or 10 hour compressed daily schedule, you do have to account for the full amount of your work day on September 6 either by working or taking leave.

If you have any questions, please contact Janet Walker at 3.2604.

Posted July 11, 2011

It's Nomination Time!

It’s time to nominate an employee or colleague for an Outstanding Achievement Award!   We will be accepting nominations for the Outstanding Achievement Award, Exceptional Support Award, the David W. Rossell Quill Award, the Martha J. Reiner Quality Customer Service Award, the Margaret C. Howell Award and the Team Excellence Award.  The nominations are due in Human Resources & Payroll by close of business on Friday, September 10, 2011.  The presentation ceremony is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, October 19, 2011.

For a detailed list of these awards, please go to http://hr.gmu.edu/awards. Please send completed nominations to Cheryl Rivera - MSN 3C3.

If you have any questions, please contact Reward & Recognition at 3.2739.

Posted July 7, 2011

Reminder: Virginia Retirement System (VRS) Change for Grandfathered Employees

A reminder that grandfathered employees in VRS will receive their 5% increase and begin their 5% contribution to their VRS account beginning with their paycheck dated 7/8/11 (for bi-weekly) and 7/15/11 (for semi-monthly).

For 9-month faculty members in VRS, the effective date of both the salary increase and the pre-tax deduction is August 25th. 9-month faculty will see both in their September 16th pay check.

Please note: If you are on a bi-weekly schedule, the VRS calculation is made by multiplying the annual salary by .05 and then dividing it over 24 pay periods (not 26 as you might think it would be). This is because VRS contributions are calculated on a monthly basis.

You can review the complete email that went out to all grandfathered VRS participants last month at VRS email.

Posted June 23, 2011

The New Fiscal Year is Coming: Your First Check May Have Some Changes

1. Open Enrollment Changes: Health Insurance, Flexible Reimbursement Accounts
Please note that your July 16 net paycheck (If you are bi-weekly, July 8) may change. This is due to FY2012 changes in optional life insurance premiums and increases in health insurance premiums including any open enrollment changes you made regarding health plan and flexible reimbursement accounts.

2. Flexible Spending Account Reminder
A reminder for those who have a dependent care or a medical Flexible Reimbursement Account (FRA). The plan year ends on June 30, 2011. You must incur your eligible expenses by June 30th in order to be reimbursed by FBMC. While your eligible expenses must be incurred by the end of the plan year, you have until September 30, 2011 to submit the expenses for reimbursement. Please note that if you do not use all of the funds in your FRA by the end of the plan year, you will forfeit the remaining funds.

If you have any questions regarding deduction changes effective on 7/1/11 or FRAs, please contact the HR & Payroll Customer Service Center at 3.2600 and ask to speak to a member of the Benefits Team.

Posted June 17, 2011

Compressed Schedules & July 4th

If you are utilizing the compressed schedule flexible work option of four 10 hour days and your typical schedule is Tuesday-Friday, you may wonder how to handle the upcoming July 4th holiday. With your supervisor's approval, you can go off your compressed schedule for the week, work 8 hours each day, and take the 8 hours of holiday leave on Monday. If you stay on your compressed schedule, when you complete your timesheet, enter 8 hours under comp time earned. You then have 8 hours of comp time that can be used, with the approval of your supervisor, anytime during the 12 months after July 4, 2011.

For those of you who compress your schedule and normally work on Mondays, please remember that you receive 8 hours of holiday pay for Monday, July 4. If you are on a 9 hour or 10 hour compressed daily schedule, you do have to account for the full amount of your work day on July 4 either by working or taking leave.

If you have any questions, please call the Customer Service Center at 3.2600 and ask to speak to a member of the work/life team.

Posted June 9, 2011

Introducing Mason's New Faculty/Staff Book Scholarship

We delighted to announce that Mason's new book scholarship application is available. If you are a faculty or classified staff member pursuing a degree at Mason, you may want to check out this $250 competitive scholarship opportunity. The Mason faculty/staff book scholarship is made possible by the $25,000 endowment Mason received for winning TIAA-CREF's Raise the Rate contest last fall.

Scholarship Application (submission deadline is 8/15/11)

Posted June 9, 2011

Reminder: Grandfathered Compensatory Leave Deadline Approaching

Last year, Human Resources & Payroll moved existing compensatory leave balances to a new leave code titled "Grandfathered Compensatory Time" (GCMP). When compensatory time is taken (CTT) the hours are entered on the electronic timesheet and the GCMP balance is automatically used first. Classified employees with compensatory leave balances must use these hours prior to June 25, 2011.

Compensatory time earned from June 25, 2010 forward expires 12 months from the pay period in which it was earned and a maximum of 96 hours of compensatory leave may accrue.

Additional details on comp leave can be found at Overtime and Compensatory Time Guidelines.

If you have any questions, please contact our Customer Service Center at 3.2600. They will be able to assist you or direct you to the appropriate office to have your question addressed.

Posted June 2, 2011

The Department of Motor Vehicles is Coming to Mason!

DMV2Go is coming to Arlington and Fairfax. Take care of your DMV needs at a handy Mason location.

June 13-14, 9:00am - 4:00pm, Fairfax, Lot A

June 15-16, 9:00am - 4:00pm, Arlington, Fairfax Drive in front of Founders Hall

For details on DMV2Go please visit Fairfax and Arlington

Posted May 12, 2011

Update: HR & Payroll is Moving to University Hall

The Office of Human Resources & Payroll is moving to the 4th floor of University Hall on the Fairfax Campus on Wednesday, May 18. We're excited about our move to campus however we know it will present some logistical interruptions. We hope to keep them to a minimum but ask that you please keep our move dates in mind as you plan your HR & Payroll needs. Below please find our planned move schedule and its impact on operations. We will update this information if conditions/situations change.

Thursday, May 12 - The file room (all personnel, retirement, workers' comp files, etc.) moved to University Hall. We will have limited access to these files between Thursday, May 12 and Thursday, May 19.

Tuesday, May 17 - Unfortunately, we cannot process checks after noon today. Beginning at 5:00pm today, you will not be able to reach us through our Customer Service Center (main phone number 703.993.2600).

Wednesday, May 18 - Both the Customer Service Center and the New Employee Welcome (NEW) Center will be closed on Wednesday, May 18. We will not be able to issue checks or job offers on this date. We request that hiring managers or HR liaisons have all job transactions effective during the week of the move submitted by Friday, May 13. Most of us will be reachable by email throughout the move. Our general email address hr@gmu.edu will be monitored throughout the move as will all generic email addresses including jobs@gmu.edu benefits@gmu.edu ,worklife@gmu.edu , and hris@gmu.edu. Please keep in mind that all of our materials will be boxed and inaccessible, however we will assist you in whatever way we can.

Thursday, May 19 - The NEW Center will be closed today, however we do expect to be partially operational. Your patience and understanding will be greatly appreciated as we unpack and settle in at the new location. We may have only limited access to materials particularly in the morning. We will not be able to issue checks today.

Friday, May 20 - We hope to be almost fully operational today and look forward to being able to assist you with your HR & Payroll needs. The NEW Center will reopen in our new location at 8:00am.

Office of Human Resources & Payroll
University Hall Room 4135 (4th Floor)
4441 George Mason Boulevard Fairfax, VA 22030
(Corner of George Mason Boulevard and University Drive)
703.993.2607 (unchanged)

We may not be able to issue checks or provide IDs in the NEW Center until Monday, May 23.  We will refer new employees to the Photo ID office if we cannot process new IDs.

Posted May 12, 2011

Cash Match Reinstated

As of the July 1, 2011 pay date, the cash match for participants in the Supplemental Retirement Account or the Deferred Compensation Plan will return to 50 percent of your contribution, not to exceed $20 per semi-monthly pay period (adjusted for those on bi-weekly or paid over 9 months). The cash match was reduced to $10 per pay period for the current fiscal year, which ends June 30, 2011.

Posted May 5, 2011

HR & Payroll is Moving to University Hall

The Office of Human Resources & Payroll is moving to the 4th floor of University Hall on the Fairfax Campus on Wednesday, May 18. Our file room will be moving on Thursday, May 12. We're excited about our move to campus however we know it will present some logistical interruptions. We hope to keep them to a minimum but ask that you please keep our move dates in mind as you plan your HR & Payroll needs. Below please find our planned move schedule and its impact on operations. We will update this information if conditions/situations change.

Thursday, May 12

• The file room (all personnel, retirement, workers' comp files, etc.) is moving to University Hall. We will have limited access to these files between Thursday, May 12 and Thursday, May 19.
Tuesday, May 17

• Unfortunately, we cannot process checks after noon today.
  
• Beginning at 5:00pm today, you will not be able to reach us through our Customer Service Center (main phone number 703.993.2600).
Wednesday, May 18

• The Customer Service Center will be closed on Wednesday, May 18.
  
•  We will not be able to issue checks or job offers on this date. We request that hiring managers or HR liaisons have all job transactions effective during the week of the move submitted by Friday, May 13.
• Most of us will be reachable by email throughout the move. Our general email address hr@gmu.edu will be monitored throughout the move as will all generic email addresses including benefits@gmu.edu, worklife@gmu.edu, and hris@gmu.edu. Please keep in mind that all of our materials will be boxed and inaccessible, however we will assist you in whatever way we can.
Thursday, May 19

• We expect to be partially operational on this day. Your patience and understanding will be greatly appreciated as we unpack and settle in at the new location. We may have only limited access to materials particularly in the morning.
  
• We will not be able to issue checks today.
Friday, May 20 

• We hope to be almost fully operational today and look forward to being able to assist you with your HR & Payroll needs. The one thing we may not be able to do until Monday, May 23 is issue checks.

Posted May 4, 2011

Check out Mason on WAMU ... Just in Time for Summer Flex

Mason faculty and staff were recently featured on WAMU in a piece on flexible work.  Speaking of flexible work options, Summer Flex 2011 begins May 15 and runs through August 20. Summer Flex is a terrific opportunity to take that first step -- start the conversation in your department and try out flexible work. Resources for getting started and lots of helpful information on Flexible Work options at Mason are available on the work/life flex page.

Posted May 2, 2011

Leadership Legacy Program

The Leadership Legacy Program, a partnership program sponsored by MasonLeads and the Office of Human Resources/Payroll, is designed for Mason full-time faculty and staff who are committed to furthering their leadership development.  The program curriculum provides opportunities for experienced faculty and staff to advance their conceptual and experiential understanding of leadership in the context of university settings.

Read More...

Posted April 22, 2011

Employee Recognition Leave From the Governor

This afternoon a message went out from Martin Kent, the Governor's Chief of Staff, indicating that state employees are allowed to leave today at 3:00 providing "there are no unfinished work commitments that must be done today." Mason will remain open for the rest of the business day. Employees who do not use this leave today will have 2 hours of recognition leave added to their leave balance. Look for the code "FLH" for floating holiday to be added to leave balances during the coming pay period. This leave must be used before the last pay period of the fiscal year -- for bi-weekly, June 18 and for semi-monthly, June 24th.

Please note:

• Employees who use this leave today should complete a paper timesheet and report using 2 hours of floating holiday (FLH). Once the timesheet has been approved it should be faxed to Payroll at 3.2601. Although all employees will receive the 2 hours of floating holiday in their leave balance, Payroll will adjust that balance down for anyone who used the leave today based upon the paper timesheets submitted.

• Employees who are on leave today may submit an amended timesheet in order to use the 2 hours of recognition leave today or they may use the leave before the end of the fiscal year.

• Full-time employees who have flexible work schedules or alternate schedules receive two hours of leave (e.g. An employee who is scheduled to work until 6:00 pm today and leaves at 3:00 pm would use 2 hours of floating holiday and 1 hour of other leave).

• The state has indicated that part-time employees will receive the full 2 hours of recognition leave.

Posted April 1, 2011

Human Resources & Payroll Moving in May

The Office of Human Resources & Payroll will be moving to University Hall on the Fairfax Campus on Wednesday, May 18.  We're excited about our move to campus however we know it  will present some logistical interruptions.  We hope to keep them to a minimum but ask that you please keep our move date  in mind as you plan your HR & Payroll needs.

Posted March 22, 2011

Pre-Retirement Seminar: Friday, April 29th

Mason faculty & staff who are planning to retire in the next five years and are enrolled in the Optional Retirement Plan (ORP) or Virginia Retirement System (VRS) are invited to attend this day-long seminar. Hear from the experts on social security, your retirement plan, and health insurance. Connect to some of the resources available to you as you prepare for the next phase of your life. For more information, or to register, please visit http://hr.gmu.edu/learning and click on Courses.

Posted March 14, 2011

Show Your Appreciation

Show your appreciation for a job well done. Reward & Recognition has lots of ways to say  "Thank You". Check them out today!

Posted February 24, 2011

Changes are Happening in Reward and Recognition!

Our Reward and Recognition program is more than 15 years old now.  Since its inception the annual ceremony calendar has remained the same.  In the meantime, Mason has grown much larger in student and employee population. To reflect our changing community, Reward and Recognition is evolving as well.

The programming will include:

*  An annual recognition ceremony for faculty and staff with 3 years of service

*  A new two-day celebration of University Day (service awards)

*  The Outstanding Award Ceremony will be held annually in the fall

*  A new year-end reception for the Employee of the Month recipients

To start the year, Dr. Merten will host an annual Coffee and Conversation on March 10, 2011 at 9:30 am at the Center for the Arts lobby for our  faculty and staff with 3 years of service.  Dr. Merten will be speaking about what’s going on around Mason, as well as taking questions from participants.

University Day, traditionally the day we celebrate employee service, has grown significantly and will be celebrated on two separate days.  This year we expect nearly 600 faculty and staff to be recognized. On April 6, 2011, we will be hosting a pizza party in Dewberry Hall at 12:00 pm recognizing the 5, 10 and 15 year employees, as well as our corporate partners.  On April 7, 2011, we will be hosting a breakfast at the Mason Inn at 9:00 am recognizing the 20, 25, 30, 35 and 40 year employees. 

The Outstanding Achievement Award ceremony will become an annual event to be held in October of each year.  We are expecting to receive an overwhelming number of candidates for each category because of these changes.  We plan to make this event even larger and more special for the Mason community.

We will end each year with a special reception for the Employee of the Month recipients.  During the month of December, before we celebrate the holidays, we will host a reception to say thanks again to these employees.  As they all come together, we will once again recognize their efforts and accomplishments here at Mason.

If you have any questions regarding any of these events, please contact the Reward & Recognition office at 3.2739 or 3.2138. 

Posted January 12, 2011

Compensatory Leave Update

Compensatory leave is earned by exempt classified employees who, with their supervisor's approval, work additional hours and receive leave on an hour for hour basis. Generally compensatory leave should only be authorized for those rare instances where additional hours are necessary and unavoidable. Compensatory leave hours must be used within 12 months of the pay period in which they are earned.

Last year, Human Resources and Payroll moved existing compensatory leave balances to a new leave code titled "Grandfathered Compensatory Time" (GCMP). When compensatory time is taken (CTT) the hours are entered on the electronic timesheet and the GCMP balance is automatically used first. Classified employees with compensatory leave balances must use these hours prior to June 25, 2011. This means there are less than 6 months left!

Compensatory time earned from June 25, 2010 forward will expire 12 months from the pay period in which it was earned and a maximum of 96 hours of compensatory leave may accrue. Additional details on comp leave can be found at Overtime and Compensatory Time Guidelines. Additional information is also available in the Instant HR/Payroll archive.

If you have any questions, please contact the Human Resources and Payroll Customer Service Center at 3.2600. They will be able to assist you or direct you to the appropriate office to have your question addressed.

Posted January 10, 2011

Reminder: Dependent Health Care Coverage

Just a reminder that if your health coverage is through Mason (via the Commonwealth of Virginia), dependent coverage to age 26 -- a provision of the health care reform legislation signed by the President in March 2010 -- will go into effect at the beginning of the 2011-12 plan year on July 1, 2011.

Posted January 3, 2011

Year-End Newsletter

Our Year-End Newsletter is available.

Posted December 23, 2010

Winter Break is Here ....

Please check out our Winter Break Timesheet Guidance.

Posted December 15, 2010

Inclement Weather Reminder

University closings, late openings, or other weather related changes in the University's schedule will be announced on Mason's switchboard 703.993.1000, GMU-TV, the university's homepage, Mason Alert, and local media outlets. For more information, please see the university inclement weather policy.

Posted December 9, 2010

Guidance on Outages

In targeted cases where an outage or situation (loss of power or data, extreme noise, etc.) is expected to be protracted, the supervisor, in collaboration with his/her department head and Human Resources & Payroll, can make a call to close an office due to a localized situation and grant university leave.  Prior to making such a determination, alternate arrangements should be attempted such as relocating staff or utilizing informal telework or compressed schedule arrangements. 

If a situation only impacts one person or a very small number of people, every effort should be made to utilize one of the alternate arrangements described above.  If an alternate solution is not feasible, individual circumstances will dictate the type of leave to be used.

Posted December 7, 2010

Additional Holiday Leave Granted

The governor provided salaried faculty and staff with 8 hours of additional holiday leave (pro-rated for part-time).  Rather than close the university on December 23rd, this additional 8 hours of leave will be recorded as a flex holiday to be used between December 23, 2010 and December 24, 2011.  It is felt that this will provide faculty and staff with the maximum amount of flexibility to use this additional 8 hours of holiday leave at a time when it works for them.

With supervisor approval, faculty and staff can take off December 23rd however the university will be open.

Please note: Since the university is open on Thursday, December 23, Mini-Flex remains December 22 and 23.

Posted December 6, 2010

Mason in the News

Mason is featured in the December 3 issue of USA Today in the "Work-Life Balance" supplement. Read about the importance of Mason's faculty and staff in developing work/life opportunities at Mason.

Posted December 3, 2010

Celebrate Employee Learning Week December 6-10!

Human Resources & Payroll celebrates Mason faculty and staff members who seek out opportunities for learning and professional development. Highlight your accomplishments this week by participating in our Employee Learning Week contest, attending our professional development workshops, and sharing your learning goals with your team. For all the details, please visit http:hr.gmu.edu/training

Posted December 3, 2010

Mini Flex is Back!

As a way to encourage flexibility in the workplace, the University is holding a Mini-Flex on December 22 and 23. Mini-Flex is a chance for eligible salaried employees to try out telework by working from home just before winter break. Important details, including how to participate, are available on the Work/Life Flexible Work page.

Posted November 29, 2010

UNUM Long Term Disability Open Enrollment Ends Tuesday, November 30

If you're a non-VSDP employee who is not yet participating in UNUM or a current participant who wants to change the amount of your coverage, open enrollment runs through November 30.  Long-term disability insurance is designed to protect your income should you become medically unable to work. 

To obtain a customized enrollment form based on your age and salary, please call HR & Payroll at 3.2600 and ask for a Benefits Administrator or email us at benefits@gmu.edu.  Enrollment forms must be received by HR & Payroll by Tuesday, November 30, 2010.

Note to current participants: Whether or not you change your coverage during Open Enrollment, your UNUM long term disability premium will increase effective with your December 16, 2010 paycheck due to age band changes.

(If you are a VSDP employee, you already have both short term and long-term disability coverage)

Posted November 15, 2010

Gobble Gobble!

Please check out our annual timesheet guidance for the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday.

Posted November 9, 2010

Give Thanks in November

The month of November is an appropriate time to thank the people with whom we work and to express our appreciation for everything they do. HR & Payroll’s Rewards & Recognition team provides many ways to recognize a colleague, an employee or student worker for their valuable contributions. Find creative and inventive ways to say “Thank you for a job well done!” at http://hr.gmu.edu/awards.

Let people know that their contribution matters to you and to the Mason community.

Posted November 5, 2010

Turnover Deadlines for VSDP Family/Personal Leave and Excess Annual Leave

A reminder to classified staff  that there are limits to the amount of annual leave that can be carried over from year-to-year. For excess classified annual leave, VSDP Sick, and VSDP Family and Personal leave purposes (for both classified staff and faculty enrolled in VSDP), the year runs from January 10-January 9.  Unused VSDP Sick and Family and Personal leave will be replaced with a new allotment of leave if not used by January 9, 2011. New VSDP Sick and Family and Personal Leave will be awarded on January 10.

If your annual leave balance exceeds the maximum (see chart below) as of January 9, 2011, you will lose that portion that exceeds the limit.  The limits as defined by the state Department of Human Resource Management (DHRM) are:

Note:  The 12-month faculty leave year ends each year on June 24th.  Full time 12-month faculty may carry over 21 days of annual leave.

Donating Unused Annual Leave

Any unused annual leave may be donated in 8-hour increments.  Please complete a leave donor form before January 9, 2011 and submit your completed leave donation form to the HR & Payroll office at MS 3C3.

Posted October 26, 2010

Bonus FAQ

We have created a list of Frequently Asked Questions(FAQ) for the upcoming bonus. Should you have a question that you do not see in the FAQ, please email it to worklife@gmu.

Please remember, if you would like to make a one-time change to the amount you contribute to your 403(b) account or 457 deferred compensation plan, please complete the one-time only deferral form for the 403(b) account or 457 plan as appropriate and submit it to HR & Payroll, MS 3C3, Attn: Benefits by the close of business on Monday, November 1, 2010.

Posted October 24, 2010

Tips for Managing Stress in the Workplace

In this time of economic stress, many of us may be feeling stretched too thin, losing our tempers too quickly, and generally not making enough time to stop, breathe, and simply "BE".  Try one of these tips for managing stress in the workplace, and make a moment for yourself.

Posted October 22, 2010

Faculty/Staff Seasonal Flu Shot Information

Seasonal flu shots for faculty and staff are available at no cost or low cost this season. If you have any questions, please call our Customer Service Center at 3-2600 and ask for the Benefits Team.

Posted October 19, 2010

Outstanding Achievement Awards This Friday

You are cordially invited to attend the Outstanding Achievement Awards ceremony scheduled for Friday, October 22, 2010 in Dewberry Hall South at 9:00am. Join us as we acknowledge the remarkable contributions made by our colleagues and celebrate being in the "spirit of Mason". Light refreshments will be served.

Posted October 4, 2010

Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign Underway

The 2010 Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign (CVC) is underway until December 15, 2010. We encourage you to learn about the vital services that nonprofit organizations are providing in our community. A complete listing of charities is available at the CVC website. You can donate by payroll deduction, check or credit card on the CVC site (through Employee Direct). If you have questions, please contact Helga Yunker via email at hyunker@gmu.edu. Thank you for all that you do for Mason and our community. Together we make a difference as we all “Give From the Heart”!

Posted September 30, 2010

Special Offer for Faculty & Staff: Discounted Entertainment 2011 Books

2011 Entertainment Books are available to purchase at the same low price as last year -- $15.00 per book. Local and national vendors, thousands of dollars of potential savings. Makes a terrific gift! Email worklife@gmu.edu to pre-order your book(s).

Books will be available for pick up in the Student Media Conference Room in SUB I on Wednesday, October 20 from 11:30am-1:30pm. You can pay for your book(s) by cash, check (payable to Entertainment Publications), or credit card (Visa, M/C, Amex) on the day of pick-up.

Not on the Fairfax campus? Email worklife@gmu.edu and we'll make arrangements to get the books to you via inter-office mail (checks only please).

Posted September 24, 2010

The Suspense Continues: Raise the Rate

Posted September 16, 2010

Performance Evaluation Season Underway

While informal feedback can and should be given throughout the performance year, the start of the new academic year heralds the beginning of the formal performance evaluation process for administrative/professional faculty and classified employees. Performance evaluations are a key form of communication between a supervisor and his or her employees. Open and honest evaluations of performance are an opportunity for supervisors and employees to discuss job interests, issues encountered, areas for improvement and departmental and employee goals. Performance appraisals for Administrative/Professional faculty and Classified staff are due in HR & Payroll by Monday, October 25th. For details please see the memorandum from Linda Harber.

Posted September 7, 2010

Registration Underway: Happy Heart Walk

The 2nd annual Happy Heart Walk, held simultaneously on the Fairfax, Arlington, and Prince William campuses, will be held at noon on Wednesday, September 29, 2010. Register at the Happy Heart web site.

Posted September 2, 2010

Gremlin in the COVA Care Explanation of Benefits (EOB) Deductible Display

The Department of Human Resource Management (DHRM) has let us know that Anthem is experiencing a temporary problem concerning the Explanation of Benefits (EOB) for COVA Care members. The EOB may be displaying incorrect information on the family deductible line. This problem may impact all members if they had a claim processed by Anthem on or after July 1, 2010.   

Please note that although the family deductible line on the EOB may be wrong, the payment amount made to the provider is correct.  DHRM is reviewing the remainder of the EOB for accuracy.  Anthem expects to have all issues fixed by early September.  In the meantime, if you are a COVA Care member with Employee Plus One or Family coverage please contact Anthem at 1-800-552-2682 to obtain your correct family deductible amount. EOBs for single coverage members display the correct individual deductible; however, there may be dollars incorrectly reported for the family deductible. In this case, please disregard the family deductible line on the EOB. 

Posted September 2, 2010

Re-registration Needed on Anthem's Secure Member Portal

The Department of Human Resource Management (DHRM) has let us know that due to system upgrades, Anthem members (i.e. COVA Care participants) registered on Anthem’s secure member portal at www.anthem.com/cova are being asked to re-register with a new username and password.  DHRM reports that this should be an easy and intuitive process, and you may be able to keep your same log-in information if it's not being used by someone else. For a short Powerpoint presentation on the process please visit Anthem Re-registration.

Posted August 27, 2010

2010 Member Benefit Profiles (MBP) are available

Enrolled in the Virginia Retirement System (VRS)? Your annual benefit statement, the Member Benefit Profile (MBP) is now available at myVRS. If you have any questions regarding your MBP or accessing it online, please call 3.2600 and ask to speak with a member of the Benefits team. Or you can email benefits@gmu.edu. In addition to viewing your MBP, at myVRS, you can:

• View your member information, including service credit and compensation reported to VRS by Mason.
• Check the status of an application for retirement, purchase of prior service or refund.
• Estimate your retirement benefit using current information.
• View and update your personal contact information online.

Posted August 27, 2010

Hold the Date: Happy Heart Walk

The 2nd annual Happy Heart Walk will be held at noon on Wednesday, September 29th simultaneously on the Arlington, Fairfax, and Prince William campuses.  Details and registration coming soon!

Posted August 3, 2010

It's Nomination Time!

It’s time to nominate an employee or colleague for an Outstanding Achievement Award!  We will be accepting nominations for the Outstanding Achievement Award, Exceptional Support Award, The David W. Rossell Quill Award, the Martha J. Reiner Quality Customer Service Award, the Margaret C. Howell Award and the Team Excellence Award.  The nominations are due in Human Resources & Payroll by close of business on Friday, September 3, 2010. The presentation ceremony is scheduled for 9:00 a.m. on Friday, October 22, 2010. 

Please see our Reward & Recognition page for detailed information on the awards.  Completed nominations should be sent to Cheryl Rivera at mailstop 3C3.  If you have any questions, please contact Cheryl @ 3-2739

Posted August 3, 2010

Compressed Schedules & Labor Day

If you are utilizing the compressed schedule flexible work option of four 10 hour days and your typical schedule is Tuesday-Friday, you may wonder how to handle the upcoming Labor Day holiday held on Monday, September 6th this year. With your supervisor's approval, you can go off your compressed schedule for the week, work 8 hours each day, and take the 8 hours of holiday leave on Monday. If you stay on your compressed schedule, when you complete your timesheet, enter 8 hours under comp time earned. You then have 8 hours of comp time that can be used, with the approval of your supervisor, anytime during the 12 months after September 6, 2010.

For those of you who compress your schedule and normally work on Mondays, please remember that you receive 8 hours of holiday pay for Monday, September 6.  If you are on a 9 hour or 10 hour compressed daily schedule, you do have to account for the full amount of your work day on September 6 either by working or taking leave.

If you have any questions, please contact Janet Walker at 3-2604.

Posted July 27, 2010

Non-Exempt Employees Can Choose Leave or Pay for Their Overtime Hours

It's time for non-exempt employees (i.e. overtime eligible) to initiate or change their election regarding how their overtime is to be handled by the Payroll Department -- either to be paid (which is the default) or to accumulate overtime as leave. The deadline to make a selection is Friday, September 3.

Posted July 19, 2010

Quality of Work Life Task Force Recommends Resources

The Quality of Work Life Task Force 2009 Executive Summary encourages faculty and staff to avail themselves of the resources available in HR & Payroll including the Employee Assistance Program (EAP), one-on-one financial counseling through Mason's retirement vendors, flexible work options, and discount opportunities. We are delighted to assist you with these resources and many more. Additional information is available on these specific topics at:

• One-on-one financial counseling with Mason's retirement vendors.  Questions?  Please call 3.2600 and ask for the Benefits Team
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP).  Questions?  Please call the Employee Relations Team at 3.3878
• Flexible Work Options and Discount opportunities or call the Work Life Team at 3.2604