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Gallup Success Story: Julie Zobel and the Risk, Safety, and Resilience Leadership Team
Gallup Success Story: The Risk, Safety, and Resilience Leadership Team After the 2022 Gallup Faculty and Staff Experience survey, Julie Zobel and the visionary RSR leadership team took the reins, delving deeper into their unit-specific survey results. Thus began the inception of a proactive, employee-centric approach to elevate engagement and…
Read MoreNew Search Training E-learning is Now Available!
HR News New Search Training E-learning is Now Available! We are excited to announce that the new, fully asynchronous Search Training is now available in MasonLEAPS! Detailed information about search training requirements and procedures can be found in the Search tab on our Trainings page. HR Liaisons can continue to verify transcript details for anyone in their…
Read MoreFurther Your Career with an MA in Higher Education at Mason!
Further Your Career with an MA in Higher Education at Mason! Are you looking to further your career in Higher Education? You can use your tuition benefit to pursue a degree with the Higher Education Program at Mason! Going part-time, you can complete the MA in Higher Education and Student Development in…
Read MorePats for Patriots February Round-Up
HR News Pats for Patriots Recipient February Round-Up Mason’s Intentional Kindness Day, celebrated on February 15th, set the stage for record numbers of Pats for Patriots to be submitted. With over 1,000 Pats for Patriots submitted over the lifetime of the program, the Mason Nation is truly embracing the culture…
Read MoreNew Engagement Resource for Supervisors
HR News New Engagement Resource for Supervisors Mason supervisors are encouraged to check out the new Engagement at Mason page on our website. The page shares a variety of resources, including strategies for measuring employee engagement, tools for improving engagement, information on supervisor training and the faculty and staff experience…
Read MoreNew Position Vacancy Report Now Available for HR Liaisons
HR News New Position Vacancy Report Now Available for HR Liaisons HR Technology Services and the Business Intelligence Services group continue to partner on the creation of new MicroStrategy reports to meet the business needs of HR Liaisons and other users across Mason. A Position Vacancy Report is now available…
Read MoreReminder: Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting
Reminder: Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting While everyone should be concerned about child abuse and neglect, the law requires certain individuals to report suspected instances. In 2012, the Virginia General Assembly (SB 239) added “any person employed by a public or private institution of higher education” to the list of…
Read MoreFlexible Work Sessions
Flexible Work Sessions Monday, March 11 & Thursday, March 14 at 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. EDT Merten Hall, Room 2001 (Fairfax) & Virtual Join the Faculty and Staff Engagement Team for upcoming sessions on flexible work! This session is intended to provide an introductory overview of flexible…
Read MoreNew Health Assessment for COVA Care Members
New Health Assessment for COVA Care Members At the beginning of 2024, Anthem transitioned to a new Health Assessment called My Health Check-in. Unlike the former WebMD Health Assessment, My Health Check-in is 85% shorter and only takes about five minutes to complete. COVA Care Members will no longer be…
Read MoreEmpowering Employee Development: A SMART Approach to Success
HR News Empowering Employee Development Through SMART Goals In George Mason University’s quest for personal and professional growth, SMART goals have become a cornerstone of effective development strategies. SMART stands for: Specific: Set clear, precise targets that leave no room for ambiguity. Whether it’s mastering a new skill, completing a…
Read MorePats for Patriots Recipient Round-Up
HR News Pats for Patriots Recipient Round-Up Pats for Patriots is a Mason Chooses Kindness initiative designed to show appreciation for a Mason colleague. The program extends a figurative pat on the back to fellow Mason colleagues, students, faculty/staff, and alumni and supports Mason’s culture of gratitude, recognition, and appreciation.…
Read MoreFlexible Spending Account (FSA) is Now Inspira Financial
HR News Flexible Spending Account (FSA) Changes The current Flexible Spending Account Administrator, PayFlex, which administers the Commonwealth’s Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) for state employees will be rebranded as “Inspira Financial” as of 2024. Here’s what employees can expect: Transitional messages added to the login page for PayFlex (payflex.com). The same…
Read MoreKaiser Permanente Changed Dental Administrators
HR News Kaiser Permanente Changed Dental Administrators On January 1, 2024, Kaiser Permanente changed the Commonwealth of Virginia dental plan administrator from Dominion Dental to Liberty Dental Plan. Kaiser Permanente members with dental coverage were automatically transitioned from Dominion to LIBERTY with no changes to their dental benefits. Members received…
Read MoreW-2s Are Now Available Online
W-2s Are Now Available Online 2023 W-2s are now available online. Retrieving your electronic copy is easy and immediate! How to Access Your Electronic W-2 Log in to Patriot Web Click “Employee Services” Click “Employee Dashboard” Expand the “Taxes” section Click “W-2 Wage and Tax Statement” Select the tax…
Read MoreMason Mobile ID: Join the Eco-Friendly Wave in 2024!
HR News Mason Mobile ID: Join the Eco-Friendly Wave in 2024! Access your official university ID, campus services, buildings, spaces, meal plans, and Mason Money with ease on your iPhone, Apple Watch, or Android device. Here’s what you need to know: Choose Your ID: Mason students, faculty, and staff can…
Read MoreReporting Accidents Reminder
Reporting Accidents Reminder We want to keep the Mason community safe! Please report all accidents, injuries, or conditions that may cause harm to an individual or the university. When dangerous or potentially dangerous conditions are reported, the university can take appropriate action to protect the community. Please report the following…
Read MoreCommuter Choice: Benefits for Northern Virginia-Based Employees
Commuter Choice: Benefits for Northern Virginia-Based Employees Save money this year! Full-time state employees in Northern Virginia qualify for up to $315 per month for public transit or vanpooling, thanks to an Executive Order. This a tax-free benefit. Visit the Mason Parking website for more details!
Read MoreNotice for Spring 2024 Mason Shuttles Operations
HR News Notice for Spring 2024 Mason Shuttles Operations Shuttle Operations Update for Winter Break and Spring Service Winter Break shuttle service is underway through Friday, January 12. For routes with weekend service (Fairfax/SciTech, Gunston Mason, Sandy Creek/Metro, and the On-Demand shuttle), Spring service will begin on Saturday, January 13.…
Read MoreGrubhub+: Exclusive Offer for Mason Employees
HR News Grubhub+: Exclusive Offer for Mason Employees Calling all Mason employees! Mason faculty, and staff receive unlimited $0 delivery fees on orders $18+ from Grubhub+ merchants. Order with Mason Money, and you can access endless food options, even in your hometown! Use your Mason email to register and explore…
Read MorePerformance Evaluation Updates
Performance Evaluation Updates The Performance Evaluation Resources page has been updated with new versions of Mason’s performance evaluation materials, including: 2023-2024 annual evaluation forms Performance capabilities (rated performance categories) Rating descriptions and rubric We invite you to review these resources and explore the guidance across our Performance Evaluation pages. A/P faculty and…
Read MorePats for Patriots Recipient Roundup
HR News Pats for Patriots Recipient Roundup World Kindness Day, celebrated annually on November 13, was an opportunity for faculty, staff, and students to promote kindness and compassion within the Mason community and beyond. But spreading kindness didn’t stop on November 13-many Mason faculty and staff took the time to…
Read More2024 Holiday Schedule
2024 Holiday Schedule Mason’s 2024 holiday schedule is here! View the full 2024 holiday schedule on the Human Resources website. Guidance on holiday timesheet and pay procedures can be found on the Fiscal Services website. As a reminder, employees in 24/7 operational units (e.g., Mason Police, Facilities, and Housing &…
Read MorePet Insurance Discount for State Employees
HR News Pet Insurance Discount for State Employees Did you know that Commonwealth of Virginia employees can get a discount on pet insurance with Spot Insurance? Check out the employee discounts page on the Department of Human Resource Management (DHRM) website to learn more!
Read MoreWork Anniversary Recognition Program
HR News Work Anniversary Recognition Program With many of our faculty members back on campus, we’d like to highlight the work anniversary recognition program that launched over the summer. The program focuses on three forms of recognition: Yearly work anniversaries will be recognized by Human Resources with individual appreciation emails…
Read MoreReligious Holidays and Inclusive Scheduling
HR News Religious Holidays and Inclusive Scheduling As part of Mason’s commitment to inclusive excellence, please be sure to consult University Life’s Religious Holiday Calendar when scheduling important activities. Please use this resource to avoid scheduling events, meetings, or major deadlines on religious holidays observed by individuals across our campuses.…
Read MorePats for Patriots: Celebrating Kindness and Bringing Gratitude to Work
Pats for Patriots: Celebrating Kindness and Bringing Gratitude to Work At the start of a semester and throughout the busy academic year, it’s easy to overlook the simple yet profound acts of kindness that brighten our days. The workplace, often a hub of activity and collaboration, is the perfect setting…
Read MoreSign Up for VRS Member News
Sign Up for VRS Member News Stay updated on the latest announcements from the Virginia Retirement System (VRS). This newsletter is published quarterly and includes information about upcoming deadlines, webinars, and policy changes. Sign up at the VRS website.
Read MoreRecognition and Appreciation Toolkit
Recognition and Appreciation Toolkit As part of our comprehensive recognition program, a refreshed Recognition and Appreciation Toolkit is available to all Mason employees. The revamped toolkit includes: Tips for celebrating an employee using their workplace appreciation language; Virtual appreciation tools, including Pats for Patriots, printable cards, e-cards, and virtual backgrounds…
Read MoreState Fraud, Waste, and Abuse Reporting
HR News State Fraud, Waste, and Abuse Reporting The State Fraud, Waste, and Abuse Hotline provides the opportunity for citizens and state employees to anonymously report suspected incidents of fraud, waste, abuse, or corruption that may have occurred in state agencies and institutions. Every state employee has an obligation to report significant…
Read MoreState Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
State Employee Assistance Program (EAP) All health plans offered to state employees and their dependents have employee assistance programs (EAPs). Included are up to four sessions at no charge for such services as mental health, alcohol or drug abuse assessment, child or elder care, financial, grief counseling, and legal services…
Read MoreShared Savings Incentive Program for COVA Members
Shared Savings Incentive Program for COVA Members COVA Care, COVA HDHP, and COVA HealthAware members are eligible for the Shared Savings Program. These incentive programs offer cash rewards to members when they shop for better-value health care services. Not every facility will bring a reward. The programs are strictly voluntary.…
Read MorePreventing Workplace Violence
Preventing Workplace Violence George Mason University strives to provide employees, students, and visitors a safe place in which to work, study, and live. Mason takes a zero-tolerance approach to workplace violence. It can take many forms; some are obvious while others are subtler. Reporting Procedures All employees are expected…
Read MoreAcceptable Use of State Electronic Resources
Acceptable Use of State Electronic Resources A friendly reminder that state electronic equipment (desktops, laptops, tablets, etc.) is for conducting professional business, despite the fact that they “travel everywhere” with us. All users have a responsibility to ensure they use these resources appropriately. University Policy 1301 (Responsible Use of Computing) and the DHRM…
Read MoreDisability Advertising and Recruitment Resources
Disability Advertising and Recruitment Resources The Talent Acquisition Portal (TAP) is an online job bank sponsored by the Council of State Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation and the National Employment Team in partnership with disABLEDperson, Inc. TAP connects jobseekers with disabilities served by Vocational Rehabilitation, Veterans Administration, Employment Networks, and other…
Read MoreWhy Does George Mason University Collect Demographic Data?
Why Does George Mason University Collect Demographic Data? And how can you update it if you have changes? Mason is committed to providing equal employment opportunities without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religious creed, national origin, physical or mental disability, protected veteran status, or any other…
Read MoreTalent Acquisition Resources
Talent Acquisition Resources The Talent Acquisition team has several online resources available to assist departments’ recruitment efforts. Search Coordinator Resources The Search Coordinator Resources page is a quick reference guide for a search coordinator and/or anyone tasked to perform similar duties during a search. A search coordinator performs a crucial…
Read MoreIRS Increases Deferred Compensation Contribution Limits
IRS Increases Deferred Compensation Contribution Limits The Internal Revenue Service has increased the maximum dollar amount you may contribute in 2023 to tax-deferred savings plans, such as the Commonwealth of Virginia 457 Deferred Compensation Plan. The annual deferral limit for 457 plans for participants younger than age 50 has increased to…
Read MoreOnboarding Toolkit for Supervisors
New Onboarding Toolkit for Supervisors Onboarding a new employee but unsure of how to set them up for success? Look no further than the new Onboarding Toolkit for Supervisors. This toolkit was designed to provide supervisors with supplemental information and recommendations for how to approach onboarding a new employee –…
Read MoreDrug and Alcohol Policy
Drug and Alcohol Policy The abuse of drugs and alcohol by employees is incompatible with the goals of George Mason University. The illicit use of drugs and alcohol can create a serious threat to the safety and welfare of the university community and undermine the productivity of the workforce. Those…
Read MorePublic Service Loan Forgiveness Program
Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program State employees may be eligible for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program. The PSLF Program forgives the remaining balance on your Direct Loans after you have made 120 monthly payments under a qualifying repayment plan while working full-time for a qualifying employer. For more…
Read MoreOnboarding Guidance
Onboarding Guidance Thank you for continuing to diligently follow the onboarding process when hiring new employees. A smooth onboarding process creates an environment where your new employees feel supported. Following each step in a timely manner gives your new employees a seamless transition and a successful start! For your reference,…
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