HR & Payroll News ADA Accommodation Guidance for Telework The University is working diligently to assist those employees who are required to submit a telework agreement. This may include those who currently have an Accommodation, Adjustment and Modification (AAM) agreement for Spring 2022 under any of the three categories (I…

HR & Payroll News Annual End-of-Fiscal-Year Technical Message To prepare you for the end-of-fiscal year, we want to share some important information that may impact your work for the next several weeks. HR & Payroll, Budget, and Fiscal Services need to “roll the fiscal year” in Banner. The end-of-fiscal-year affects…

Faculty-Staff Enrichment Day Is Postponed The Organizational Development and Learning Team thanks all who registered for Faculty-Staff Enrichment Day (FSED), which was originally scheduled for May 25. Due to unforeseen factors, this event has been postponed until summer 2022. A new date will be announced soon, so make sure you’re…

9-Month Faculty Pay Information We’d like to update 9-month faculty on upcoming pay information.    Deferred Pay    Full-time 9-month faculty paid over nine (9) months have the option to be paid over twelve (12) months.  The pay schedule will remain the same for current faculty and will ONLY change…

Experiencing Issues with Cardinal New this year, Open Enrollment is held online on Cardinal, the Commonwealth of Virginia’s new online portal. As we are transitioning to this new platform, you may be experiencing issues, which are detailed below. We recognize that this has been frustrating. Please know that we are…

New Commonwealth Telework Policy and Next Steps You recently received an email from the Commonwealth of Virginia detailing their updated Policy 1.61: Teleworking. We want to follow up with additional information.  The Mason community has shared their perspective about this change in telework policy. We have been, and will continue…

May is Asian American and Pacific Islanders Heritage Month! May is Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month! This month celebrates the contributions and achievements of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the United States. The month of May was chosen to mark the arrival of the first Japanese…

Deadline to Submit Impact Awards for Processing Under Fiscal Year 2022 A friendly reminder to please submit Impact Award requests to awards@gmu.edu no later than Friday, May 27 to ensure they are processed under the current year’s budget. If your department plans on giving out end-of-year Impact Awards and would like them to…

2021-22 Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account (DCFSA) Grace Period In an effort to meet the needs of our employees during these extraordinary times, the Commonwealth is adding a grace period to the 2021-2022 DCFSA Plan year (7/1/21 to 6/30/22), which will extend the period to incur claims under the DCFSA…

VRS Members: Be Alert for Unsolicited Retirement Counseling Services From time to time, VRS receives reports from members and employers that various companies or groups have contacted them via email or phone to offer retirement counseling services or insurance products. Please be aware: VRS does not use unsolicited calls to…

HR & Payroll News Next Hybrid Plan Voluntary Contribution Change Deadline Hybrid Retirement Plan members can adjust their voluntary contribution elections on a quarterly basis – contributing up to 4% of their creditable compensation each month – to help meet their savings goals. Members can maximize 4% voluntary contribution and then will…

Bright Horizons Resources for Answering Your Young Child’s Questions About War Calm and simple reassurances can go a long way toward making the world feel safe and manageable. Bright Horizons’ early education experts created this resource sheet for any adult supporting young children through times of stress and trauma.

IRS Increases 2022 Contribution Limits The Internal Revenue Service has increased the maximum dollar amount you may contribute in 2022 to tax-deferred savings plans, such as the Commonwealth of Virginia 457 Deferred Compensation Plan and the Hybrid 457 Deferred Compensation Plan. The annual deferral limit for 457 plans for participants younger…

Access Optional Group Life Insurance Benefits Through myVRS Eligible members can now use myVRS to access and manage optional group life insurance coverage with Securian Financial, the insurer for the VRS Group Life Insurance Program. Eligibility If your employer participates in the VRS Group Life Insurance Program, you are covered under…

9-Month Faculty Paid Over 9 Months Summer Benefits Deductions The following information explains how benefits deductions are managed during the summer months for 9-month faculty members paid over 18 pay periods. If you are a 9-month faculty member, but you elected to be paid over 12 months, the double deduction…

Aging Parents Employee Support Group Join other Mason employees navigating the challenges related to having aging parents. This new group is for employees with aging parents who are looking to connect with others, share advice, and be part of a supportive community. The group will meet monthly over Zoom on…

Mailing of IRS 1095 Forms to Health Plan Participants The Virginia Department of Human Resources mailed the 2021 IRS Form 1095 to health plan participants in late January. Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), certain employers are required to offer health insurance coverage to full-time employees and their dependents. Those…

Health Plan Reimbursement of COVID-19 At-Home Tests The federal government has announced health plan reimbursement for eligible over-the-counter diagnostic COVID-19 tests purchased January 15, 2022 or later. This mandate is in effect until the end of the federal Coronavirus Public Health Emergency. Diagnostic tests are performed if you are experiencing…

Virtual Nutrition Coaching with CHARGE Nutrition Meet CHARGE, an exciting new program from GlobalFit that provides Zoom appointments with licensed Registered Dietitians. The best part? Your first nutrition visit is complimentary. Sign up today to get started. Spouses and dependents are welcome, too! What to expect in your initial consultation:  Meet virtually with an…

Register for Supervisor Boot Camp Supervisor Boot Camp is designed to provide essential information in a supportive cohort learning environment, with opportunities for participants to reflect, learn from one another, and network. This program is presented virtually in five 3-hour sessions over 10 weeks. Registration is now open for summer 2022.…

Compressed Schedules and the Holidays If you use the compressed schedule work option, please be aware of the upcoming holiday. For the holiday, full-time employees with compressed schedules receive eight (8) hours of holiday pay and/or compensatory leave per day, depending on the situation, regardless of their compressed schedule hours. There…

Hard Copy Contracts In an effort to streamline processes, create virtual files, and reduce physical paper, HR & Payroll no longer needs departments to send original hard copies of contracts to the HR & Payroll office. eWork, RTS, and Direct Hire processes should all contain electronic copies of signed contracts…

HR & Payroll News Leave Roll Over Date on Jan. 9 As a reminder, the annual leave roll happens every year on January 9 for all leave eligible staff and faculty. For those paid on a bi-weekly pay schedule: the new leave allotments will become visible in Patriot Web earlier than January…

HR & Payroll News Diversity and Inclusion Recruitment Efforts In an effort to continue with Mason’s commitment to diversity and inclusion recruitment efforts, all jobs posted to our Mason job board will now also be hosted by the industry-leading DiversityJobs.com and its network of affiliated sites. This does not require…

HR & Payroll News Leave Balance Transfers Is your department or unit hiring an employee who is transferring within Mason or the state? Leave transfers are a complex matter when changing jobs within the state or within Mason. When hiring for a new position, please do not assume or agree…

HR & Payroll News New Faculty Leave Roll Over Date After careful review of our leave roll policy, best practices and a review of our peer colleges and universities, we are pleased to announce the leave roll date for faculty will permanently change from June 24th to January 9th each…

HR & Payroll News Virginia’s New Hourly Minimum Wage Schedule Update Per new Virginia legislation approved by the General Assembly, the hourly minimum wage in Virginia will gradually increase according to the following schedule: $11.00 on Jan. 1, 2022 $12.00 on Jan. 1, 2023 The gradual increases to $13.50 on…

HR & Payroll News Flexible Work Agreement Guidance for Spring 2022 As Mason plans for the spring semester, the health and safety of the entire community remains a priority. We want to provide guidance around flexible work agreements for the spring 2022 semester.   Three Month Check-Ins Required for Employees Utilizing Flexible…

HR & Payroll News Retirement Plan Contribution Limits Increase The IRS announced adjustments affecting retirement plan contribution limits for the 2022 tax year. Participants under the age of 50 can contribute up to $20,500 to their Supplemental 403(b) Retirement Plan and to their Virginia Deferred Compensation Plan DCP-457. Participants age…

HR & Payroll News EPAF Deadlines With the holiday break coming soon, please be mindful of EPAF submission and payroll deadlines. Our HR assistants constantly monitor the EPAF queue to review and approve EPAFs for all colleges and departments. If the HR queue receives an EPAF on or before the…

HR & Payroll News W-4 Form Update Reminder As the new year approaches, we want to remind you to review your Federal tax withholding and submit a new W-4 form if you have experienced any changes in your filing situation this year (e.g. got married, have a secondary source of…

HR & Payroll News Taxability of Reimbursements All employee reimbursement requests and supporting documentation must be submitted through the Mason Finance Gateway within 60 days after the return of business-related travel or the date the expense was incurred for Mason. Travel and non-travel reimbursements submitted more than 60 days are…

Compensatory Leave Reminder Have you earned compensatory leave? Make sure you’re aware of the compensatory leave limits and expirations: Employees are limited to 96 hours of accrued compensatory leave. Per State Policy 3.10, accrued compensatory leave expires one year from the pay period in which the hours are accrued, regardless of…

Reporting Accidents Reminder We want to make sure the Mason community stays 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…

HR & Payroll News CommonHealth Weekly Wellnotes Looking for a way to get quick wellness tips without doing any extra work? Each week, we update the CommonHealth page on the HR & Payroll website with Weekly Wellnotes that provide quick wellness tips! These tips range from how to manage stress,…

HR & Payroll News TIAA Financial Seminars Looking to learn more about your finances? TIAA is hosting several financial well-being seminars. Check out the flyer to learn more!

HR & Payroll News 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 could create a serious threat to the safety and welfare of the university community and undermine the productivity…

HR & Payroll News Performance Evaluation Resources As performance evaluations are underway, be sure to use the performance evaluation hub for helpful resources including: An outline of the Core Competencies A general FAQ Several how-to guides Classified staff specific resources Faculty specific resources Performance feedback resources If you have questions,…

HR & Payroll News 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…

HR & Payroll News Public Health Emergency Leave (PHEL) September 2021 Update The Commonwealth of Virginia reactivated Public Health Emergency Leave (PHEL) effective September 1, 2021. Eligible employees may use PHEL to: Self-isolate due to their positive test results for COVID-19 (if symptomatic); and/or Provide care to an immediate family…

HR & Payroll News Virtual Performance Conversations Playlist Access the Virtual Performance Conversations Playlist that has tools and resources for supervisors and employees to use as they prepare for upcoming performance conversations. The playlist can be accessed through MasonLEAPS and LinkedIn Learning.

HR & Payroll News Mindful Mason Moments: Virtual and In-Person Sessions Mindful Mason Moments sessions, presented by the Center for the Advancement of Well-being, give you an opportunity to take midday breaks in ways that can deepen your mindful awareness and overall well-being. Starting in September, the sessions will continue…

HR & Payroll News Online Performance Management Process for Classified Staff   The online performance management process for classified staff will open in MasonLEAPS on September 1, 2021. For the last two years, select groups of classified staff members participated in a pilot of the online performance management system. The…

HR & Payroll News Online Performance Management Process for Select A/P Faculty Members   The online performance management process for select groups of administrative/professional (a/p) faculty will open in MasonLEAPS on Monday, July 26, 2021. Last year, select groups of a/p faculty members transitioned to this online procedure that electronically documents…

HR & Payroll News Mason’s Compliance Office Gets Interim Title IX Coordinator and New Name As seen in The George: “As George Mason University strives to be a national leader in anti-racism and inclusive excellence, a few changes in line with that goal have been implemented for the fall semester.…

HR & Payroll News COVID-19 Safety Training Available Online Mason faculty and staff are encouraged to complete the Fall 2021 COVID-19 Safety Training. Faculty and staff can access COVID-19 Safety Training through MasonLEAPS. This training shares valuable information about preventing the spread of COVID-19 within the campus community by raising…

HR & Payroll News HR & Payroll is Now Accepting I-9s In Person for All New Hires HR & Payroll is now accepting I-9s in person for all new hires. Please see the information below for additional guidance: As a reminder, I-9s will need to be completed within three (3)…

HR & Payroll News VRS Member Benefit Profile (MBP) If you are enrolled in a retirement plan with VRS (Plan 1, Plan 2, or Hybrid), your annual Member Benefit Profile (MBP) is available on your myVRS account. To view it, select the My History menu then select Annual Statements. The MBP…

HR & Payroll News HR Liaisons Continuing to Help Share Information We wanted to sincerely thank our stellar HR Liaisons for continuing to share the information that they receive from us with their departments/units and other relevant parties. We recognize that during this time of uncertainty, change, and transition, a…

HR & Payroll News DHRM Financial Wellness Events and Resources Browse the upcoming DHRM financial wellness resources below: VRS Financial Wellness Resources. Keep track of your income and expenses with the Budget tool from myVRS Financial Wellness. See how much you really spend and where you can add more to…

HR & Payroll News Amendment to the New Overtime Wage Act On June 30, 2021, we notified the community that the NEW Virginia Overtime Wage Act was effective beginning July 1, 2021.  Since then, an amendment (budget bill, HB 7001) was passed and signed by the governor on August 10,…

HR & Payroll 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…

HR & Payroll News Updated Guidance on Forms for Remote Work/Full-Time Telework We would like to share updated directions regarding which form to complete for Remote Work/Full-time Telework. This only applies to employees who plan to work exclusively from their home or another agreed-upon alternate campus/worksite located away from the…

HR & Payroll News Updates for Impact Awards and Departmental Monetary Awards HR & Payroll Reward and Recognition is updating our processes to follow Commonwealth of Virginia policy.  Individual impact awards and departmental monetary awards will no longer be grossed up to cover the payroll taxes normally deducted from an…

HR & Payroll News Quarterly Termination Process Will Be Reinstated as of Aug 7, 2021 As we prepare for the return to campus, the termination process which was turned off due to COVID-19 will be reinstated August 7, 2021. This Banner process is normally scheduled to run quarterly. The process…

HR & Payroll News WW Commonwealth of Virginia Employee Offer Have you wanted to join WW? All employees, spouses, and adult dependents get an exclusive discount of 50% off the retail price of WW and can join now for as low as $8.48 per month.

HR & Payroll News Resources for Safe Return to Campus   Dear Patriots, We hope this message finds you enjoying your summer and taking time for some fun and relaxation before we shift our attention to preparing for the return to campus and start of the academic year. As Dr.…

HR & Payroll News Updated Administrative/Professional Faculty Handbook The Administrative/Professional (A/P) Faculty Handbook has been updated. These revisions streamline the language and create more clarity. Below are some of the substantive revisions: Added new text that clarifies that the A/P Faculty Handbook applies only to the performance of A/P faculty duties, as…

HR & Payroll News Updated Hiring Guidance As Mason continues to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic, we want to provide updated hiring guidance. The process for posting positions will return to the standard, pre-hiring freeze, procedure, effective May 1, 2021. For more information, please review the steps below:   Submit a position maintenance form (PMF) and employee work profile/position…

HR & Payroll News New Resilience Toolkit Sometimes, we all feel overwhelmed and become unsure of how to deal with the stress in life. Building resilience can help us learn to handle the stress so we can bounce back and rediscover the energy needed to create positive solutions. Press pause…

HR & Payroll News Virginia’s New Hourly Minimum Wage Schedule Update Per new Virginia legislation approved by the General Assembly, the hourly minimum wage in Virginia will gradually increase according to the following schedule: $9.50 beginning May 1, 2021 $11.00 on Jan. 1, 2022 $12.00 on Jan. 1, 2023 The…

Spring Cleaning on Patriot Web The spring semester is ending soon! To prepare for summer, let’s do some spring cleaning on Patriot Web. Please review your information, such as addresses, phone numbers, and emergency contacts, to ensure that everything is up to date.

HR & Payroll News Preventing Workplace Violence George Mason University strives to provide faculty, staff, 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 faculty…

HR & Payroll News 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. Mason’s Policy 1301, Responsible Use of Computing…

HR & Payroll News Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Wellness Resources Mason’s faculty and staff have access to Kaiser Permanente’s EAP Wellness Resources, whether you’re a member of Kaiser or not. Visit their website to explore a range of self-care tools, tips, and activities to help you thrive in mind, body,…

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 mandated…

Employee of the Month Nominations Do you work with an incredible Mason administrative/professional faculty member, classified staff member, or wage employee who goes the extra mile, collaborates with their colleagues, and supports the university? Nominate them for Mason’s Employee of the Month award! Additional information can be found on the…