WORKING AT CAROLINA

Employees make sure payroll is processed on time
Hawkins named HR Facilitator of the Year
Human Resources Briefs:
      Tuition waivers due Aug. 25
      SPA raises included in Aug. 15 paychecks
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Employees make sure payroll is processed on time

Even Mother Nature did not deter Payroll Services last month.

When a severe power and network outage during the weekend continued through most of Monday, July 28, Administrative Office Building (AOB) computers were rendered inoperable.

But the biweekly and monthly payroll had to be processed on time, so Payroll Services staff followed the department’s business continuity plan.

Betsi Snipes, director of Payroll Services, contacted John Stanley of the Information Technology Services (ITS) Payroll Applications team, who made arrangements for Payroll Services staff to complete payroll processing at ITS Franklin.

Mark Kozel, director of Financial Systems and Controls, shuttled employees to ITS Franklin, where ITS Operations staff quickly equipped a conference room with computers that could connect to the payroll application in order to meet the pressing deadline.

“Meeting payroll for more than 18,000 people in circumstances such as the power outage was a must due to deadlines,” Snipes said. “And in order to comply with these deadlines, it had to be a real team effort not only by my staff but with ITS also. Everyone pulled together to do what was necessary in order to process the biweekly and monthly payrolls on time.”

Payroll Services staff involved in the effort, both at ITS Franklin and the AOB, were Seanid Dineen, Yolanda Torain, Lauren Gibbons, Cynthia Gunn, Janice Shaw-McCants, Brandon Brooks, Allen Hodges, Cleo Riggans, Sally Lakomiak, Sherri Lewis, Madge Langley and Elaine Council.

ITS Operations staff involved were Jim Kirkman, Steve Bernatowicz, Annette Beatty and J.D. Moseley.

Business continuity plans such as the one Payroll Services followed are developed to ensure that critical University operations can continue in an emergency situation.

The Duke Power outage, caused by downed power poles on Estes Drive, also affected staff in the Giles Horney Building, EHS/Hazardous Waste Building, Carr Building and others in the area.

Hawkins named HR Facilitator of the Year

Matthew Hawkins, human resource (HR) facilitator for Medicine Administration since 2005, works hard not only on the job, but also outside the parameters of the HR facilitator position.

Matthew Hawkins stands outside his workplace in MacNider Hall with his award.

His empathy and work ethic earned Hawkins this year’s HR Facilitator of the Year Award.

Hawkins was nominated by several co-workers, each of whom cited his work on one particular project — helping a group of Aramark employees look for positions at the University and UNC HealthCare after their work location, the Beach Café, was closed for renovation earlier this year.

“Matt reached out to the Aramark employees,” one nominator said. “Working after hours, he assisted these employees in finding and applying for appropriate jobs at UNC-Chapel Hill and UNC HealthCare.”

Another nominator noted, “This project sprang from his concern for these people. He modeled for all of us a constructive way to help people in need.” Most Aramark employees eventually were employed by either Carolina or the health care system.

“I decided to do this because the Aramark employees are part of my Carolina family even though they are contracted though an outside company,” Hawkins said. “It was the right thing to do.”

Hawkins received the award at a July 30 reception at Wilson Library. In total, 46 facilitators were nominated for the award.

“I was honored to be nominated and selected as the winner of the HR facilitator award,” Hawkins said. “I see it as an award for everyone in the School of Medicine HR office, who work hard every day for our employees.”

Human Resources Briefs

Tuition waivers due Aug. 25

Tuition waiver forms for the fall semester must be turned in by 5 p.m. Aug. 25 to the Office of Human Resources, located in the Administrative Office Building at 104 Airport Drive.

The tuition waiver program provides the opportunity for eligible employees to take courses tuition-free at any of the 16 constituent institutions of the UNC system.

Participation is voluntary and courses may be taken for career development or for personal interest. Tuition may be waived for up to three courses per academic year.

For more information on the tuition waiver policy and a link to the form, refer to hr.unc.edu/Data/benefits/tuitionprograms/ tuitionwaiver. Note that there are separate forms for University employees and hospital employees so be sure to use the correct form.

Direct questions to your department’s benefit specialist (see HR Connect at hrconnect.unc.edu).

SPA raises included in Aug. 15 paychecks

This year’s state budget includes a salary increase for SPA and EPA employees, effective July 1.

The increase for SPA employees, including retroactive pay from July 1, is expected to appear in the Aug. 15 paycheck.

Permanent full- and part-time employees who were on the payroll on June 30 will receive an increase of 2.75 percent or $1,100, whichever is greater.

Information on the increase for EPA employees and faculty will be provided later by the Office of the Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost.

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