Pay/debit card option introduced for employees without direct deposit

The University of Florida’s direct deposit policy states, “All employees, including temporary hires and non-work study students, are required to participate in the Direct Deposit Program as a condition of employment, regardless of date of hire.” However, for a variety of reasons, a significant number of paper paychecks are still issued each pay cycle.

Based on a recommendation from the University Cost Reduction and Efficiency Task Force, UF has established a new pay/debit card as an option for employees who currently receive a paper paycheck. Employees not enrolled in the Direct Deposit Program will have until May 1 to enroll. After May 1, any employees who have not enrolled in the Direct Deposit Program or established a pay/debit card will receive their paychecks at their home address.

Employees who are unable to establish an account at a financial institution must request to have their salary applied to a pay/debit card through a financial institution in partnership with the University. The pay/debit card can be used by the employee for point-of-sale transactions at grocery stores, gas stations, etc. They can also be used at ATM machines. No fees are assessed for the cards for the employees unless they exceed the allowable number of ATM withdrawals per month. Additional information on the pay/debit card can be viewed at http://fa.ufl.edu/payroll/.

In an effort to streamline the process for entering direct deposit information, all departments will be required to submit the Direct Deposit form to Human Resource Services and Student Employment for new employees as part of the hire packet, instead of directing the form to University Payroll Services, beginning with the March 21 – April 3 payroll period.

For additional information, visit http://fa.ufl.edu/payroll/ or see this DDD memorandum.

UF supervisors: It’s time to complete staff performance appraisals

Once again, it is time to issue annual performance appraisals for USPS and TEAMS employees. The evaluation period for all USPS and TEAMS employees is from March 1, 2007, through February 29, 2008, with appraisals completed by March 31, 2008.

Annual performance appraisals are designed to document and summarize feedback that employees have received throughout the year. Feedback through formal performance appraisals is important to employees and can affect various other personnel-related actions; thus, supervisors should give priority to completing performance appraisals.

When completing performance appraisals, supervisors should focus on the job performance (the employee’s competence or ability to perform the job) and work-related behavior (the way in which the employee performs the job), using specific language and examples of work performance or behavior observed throughout the evaluative period.

A few important reminders:

• Please include UFID numbers and employees' complete and correct full names (proper first and last name, not nicknames) so it is clear who is being evaluated.
• Use the online Performance Appraisal form for all non-exempt TEAMS and all USPS employees, and a narrative document for exempt TEAMS.
• Employees must date documents when signing or indicate that they do not wish to sign.
• Appraisal ratings on forms must be in whole numbers.
• If an appraisal will result in a less than satisfactory rating (minimally achieves or below performance standards), prior to presenting to the employee, please contact your appropriate Employee Relations office in a timely manner so that they can assist you with appropriate documentation.
• The completed appraisal must be issued to the employee, signed, and dated by March 31, 2008.
• Employees in their probationary period of employment or who have been employed for less than 60 days do not need to be appraised.

Forms that are not fully or accurately completed will be returned to the department for corrections which could result in delayed processing.

An overview training session (course code GET150) is available on March 6, for new UF supervisors and supervisors who need a refresher. In addition, a new course, Writing Performance Appraisals (course code SCS012), offered on February 26, focuses on the Top 10 things managers need to do to improve written performance reviews. To register for these sessions, visit www.hr.ufl.edu/training.

Questions about the UF performance appraisal process should be directed to Paulene Shindelbower, Employee Relations, at 392-6615 (SC 622-6615). For other Employee Relations assistance, please call 392-4777 (SC 622-4777) (IFAS), 392-3786 (SC 622-3786) ( Health Science Center), 392-2333 (SC 622-2333) (Physical Plant), or 392-6615 (SC 622-6615) (E&G and Auxiliaries).

To ensure coverage for health, state life, optional, and supplemental insurances continue during the summer, nine- and ten-month employees will have double-deductions taken from their paychecks beginning with the February 1 paycheck and continuing through May 9. Normal payroll deductions will resume in September.

Nine- and ten-month employees whose pay will be interrupted during this period or who will terminate employment at the end of the spring semester should contact University Benefits and Retirement at (352) 392-2477 (SC 622-2477) or benefits@ufl.edu.