HOME | ARCHIVES | CONTACT | HRS HOME | PRINT THIS ISSUE

UF officials monitoring A(H1N1) flu outbreak

Members of the university community who have recently visited Mexico should contact the Student Health Care Center at 392-1161 or their primary care physician. The UF interim policy for those who have traveled to Mexico during the swine flu pandemic is posted on the Human Resources Services website at http://www.hr.ufl.edu. Anyone traveling outside the United States should also monitor the CDC Web site for information on current travel notices at http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/.

The CDC recommends some simple precautions to reduce the risk of contracting or spreading this or any type of flu virus:

• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth as this spreads germs.
• Stay home and limit contact with others if you are sick.

For more information, please monitor the following web sites:

• CDC's Swine Influenza Page at
  http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/index.htm
• CDC’s tips for Preventing the Flu at http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/habits.htm

[back]

Superior Accomplishment Awards’ ceremony honors top UF staff and faculty

More than 350 employees gathered at the J. Wayne Reitz Union’s Grand Ballroom on April 22 for the 2009 Superior Accomplishment Awards ceremony. The annual program recognizes staff and faculty members who contribute outstanding and meritorious service, efficiency, and/or economy to the quality of life for students and employees. Recognition by one’s peers is the highest point of achievement.

The Superior Accomplishment Awards are presented each spring semester for the period covering the previous academic year—August 1, 2007, to July 31, 2008. Awards are given in the following six categories, first at the divisional level and then at the university level: Clerical/Office Support, Support Services, Scientific/Technical, Administrative/Supervisory, Administrative/Professional, and Academic Personnel.

Division-level award recipients receive cash awards of $200 each, then compete for university-level awards, which offer eight $1,000 and six $2,000 cash awards.

The following individuals received awards at the university level, the Superior Accomplishment Awards’ highest honors, and each were awarded a $2,000 check, a commemorative plaque, and an invitation to the president’s box during an upcoming home football game:

• Denise A. Caswell
  Clerical/Office Support, Office Assistant - Botany & Zoology
• Ella Henderson
  Support Services, Custodial Worker - Physical Plant Division
• Laura Garrido
  Scientific/Technical, Senior Biological Scientist
• Carl Williams
  Administrative/Supervisory, Senior University Postal Manager,
  Mail and Document Services
• Holly Moses
  Administrative/Professional Coordinator 2,
  Department of Health Education and Behavior
• Dr. Matthew Winter
  Academic Personne, Assistant Professor,
  College of Veterinary Medicine – Small Animal Clinic

Several individuals received the Jeffrey A. Gabor Employee Recognition Award, sponsored by the Gabor Agency Inc. These employees were each awarded a $1,000 check and a commemorative plaque. The recipients were:

• Ana Calderson
  Multipurpose Facilities, Assistant Director 2, J. Wayne Reitz Union
• Kenneth “KJ” Green
  Motor Vehicle Operator, Physical Plant Division
• Bernard “Ski” Jasinski
  Maintenance Mechanic, Stephen C. O’Connell Center
• Matthew Pendleton
  IT Expert, Housing and Residence Education

Recipients of the Willis HRH Employee Recognition Award, sponsored by Willis HRH of Gainesville Inc., were each awarded with a $1,000 check and a commemorative plaque. The recipients included:

• Marie Meldrum
  Program Assistant, IFAS
• Angenette Minter
  Assistant Custodial Services Superintendent,
  Housing and Residence Education
• Roberta Peacock
  Office Manager, Department of History
• Tanja van der Veen
  Human Services Coordinator 2, University Police Department

“The Superior Accomplishment Awards recognize outstanding individuals and their contributions to the university,” said Paula Fussell, interim vice president for Human Resource Services. “We are very proud of all of the employees who were nominated for these awards. I encourage faculty and staff to take part in the nomination period this fall for the 2010 awards to recognize their peers and colleagues.”

UF’s Superior Accomplishment Awards Program was developed to recognize deserving university employees and is coordinated by the Office of Human Resource Services. For more information about the Superior Accomplishment Awards and the nomination process, or to view photos from the ceremony, please visit www.hr.ufl.edu/awards/saa.

[back]

Longevity Luncheon honors 35 years of service to UF

On Tuesday, March 24, UF President J. Bernard Machen and Interim Vice President for Human Resource Services Paula Fussell hosted a lunch to honor employees with 35 years of service to the University of Florida. Congratulations to the following employees for their tremendous dedication and service!

• Roxanne Barnett, Academic Support Services
• Lula Brown, Expanded Nutrition Program
• Laurel Edvardsson, Electrical/Computer Engineering
• Elizabeth Fosser, IT – AT Circa Administration
• Charles Gordon, Operation EG Facilities
• Merry Hess, Bridges – General Administration
• Paula Maurer, Botany & Zoology
• Eldon Philman, Plant Pathology
• Glenda Sawyer, Legal Research & Writing
• Jack Schudel, IT - CNS CS Systems Administration
• Christine Street, Ophthalmology

For more information, and to view photos from the luncheon, please visit http://www.hr.ufl.edu/awards/other.asp

[back]

Fringe Benefit Pool effective for fiscal year 2009-10

Currently, the University of Florida charges departments the actual employer cost of employee benefits. However, the Federal Office of Management and Budget allows universities to use an allocation method that applies fixed rates by employee groups, known as a “pooled fringe rate.”

Work is underway to implement a new process for charging UF employee fringe benefits costs to departments in this manner effective July 1. The proposed pooled rates will have no impact on the existing cost of the benefits to employees; the pool will be used to cover the employer portion of the cost of benefits.

Among other reasons for its introduction, the use of a “fringe benefits pool” is designed to simplify and improve the preparation and administration of budgets, including those associated with the grant proposal budget process.

With the implementation of the Fringe Benefit Pool, new salary plans for the College of Medicine Faculty and the Post Doc Associates are being created in the HRMS PeopleSoft System. The anticipated implementation for these salary plans is the weekend of May 16. All areas should consider their internal operations and reporting requirements and accommodate for these new salary plans.

If you feel your operations will be effected by these changes, please direct your questions to Human Resource Services at 392-2477.

The new rates are subject to the approval of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. For more information on the Fringe Benefit Pool, please see the website at http://www.hr.ufl.edu/benefits/fringepool/default.asp

[back]

Use your 2008-09 personal days by July 9

If you have unused USPS personal holidays or TEAMS/FACULTY personal leave days, now is the time to use them. Any unused USPS personal holidays or TEAMS/faculty personal leave days not used by the end of the fiscal year will expire.

Eligible employees have until the end of the pay period in which June 30 (the end of the fiscal year) occurs—July 9, 2009—to use unused personal holidays (if USPS) or personal leave days (if TEAMS or eligible faculty).

You can determine whether you have personal leave time to be used by following this navigation: My Self Service > Payroll and Compensation (Home) > View Leave History. Select the most recent pay period end date by clicking on it in the drop-down box. USPS employees should look for an ending balance for USPS Hol to determine if they have the 2008/09 personal holiday available to them. TEAMS and Faculty employees should look for TMSFacPer and check the ending balance. If there’s a balance, it should be used by July 9.

What is a personal holiday?

• A one-day holiday awarded to USPS employees each fiscal year. It must be taken in a full-day increment.

What are personal leave days?

• TEAMS/FACULTY personal leave days are the four days awarded to TEAMS employees and eligible faculty members to be used during the UF holiday closing period that occurs annually from December 26-31. If you were off from work Dec. 26-31, 2008, you likely have received your personal leave benefit. If you were considered essential and required to work part or all of the holiday closing period from Dec. 26-31, 2008, your record should have been adjusted to reflect your hours worked, which should have put equivalent personal leave time back on your balance for use by the end of the pay period in which the fiscal year falls (July 9, 2009).

Personal holidays and leave days are in addition to any sick or vacation leave that is accrued. Sick and vacation leave does not expire at the end of the fiscal year.

If you have questions or concerns about your available personal holiday or personal leave balances, please contact your departmental payroll/personnel office for assistance. You may also contact Leave Administration at (352) 392-2477 or central-leave@ufl.edu.

[back]

Free smoking cessation program for employees

In a joint effort, the Student Health Care Center, UF’s Employee Assistance Program, and the UF Area Health Education Centers are offering UF employees a free comprehensive smoking cessation program. All employees, including OPS, who are interested in quitting smoking are encouraged to learn more about this program.

Groups will be offered on Mondays, starting May 11, from 12 noon to 1 p.m. The six-week program (one hour per week) comprises three components: education, group support, and medical oversight with pharmaceutical smoking cessation medications. Discounted medications will be available under the prescription and management of a skilled medical provider. There will be no cost for attending the smoking cessation classes, and medications prescribed to assist with cessation attempts will be significantly discounted.

Spouses and partners are encouraged to participate with the employee, as successful quitting is dramatically increased when partners quit together. There will be a flat fee of $100 for spouse/partner participation plus cost of medication. For more information, please contact the SHCC at (352) 392 – 5787, fax (352) 846-1030, or go to: http://shcc.ufl.edu/occmed/esc.shtml.

[back]

New Sustainable Solutions Awards given to UF students, staff, faculty

The UF Office of Sustainability presented nine trophies and several honorable mentions to a wide variety of organizations and departments across campus for their excellent contributions to sustainability at UF. The Sustainable Solutions Awards Program is part of UF’s Earth Day 2009 program and followed UF President Bernie Machen’s annual state of sustainability address. The awards recognized employees and students in the categories of waste reduction, energy conservation, and water conservation. A complete listing of winners and honorable mentions, as well as detailed descriptions of each project, can be found on the Office of Sustainability website: http://www.sustainable.ufl.edu/what-can-you-do/SustainableSolutionsAwards-2009.html. For more information about the Office of Sustainability, visit: http://www.sustainable.ufl.edu/.

[back]

©2009 University of Florida Office of Human Resource Services
The InfoGator is a monthly e-publication produced by the University of Florida’s Office of Human Resource Services. It is distributed electronically to UF faculty and staff and is available online. Please direct questions or comments to its editor, Angela Gould; Human Resource Services; P.O. Box 115006; (352) 392-4626; TDD 800-955-8771. The InfoGator is available in an alternative format upon request.