The transition to the modernized Performance Appraisal Tool (PAT) is less than two months away. If you have not already done so, please review the PAT Toolkit for HR Leads and the suggested timeline for when to share communications with supervisors. The toolkit includes email templates HR Leads can use to provide information to people impacted by the transition. Additional information is coming soon. Contact Shannon Luloff (smacdon1@umn.edu) with any questions.

Next week an email will be sent to all UMN retirees reminding them to ensure their benefit contact email information is updated to a non-University email address. This is due to the changes to U of M email and Google Workspace offerings for employees who retire from the University. We bring this to your attention as you may be contacted by retirees unsure of how they will be affected or by retired faculty who are unsure if they hold emeriti status. Google Workspace offerings for  emeriti faculty are not affected by the changes.

ELR is offering Corrective Action and Discipline Training for HR Professionals (non-labor represented). This training covers:

• the University's approach to corrective action,
• fundamentals of effective performance management and feedback,
• corrective action for probationary and continuing employees,
• just cause and due process basics,
• the specific corrective action steps for each employee group,
• documentation and channels for disputing corrective action.
   

HR professionals interested in attending can select from two options:

• Wednesday, May 22 from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. in person, Donhowe Room 210
• Tuesday, June 4 from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. via Zoom

Complete this form to register.

Language outlining an employee’s responsibility to return equipment purchased with University funds has been added to all hiring letter templates hosted on the OHR website. Equipment must be returned within five business days or a bill will be sent to the employee. A link to the policy is also included in the letter.

The OHR Talent Acquisition team has updated the SkillSurvey reference process to require three references, including one from a manager/supervisor. Previously, SkillSurvey required five references. Hiring managers can still add more than three references if needed. Learn more about SkillSurvey on the OHR website.

Please remind supervisors to share with any of their graduating student workers that their access to University applications like Gmail and Google Workspace, Zoom, and Microsoft 365 will change. The Leaving the University self-help guide describes what will change and the timeline. The guide also outlines the changes faculty and staff can expect when leaving the University.

Faculty emeriti will retain access to Gmail and Google Workspace as per University policy. 

Effective immediately, the University’s unemployment vendor, Experian, has changed over to encrypted emails for processing Unemployment Claims to protect the claimant’s SSN. 

The designated UI contact at the College/Unit will receive the encrypted email and will need to log on to a secure portal to view and complete the claim. To access the claim, click on "Read the message" and then click on "Sign in with a One-time passcode". An email will be sent to you with the code. Please reply directly in the encrypted message with the information and documentation regarding the separation of the employee.

Please contact  elr@umn.edu with any issues or questions regarding this change.

We are delighted to announce that after thorough and constructive negotiations, an agreement has been reached with the University Education Association (UEA), which represents University of Minnesota Crookston and University of Minnesota Duluth faculty.

Next, UEA members will vote to ratify the three-year contract for both campuses. If ratified, the contract will then be considered by the University of Minnesota Board of Regents.

Our sincere appreciation to everyone involved in the negotiation process, including members of the Duluth and Crookston management teams, UEA leadership, Bureau of Mediation Services, and our dedicated Labor Relations team. 

An updated ELR Roles and Responsibilities chart is on the OHR site. The document was updated March 28, 2024.

Join other Twin Cities colleges and units in the first Diversity Career Fair organized by the OHR'S Talent Acquisition team. The fair will be held on Thursday, May 30, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m, at the McNamara Alumni Center. Twin Cities colleges, units, and departments are invited to host tables at the fair, which will be advertised widely throughout the Twin Cities metro area.

This fair will be an opportunity for job seekers to learn more about the broad array of full- and part-time jobs available at the University, from researchers to finance professionals to maintenance workers. This fair is a great venue to promote your college or unit work environment to diverse job seekers, even if you do not have many jobs open on May 30.

If you would like to participate, please reach out to your HR Lead to learn more. Signing up is free and commits you to at least one table at the event. You can also request multiple tables for multiple departments. A total of 50 tables will be available–claim your free table(s) now while space is available! Reservations are due April 30.