Author: MSU Human Resources

Job of the Week 9/30/16

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This week we are highlighting a Service Manager I (posting #4115) with IPF Landscape Services. This position will engage in high performance, leading edge practices, which are innovative in their approach to increase stewardship and service excellence. The position engages in daily decision making for the mechanic/shop area of Landscape Services; provides supervision, leadership and safety training of tools and equipment in order to ensure compliance with University, State and Federal rules and regulations; prioritizes and assigns work of the mechanics including but not limited to preventive maintenance and daily repairs; assists in and/or performs the full range of duties of the mechanics in order to facilitate operations; determines suppliers through MSU bidding procedures, processing orders, receiving, issuing, storing and maintaining inventory; and maintains electronic and paper records on materials and equipment. This position also initiates and prepares financial and special reports; researches and recommends the purchase of new and improved tools, parts and equipment; serves as a liaison with employees, vendors and University departments in order to provide expertise in the mechanic shop; assists in developing and implementing policies and procedures for the mechanic shop and campus snow plan; oversees operations in order to maintain quality control and meet deadlines; coordinates Landscape Services operations with the MSU Police and Parking in order to meet the needs of athletic and special events; oversees snow and ice removal operations on an on-call, 24-hour weekly rotation basis during emergency weather conditions in order to ensure the continuation of University operation, accessibility and safety; and oversees emergency procedures related to the campus grounds in order to ensure the continuation of University operation, accessibility and safety for the students, staff and public.MSU Jobs Icon

For a complete description of this position, and to view all of our current postings, please go to www.jobs.msu.edu and select Support Staff under the Fast Jobs Search.

2017 Open Enrollment Begins October 1

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It’s that time of the year again; time for Open enrollment for 2017!MSU Benefits Open Enrollment Masthead

The Open Enrollment application has been updated with the refreshed EBS Portal. So starting October 1, log in to the EBS Portal to enroll until October 31. You will be able to add, change or remove your MSU benefits plans, but must do so in the month of October. You also must complete the Health Plan Affidavit if you cover a spouse or Other Eligible Individual (OEI). New instructions, including a video tutorial, are provided in the Open Enrollment guide and on the website.

Even with these changes, there’s no need to stress. The Benefits Fair will be held in the Breslin Student Events Center. The event will take place October 11, noon to 6 p.m., October 12, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and October 13, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. MSU Human Resources staff will be available to answer questions and help with enrollment. There will be numerous vendors from health, dental, retirement, life and AD&D, Flexible Spending Accounts, MSU Benefits Plus and MSU units attending. The MSU Health Team will also be providing flu vaccines for eligible faculty, staff, retirees and their dependents. The MSU Health4U program will offer chair massages.

Don’t miss this year’s Open Enrollment. Visit www.hr.msu.edu/openenrollment for more information.

Job of the Week 9/23/16

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This week we are highlighting an Operations Supervisor III (posting #4053) with the Breslin Center Residential and Hospitality Services. This position oversees all operations during Breslin Center events and communicates with MSU departments and staff to ensure event success; works closely with MSU Athletics and Wharton Center staff to facilitate successful events in the Breslin Center; assists Breslin Center staff and guests with any issues that may arise during events; and prepares pre- and post-event materials and reports to ensure communication of event details to appropriate staff. This position also assists management with developing policies and procedures for Breslin Center; interviews, hires, trains and supervises Breslin Center part-time and full-time team members; and assists with various projects as assigned.

MSU Jobs IconFor a complete description of this position, and to view all of our current postings, please go to www.jobs.msu.edu and select Support Staff under the Fast Jobs Search.

Health Matters: Lyme disease

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Lyme disease is a bacterial infection primarily transmitted by deer ticks that affects more than 300,000 North Americans per year. However, because diagnosing Lyme disease can be difficult, many people who actually have Lyme disease may be misdiagnosed with other conditions, and many experts believe the actual number of cases may be much higher.

Lyme disease affects people of all ages. The Centers for Disease Control notes that it is most common in children, older adults, and others such as first responders and forest rangers who spend time engaging in outdoor activities and have higher exposure to ticks.Lyme Disease Flier

Because misdiagnosis of Lyme disease is particularly common, the need for a comprehensive approach to your care becomes even greater. If you have flu-like symptoms and other circumstances that could indicate the prospect of Lyme disease, you should be skeptical about any diagnosis and open to the value of a second opinion.

As part of your Best Doctors benefits, an in-depth review of your case by our experts gives you access to a clear, straightforward report that will help you take control of your health care and determine the best approach for your ongoing treatment.

To learn more about the symptoms of Lyme disease and other conditions the disease may be confused with, view the entire Best Doctors article.

Thank you Olin Health Center!

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The stress of work and school can truly take its toll on your physical and mental health. Luckily, Olin Health Center is always there to help when you need them most. The hardworking individuals and providers at all five campus locations work to ensure you are the healthiest and happiest version of you.

Olin’s goal is to, “support the mission of Michigan State University and the success of its students by enhancing personal health, removing barriers to academic achievement, and promoting a healthy learning environment.” It is evident they achieve this goal through their numerous services offered, and also in the outcome of individuals’ health.

Care for illness and injuries, mental health and counseling, physical therapy, sexual health and immunizations are among the many services offered by Olin. On top of all they do, Olin gives students three free medical office visits each year.

Thank you, Olin Health Center, for your continuing genuine care of the MSU community!

Olin Health Center on a summer day
The Olin Health Center in north campus. One of five locations available to the MSU community.

Job of the Week 9/16/16

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This week we are highlighting a Kitchen Sanitation Worker (posting #3984) with the Residential and Hospitality Services. This position is located in the Gallery and the primary duties are to clean and sanitize dishes, glassware, silverware, pots, pans, utensils, kitchen and serving equipment, and related work areas by utilizing and operating appropriate equipment; to sweep, mop and sanitize floors of kitchen and related work areas according to prescribed standards; and to empty waste baskets, trash cans, boxes and containers. This position may also assist in maintaining food inventories and food preparations.

MSU Jobs IconFor a complete description of this position, and to view all of our current postings, please go to www.jobs.msu.edu and select Support Staff under the Fast Jobs Search.

EBS Portal: Personal Profile Tips

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If you haven’t logged onto EBS in a while, you’ll notice that the portal has been refreshed! We encourage everyone to become familiar with the new look and navigation before open enrollment begins on October 1.Refreshed EBS Portal

To help you navigate the refreshed EBS portal, there is a robust EBS Help website. The site is also accessible once you’re in the portal by clicking the help icon.

While the focus of the refreshed portal is improved navigation, there is a new Personal Profile application for employees. Learn more below.

How to access personal information:

Once you log onto EBS, you will see a menu bar on the left side of your screen. To access personal information, you will click on the “My Personal Information” tab.

This tab brings you to the Personal Information homepage. To access information related to you and your employment, click on the “Personal Profile” tile on the far left.

Once you are on the Personal Profile page, you are able to view items such as your bank information, emergency contact information, and tax withholdings.  New in the refreshed EBS portal, you can also see your salary data, retirement eligibility and benefits eligibility. Retirement eligibility lists information relevant to when an employee can retire.  Benefits eligibility lists dates related to benefits, longevity, and long term disability.

You can update bank information and tax withholdings by clicking the pencil icon in the upper right hand corner of those sections and filling in the necessary information.

If you need additional help outside of the portal, you can contact the HR Solutions Center at 517-353-4434 or SolutionsCenter@hr.msu.edu.

Get to Know the New MSU WorkLife Office!

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Working for a university as large as Michigan State, it may be difficult at times to find the resources that you need to succeed both in your career and in your personal life. The new MSU WorkLife Office was created to address this problem and provide one location for faculty and staff to obtain answers and resources pertaining to both career and family life.

We had a chance to sit down and talk with Dr. Barbara Roberts, the executive director of the WorkLife Office, in order to learn more about this new resource. Dr. Roberts described that the WorkLife Office “is here to ensure that faculty and staff have what they need to do their jobs as productively as they can.”

The office has five main focus areas: Family Care, Career Transitions, Workplace Assistance, Relocation and Community Connections, and Research. If you are a faculty or staff member with questions in any of these areas, be sure to head to their website for more information.

Linton Hall
The MSU WorkLife Office is located in Linton Hall.

The WorkLife Office also sponsors many events throughout the year. One of those events, “Reflect and Connect: Navigating Life and Work Effectively in Challenging Times,” will take place next Friday, September 16. The WorkLife Office is co-hosting this event with the Employee Assistance Program and the Office for Inclusion and Intercultural Initiatives. “Reflect and Connect is an opportunity for people to come together and share what’s going on in the larger world beyond the campus and sometimes on the campus,” Dr. Roberts said.

Another upcoming event is the Fatherhood Forum, which will be held on Friday, September 30, at the Kellogg Center.

Since this is a brand new office, many people may have misconceptions about its purpose. “We are not replicating the services that other people are already doing,” Dr. Roberts said. “We are helping get people to those services. So we want to be the one-stop shop where you can come in and find out about everything on campus, put together your palette of resources that you need, and go out and paint your picture of work-life balance with the resources that are already here.”

The WorkLife Office strives to ensure inclusivity, she said. “One thing that we feel makes our office unique is our ability to focus a lens of diversity on work-life practices. So we look at, and we want to hear about, how concurrent work-life practices and benefits and resources on campus affect people from different populations.  So sometimes things that we take for granted as being useful to everyone aren’t as effective in a certain population, a cultural group, or faculty of color, or international faculty, or any group that wants to draw on those provisions but maybe they weren’t designed with those folks in mind necessarily. And so you say, well wait a second, this doesn’t work for me in my culture or faith tradition or whatever it is, and we want to hear about those gaps so that we can be sure that the provisions that we put in place to help you are helpful.”

The WorkLife Office is located in Linton Hall. Parking is available across the street at the Grand River ramp or in any of the staff parking lots around West Circle. Contact the office at 517-353-1635 or worklife@msu.edu. A tour of the WorkLife Office will be available on October 3 as part of their Open House to kick-off Work and Family month. Learn more about the Open House.

Job of the Week 9/9/16

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This week we are highlighting a University Academic Event Coordinator (posting #3967) with the Office of the Provost. This position will report to the Associate Provost for Academic Services and Enrollment Management and the Associate Provost and Associate Vice President for Academic Human Resources to plan, manage and oversee university-wide academic events, programs, seminars, etc. Examples of such events include commencement exercises, University Convocation, and the Scholarship Recognition Program. This position will interact with faculty, staff, students, and many other groups in order to promote the university and coordinate events. Desired qualifications for a candidate include knowledge of university policies and procedures, excellent communication and organizational skills, the ability to handle multiple tasks, and excellent grammar, writing, editing and proofreading skills.

MSU Jobs IconFor a complete description of this position, and to view all of our current posting, please go to www.jobs.msu.edu and select Support Staff under the Fast Jobs Search.

A Quick Look at this Year’s Academic Calendar

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As the new academic year kicks off, many of you may already be wondering what days the university will be closed. We’re here to help! MSU HR has compiled a list of the important dates to keep in mind for this year.

If you want more information than we provide below, be sure to check out the full academic calendar, which is available on the Office of the Registrar’s website.

  • MSU is closed Thursday, November 24, 2016 and Friday, November 25, 2016
  • MSU is closed Friday, December 23, 2016 and Monday, December 26, 2016
  • MSU is closed Friday, December 30, 2016 and Monday, January 2, 2017
  • MSU is open, but classes are cancelled Monday, January 16, 2017
  • Spring Break is Monday, March 6, 2017 – Friday, March 10, 2017
  • MSU is closed Monday, May 29, 2017
  • MSU is closed Tuesday, July 4, 2017