Human Resources News Blog

How to Record Comp Time

Published March 30, 2022

Eligible hourly employees will track their compensatory time balance using their time entry method (web time entry, department time entry, Time Clock Plus, paper time sheet). To use this feature, employees will record two different earning types; one to build the balance and one to use the balance. After each pay period is processed, the employee and their time entry approver can view the new compensatory time balance via Banweb.

Below is how the new compensatory time tracking will be recorded for each of the different time entry methods:

Web Time Entry
The earning type “Comp Time Earned” will be used to accrue (add) hours to the Compensatory Time balance.
The earning type “Comp Time Taken” will be used to reduce (subtract) hours from the Compensatory Time balance.

Time Clock Plus
The job code “Comp Time Earned” will be used to accrue (add) hours to the Compensatory Time balance.
The job code “Comp Time Taken” will be used to reduce (subtract) hours from the Compensatory Time balance.

Department Time Entry
The earnings code 450 will be used to accrue (add) hours to the Compensatory Time balance.
The earnings code 460 will be used to reduce (subtract) hours from the Compensatory Time balance.

Paper Time Sheet
The earn code 450 will be used to accrue (add) hours to the Compensatory Time balance.
The earn code 460 will be used to reduce (subtract) hours from the Compensatory Time balance.

If you have any questions, please contact Payroll Services at payroll@mtu.edu

Free Fidelity Live Webinars

Published March 21, 2022

By Emily TNiemi

Join the Benefits Office this spring for the following free, live webinars through Fidelity. You do not need to be an investor with Fidelity to participate in these webinars.

April 15 at 12:00pm (Noon): Learn the Basics of When and How to Claim Social Security
-Understand Social Security
-Considerations for claiming Social Security benefits
-Decide when to take Social Security benefits
Register for the April 15th webinar here

April 29th at 12:00pm (Noon): Prepare for the Reality of Health Care in Retirement
-Estimate retirement health care costs
-Understand available options before and after age 65
-Plan for retirement health care costs
Register for the April 29th webinar here

These webinars count toward Option 2 on your Husky Health Checklist!

Elimination of Departmental Time Sheets

Published March 16, 2022

By Emily TNiemi

Payroll Services is reorganizing the payroll processes which will change some of the ways timekeepers submit changes for department time sheets. This reorganization process is being done to in order to be more efficient in running the payroll process and to align submitting revised time sheets and reallocations with the normal process for those not on department time.

Beginning with Bi-weekly 06 (March 6, 2022 – March 19, 2022), payroll will be eliminating the process of sending department time sheets. Department timekeepers will be responsible for signing and submitting time sheets and reallocations. Paper time sheets will need to be submitted if there is exception time to report or if any index overrides are needed. If a paper time sheet is not submitted for index overrides, a Reallocation Form will then be needed to make the necessary corrections to the indexes. Exception time includes vacation, sick, personal, parental, holiday, seasonal, and bereavement.

Timekeepers can access Gross Earnings and other reports via Banner 8 as needed.

Upcoming Employee Financial Health Webinars through Fidelity and TIAA

Published March 4, 2022

By Emily TNiemi

Join the Benefits Office for these upcoming, free, live webinars scheduled this spring!

March 10^th at 1:00pm: Looking to turn your retirement savings into a “paycheck” for life?
Join TIAA Sr. Director-Miguel Shefferson as he teaches you to diversify your investment portfolio before retirement to help offset risk. A similar strategy can help see you through retirement. Learn how creating a diversified income plan—one that uses a combination of income sources and includes annuity income that’s guaranteed for life that can help reduce the risks you may face in retirement and ensure you have income that never runs out.
Register for the March 10^th webinar here

April 15^th at 12 noon: Learn the Basics of When and How to Claim Social Security.
-Understand Social Security
-Considerations for claiming Social Security benefits
-Decide when to take Social Security benefits
Register for the April 15^th webinar here

April 29^th at 12 noon: Prepare for the Reality of Health Care in Retirement.
–Estimate retirement health care costs
-Understand available options before and after age 65
-Plan for retirement health care costs
Register for the April 29^th webinar here

Lunch & Learn: Understanding Your Blue Cross Blue Shield Explanation of Benefits (EOB)

Published March 1, 2022

By Emily TNiemi

Please join us at noon on Tuesday, March 15^th in the MUB as we welcome Molly Mikesch, Client Engagement Manager for Michigan Technological University from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. Molly will be discussing “How to Understand your Explanation of Benefits.” During this discussion, Molly will go through how to set up an online account through BCBSM and how employees and members can see and better understand their explanation of benefits through BCBSM. Please bring your device(s) as this will be an interactive session for all members.

Please email benefits@mtu.edu to reserve your seat today!

This Lunch & Learn counts toward Option 2 in your Husky Health Checklist

Lunch & Learn: Orthodontic Prevention: Oxymoron or Contemporary Paradigm?

Published February 10, 2022

By Emily TNiemi

February is Children’s Dental Health month! Please join our dynamic and entertaining speaker, Dr. Darin Ward of UPWard Orthodontics, on Tuesday, February 15 at 12:00pm in the MUB Ballrooom B1 as he discusses preventative orthodontics. Dr. Ward will explore why so many kids (and adults) today are told that they “need braces.” Dr. Ward will present his thoughts on the causes of crooked teeth and less than ideal jaw growth/facial growth and what you can do about it. It is a lot simpler than you think and unfortunately like most simple things, it’s hard to do! Whether you are an adult considering orthodontics or the parent of a child whose smiles needs attention, this presentation and discussion is a must attend.

Please email benefits@mtu.edu to reserve your seat today!

This Lunch & Learn counts toward Option 2 in your Husky Health Checklist.

Heart Health – Lunch & Learn

Published February 4, 2022

By Emily TNiemi

Join Dr. Zachariah DeYoung from Upper Great Lakes Family Health Center on Tuesday, February 8 at 12:00pm for a Lunch & Learn in the MUB Ballroom B1 as we celebrate Heart Health Month.

Because there’s a movement for primary care doctors to focus more on outcomes that mean something to the patient rather than abnormal numbers on tests, health care providers are now encouraged to focus more on helping their patients get health and stay that way than the previous focus on “throwing pills at labs.”

Join DeYoung for a conversation on:
-How this is playing out in the prevention of cardiovascular disease
-Why you might be able to stop taking that daily aspirin
-How there’s no such thing as routine labs anymore

Please email benefits@mtu.edu to reserve your seat today!

This Lunch & Learn counts toward Option 2 in your Husky Health Checklist

New Year/Healthier You: Ready – Set – Now What

Published January 12, 2022

By Emily TNiemi

Join Angela Luskin, group exercise instructor at Portage Health, on Tuesday, January 18th in the MUB Ballroom B1/B2 at 12:00pm as she helps us start the new year in a healthier way. If you are fired up and ready to start the week/ month/New Year off with a new exercise program, but not quite sure where to start this Lunch and Learn is for you. She will help you set up an exercise program and come up with new ideas to improve your physical activity. This interactive presentation is just what you need to start off 2022 on the right track! We’ll talk about how to get started, healthy goals and also try out some exercise we can do at home.

This presentation counts towards option 2 for your Husky Health Checklist!

Minimum Wage Increasing January 1, 2022

Published December 14, 2021

By Emily TNiemi

Announcements

Effective January 1, 2022, minimum wage will increase from $9.65 to $9.87 per hour. Therefore, all employees who currently fall below this new hourly rate will see an automatic increase. Department generated EPAFs will not be needed.

For jobs starting after January 1, 2022, use the minimum wage of $9.87 per hour. This change will have an impact on departments that pay students and temporary employees less than this amount.

Reminder: Husky Health Checklists

Published December 13, 2021

By Emily TNiemi

Don’t forget to complete your Husky Health Checklists with the activities you completed between January 1, 2021 – December 31, 2021.

Monday, January 10, 2022 is the last day to submit your Husky Health Checklist for the reporting period of January 1, 2021 – December 31, 2021, to receive your Husky Health payout incentive in early 2022.

Check out the Husky Health website or follow us on Facebook at Michigan Tech Wellness for more information about Husky Health, Lunch and Learns, wellness tips and fitness programs that count toward the Husky Health incentive. To find out more about Husky Health and other wellness benefits, click here.

Questions? Contact the Benefits Office at benefits@mtu.edu or call 487-2517.