May HR Newsletter

Please see below for updates and announcements from the Office of Human Resources.   


Important Dates and Deadlines

Wellness Days (Summer 2024 Restorative Fridays) 

• First Friday: May 24 – Last Friday: August 2 

College Holidays

• Wednesday, June 19 (Juneteenth) 
• Thursday, July 4 (Independence Day) 
  
   

Introducing Devin Walker, Benefits Associate 
We are excited to welcome Devin Walker to the Office of Human Resources! As Benefits Associate, Devin will be assisting employees with their Individual Choice benefit enrollments, as well as working with staff on Short-Term Disability and NYS Paid Family Leave. Devin is an experienced customer service professional with proficiency in leave management, hospice care, and benefits advisement. Devin is located Garden Level, of PRW or virtually Monday through Friday from 8:30 to 5pm. To make an appointment please reach out to Devin at Benefits@ithaca.edu or dwalker3@ithaca.edu.



Summer Restorative Fridays - Wellness Day Time Reporting Information 
Summer Restorative Fridays will extend from May 24, 2024, to August 2, 2024. For all non-exempt, benefits-eligible employees, please see below for biweekly timecard instructions. Employees will be compensated at their regular pay rate. Please refer to the Wellness Day policy on the Human Resources website for eligibility and details about the benefit: https://www.ithaca.edu/human-resources/employee-benefits-wellness/time-away-work-programs/paid-time-away-holidays-wellness-days  
 
Regularly scheduled hours Not Worked should be recorded as:  

• Wellness Hours Not Worked (day, evening, night) – 7.5 or 8.0 hours (or regularly scheduled number of hours)  

Regularly scheduled hours Worked should be recorded as:  

• Wellness Hours Worked (day, evening, night) – 7.5 or 8.0 hours AND  
• Supplemental Time Earned (day, evening, night) – 7.5 or 8.0 hours  

If you were scheduled to work a partial day, the hours will be recorded using three lines:  

• Wellness Hours Not Worked (day, evening, night) – 4.5 hours AND  
• Wellness Hours Worked (day, evening, night) – 3.0 hours AND  
• Supplemental Time Earned – 3.0 hours  

Student employees who work on Fridays during this time will be paid at their regular rate for hours worked. For offices that will be fully closed on Summer Restoration Fridays, student employees are not expected to work. If work can be performed remotely and with minimal supervision, supervisors can make that arrangement with their student employee(s). Please contact the Office of Human Resources at (607) 274-8000 or payroll@ithaca.edu with any questions or for assistance.  



Paid Break Time for Milk Expression 
Effective June 19, 2024, New York State’s Nursing Mothers in the Workplace Act (New York Labor Law 206-c) and PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act, will require all private and public sector employers to provide 30 minutes of paid break time and allow employees to use other paid break or mealtime for time in excess of 30 minutes “each time such employee has reasonable need to express breast milk for a nursing child(ren) up to three years of age. For additional information on New York State labor law 206-c, please visit the Office of Human Resources website at https://www.ithaca.edu/human-resources/lactation-rooms-ny-labor-law-206-c. 

Please submit questions related to this policy to the Office of Human Resources by submitting a ticket through the HR HelpDesk, by emailing humanresources@ithaca.edu, or by calling 607-274-8000.



Embracing Success and Setting New Goals: Your Path Forward 
Thank you for engaging in our annual review process and building on your successes! Reflecting on the past year should fill you with pride for your accomplishments and inspire excitement for the goals ahead. 

As you move forward, consider these next steps to ensure continuous growth and success: 

1. Reflect on Feedback: Take time to consider the feedback you received. 
2. Clarify Expectations: Make sure you fully understand the goals and expectations discussed. 
3. Create an Action Plan: Develop a detailed plan to address feedback and achieve your goals. 
4. Prioritize Goals: Focus on the most important and urgent objectives. 
5. Set Milestones: Establish specific milestones and deadlines to track your progress. 
6. Identify Resources and Support: Determine what resources or support you may need. 
7. Communicate Regularly: Schedule regular meetings with your manager to discuss your progress and any adjustments. 
8. Invest in Your Development: Seek opportunities for learning and skill enhancement. 
9. Track Your Progress: Keep a record of your achievements and areas for improvement. 
10. Stay Adaptable: Be open to feedback and willing to adjust your plans as needed. 

By committing to these steps, you will be well-equipped to achieve your goals and continue thriving in your role. Keep up the great work! Let’s make this year our best yet! 



Enhancements to Our New Employee Onboarding Program 
Based on feedback from new employees, exit interviews, and our HR Engagement survey, we've made a few changes to make the onboarding experience even better. Our goal is to help new employees feel welcome, confident, and ready to succeed by getting them up to speed with our college culture, policies, procedures, and benefits. To achieve this, we're adding three new onboarding sessions to the current orientation program. A sample schedule can be found below: 


 

Sample New Employee Orientation/Onboarding Schedule 

The new sessions are designed to ensure new hires feel supported and integrated into our community right from the start. We ask that supervisors make sure to include these additional training sessions in their new employees' onboarding plans for their first month. Let's help our new colleagues kick off their journey with us on the right foot!  



TIAA Webinars for June
TIAA sponsored webinars offer information and tools to assist in navigating the retirement planning landscape. Visit TIAA Landing to register for upcoming TIAA webinars. Topics include:    

• June 4, 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm: Write your next chapter: 5 steps to setting your retirement date 
• June 12, 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm: Charting your course: A financial guide for women 
• June 20, 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm: The starting line: Beginning to save for retirement 
• June 25, 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm: Take control of your financial life: 5 steps to managing money and debt 
  
   

Staff Council Corner 
Congratulations to the newly elected Staff Council officers:  

Vice Chair: Meghan Fouracre  
Treasurer: John Fracchia (re-elected) 
Public Relations & Communications: Cliff-Simon Vital  
Staff Council will be sponsoring some upcoming IC Spirit events. Please watch Intercom and our Engage Page for more details.  

Our next monthly meeting is scheduled for June 13, 2024, from 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm in Job 312 and on Zoom. All staff are welcome. Omar Stoute, Director of Staff Equity, Inclusion and Belonging and Paula Younger, Executive Director for Government, Community, and Constituent Relations, will be our guest presenters. Please email staffcouncil@ithaca.edu if you would like to receive the zoom link for our next meeting. 

If you have announcements or issues that you’d like to raise, please contact your Staff Council representative, fill out the Request for Staff Council Action on our website: www.ithaca.edu/staffcouncil, or email staffcouncil@ithaca.edu.



IC Warm Welcome! 
Moises Caiza (Facilities Services) 
Isaiah Nickisch (Facilities Services Acad II) 
Devin Austen (Facilities Services Acad III) 
Deidre Brame (Facilities Services Residential) 
Allison Peacock-Weschle (Philanthropy and Engagement) 
Devin Walker (Benefits & Compliance) 
Eliana Burke (New Student and Transition Programs) 
Keenan Griebel (New Student and Transition Programs) 
Nolan Saunders (New Student and Transition Programs) 


 

Contact the Office of Human Resources

  Request HR Help  |  (607) 274-8000   |  Ground Level of PRWC

Ithaca College - 953 Danby Road, Ithaca, NY 14850