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25 June 2020

 

Staff Advisory Council Meeting 

Thursday, June 25, 2020 

 

Listening to and lifting staff voices to build an informed community 


Calendar: 

Thursday, June 25 SAC meeting, Zoom call, 9-10:00 am

Tuesday, August 18 In person or Zoom call

Attendee:  Susan Eagar, Lynn Grady, Mel Leeds, Ashley Turner, George Darbes, Jean Nilan, Felicite, Pam Harris, Pamela Prescod-Caesar, Paula MacDonald, Susan Romero, Pamela Borkowski-Valentin

 

Comments/Questions/Suggestions:  (10 min. each):

Question: 

Do we have cell phone/hotspot discounts available and where would I find that information. I checked with HR and they said to get in touch with you.

Answer:

  • The link to Campus Accounts and Agreements can be found on the SAC website.
  • We may want to build an FAQ
    • Include on the SAC website
    • Originally planned to gather information this summer. Now on a TBD timeline.
    • Susan Eagar to create Google Doc for all of SAC to access and add to 

Question:

Is it possible to reduce work hours during covid and donate that time to others who are at risk of being furloughed? 

Answer:

  • Please refer to the recent communication from An Update from HR on COVID-19 sent on 6/23/2020, indicating that a vacation donation program and an emergency assistance fund are being made available.

Question:

"When I wrote to two staff members of HR this morning both recipients of my email have auto-generated messages that say write to the generic HR email OR to a specific person. This is confusing and off-putting. How does one feel confident that their email is going to be read and responded to if the generic HR message all say to contact someone else? 

Answer:

  • Due to modified operations and various work schedules during this period, in order to provide a timely response to inquiries HR has utilized the main HR mailbox to streamline and efficiently triage messages.  
    • SAC members please help be a liaison.

Question:

This has to do with the Pandemic, and many folks relying on mass transit to get to work. As you may know, some companies have stated that if their employees use mass transit, at all, they must quarantine for 14 days after, effectively making mass transit a nonviable option for a commute.

Plus, transit is not yet up and running at pre-Covid levels, nor is it entirely 'safe'.

Some staff have asked me if HR or SAC would take the initiative to create a 'ride share' platform [Google Doc?]. Perhaps people from W.Philly or the Northeast, etc. might be able to coordinate riding together in a car mitigating exposure to transit.

Perhaps there is a zipcar option?

Answer:

  • SEPTA is up and running currently and adheres to CDC guidelines.  The focus on current resources is on what will Fall look like to ensure the safety of students, faculty and staff. 
  • Check in with the office of Sustainability to see if they have something in the works.

Question:

Where are we on lifting the vacation cap?

Answer:

  • Some people were able to raise the cap. Certain essential staff who were near their cap were approved by their VP. Those people were contacted directly. All others are encouraged to use their vacation time accordingly.

Question:

If we contract Covid-19 will we have to use our own sick/vacation time?

Answer:

  • Post July 18 you will use your own sick time. That is why HR is working on being able to donate sick time.
  • Swarthmore also has a short term salary continuation program.
  • President Smith and her staff have an emergency leave fund. 

Question:

Some of my coworkers wanted to know on the pay stub why does it say COVID - 19 on it? Is there going to be Hazard Pay?

Answer:

  • For those working a limited amount of hours per week, employees who were ill or taking care of someone due to illness.  The non-working hours are listed as COVID to allow an employee to maintain their salary/paycheck.
  • Those who have been phased back into work are getting paid for their hours worked. 

Question:

Where are we with Performance reviews this year?

Answer:

  • The college will be performing modified performance assessments this summer.
  • Assessments will start July 1 and they will be virtual. 
  • Many people want to be acknowledged for the work they’ve done.