Carolina Wellness Matters: Communication key to an organization’s health
Interest meetings set for Basic Clerical Skills program
Winter Blood Drive 2006: Save the date to save a life

Employees must use direct deposit
Star Heels: Seventh year of employee recognition program begins

Communication key to an organization’s health

People tend to be more susceptible to illness this time of year. We are a smart species, however, and try to ward off those viruses before they threaten us. We bundle up, take vitamin C, and stay well hydrated. We get prepared. But do we do the same when thinking about our departments or teams?

Often breakdowns that occur in the workplace are a result of lack of clear exp-
ectations and poor communication about key issues that affect daily productivity. To avoid some of these pitfalls, here are some topics to consider:

 Does your group know its purpose - what they do, for whom, and why? It may seem obvious, but lack of focus on the organization’s purpose can cause trouble with prioritizing and focusing on what, when, and how people do their work.

 Does your group have the skills and training to do their jobs well? This is key to both current performance and performance needed in the future.

 Does your group know how they are held accountable for the work they do? This can be a nebulous issue and can take some thoughtfulness. We have work plans and annual performance management processes. But on a daily basis, does everyone know what they are responsible for and how it is being measured?

 Is everyone aware of the standards that exist in your workplace? Written policies and procedures are vital. However, is everyone aware of the unspoken or unwritten rules in your organization? What are acceptable and unacceptable behaviors, traditions or practices? For example, have you ever heard the classic: “Because that’s the way we’ve always done it?” If you or your group is experiencing ambiguity around some of these things, sit down and talk about them.

 Does everyone have a clear role and responsibilities? During times of turbulence (heavy workloads, change or transition), work can emerge that doesn’t fit neatly into anyone’s work plan. Do you have a system to gain clarity on this before the next occurrence rolls around?

Is it clear how decisions are made in your group? Have you ever wondered: “How in the world was that decided?” Groups rarely, if ever, slow down enough to clarify how decisions are made and by whom. A lack of a process can result in the loudest voices in the room getting their way. Sometimes “the boss” needs to make the final decision. Sometimes the group collectively will make a decision. Make sure you are clear on how this will be done from the beginning, or better yet, before you start.

 Does everyone know the organization’s goals, as well as their own individual goals? The best organizations have alignment between individual goals being met through work, and then that work positively affects the organization’s goals.

 Finally, how well are these topics being clarified and communicated throughout your team or organization? An organization can have the greatest mission statement in the world and the greatest role clarity. However, without clarifying expectations and communicating them regularly, they remain just words on a page, ideas in someone’s head, or worse, “secrets” being withheld.

Stay healthy yourself and take your group’s temperature for each of these topics. See how your organization is feeling these days.

For questions or feedback on this article or suggestions for future topics, contact Rob Kramer, director of Training and Development, at rob_kramer@unc.edu.

Interest meetings set for Basic Clerical Skills program

The Basic Clerical Skills program will begin a new session in January 2007 that will include changes to the curriculum and application process. For example, all enrollees must complete a six-week prerequisite class before starting.

Applicants are encouraged to attend one of the following interest meetings:

 Nov. 17, New Shop Building Sycamore Conference Room (Conference Room S), 7:30-8:30 a.m.;

 Nov. 30, New Shop Building Sycamore Conference Room (Conference Room S), 9:30-10:30 a.m.;

 Dec. 5, Administrative Office Building Room 1500A, 7:30- 8:30 a.m.; and

 Dec. 5, Administrative Office Building Room 1500A, 4-5 p.m.

This program is for employees who have minimal or no training in an office environment and wish to gain clerical skills.

Call Felecia Perry at 962-9681 or Tammy Sopp at 962-9686 with questions.

Winter Blood Drive 2006: Save the date to save a life

The winter edition of the Carolina Blood Drive will be held on Dec. 19, from 7:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. in Woollen Gym.

Individuals can donate whole blood as often as every 56 days (8 weeks), so check your calendar now to ensure you can join other UNC donors. During the holiday season, blood donations are critical.

Visit www.unc.givesblood.org to make your appointment online, or call 96-BLOOD (962-5663), ext. 229, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. daily through Dec. 18. Appointments are encouraged, but walk-ins will be accepted. Donors are given a hearty snack after the donation process and will receive a free long-sleeved American Red Cross vintage T-shirt. Donors may enter to win an opportunity for two round-trip domestic tickets on Delta Air Lines and a seven-day cruise for two on Holland America Cruise Lines.

The American Red Cross is also offering the option of collecting double red cells from qualifying donors. Double red blood cell donations allow the donor to give two units of blood, which means more people in need can be helped. Donors with blood types O and B are able to give. This process requires additional time and has minimum height and weight restrictions. Visit www.unc.edu/blood for additional information.

Parking is available for donors and volunteers in Cobb Deck (no passes needed) and along Stadium Drive.

To volunteer during the drive, e-mail Shelly Green in Employee Services at sogreen@unc.edu.

For more information, call Employee Services at 962-1483.

Employees must use direct deposit

All University employees not participating in direct deposit should have received in their last paychecks a letter explaining the Direct Deposit of Pay policy enforcement and instructions for enrollment in the direct deposit program. 

Direct deposit of pay has been available to all faculty, staff, temporary employees and students receiving pay through Payroll Services for years; however the University requires all employees hired on or after July 1, 1999, to be paid by direct deposit into a bank or credit union account. 

Employees hired on or after July 1, 1999, should submit a completed Direct Payroll Deposit Authorization form (PR-8) with voided check to their Human Resources Facilitator, who should send the items to Payroll Services to begin direct deposit of their wages.

This form is on the Payroll Services website at www.unc.edu/finance/payroll.

Once enrolled in direct deposit, employees can view earnings and deductions through web access of their direct deposit notifications. The web access is secure and offers the options of viewing or printing direct deposit notifications for the current pay period and every payroll during the previous 12 months. This information can be accessed at www.unc.edu/finance/payroll by selecting Direct Deposit Pay Stub and using the employee’s Onyen and Onyen password.

Direct deposit has many benefits to the employee, including the assurance that an employee’s paycheck is in their checking or savings account on payday, even if they are sick or on vacation.

Contact Stephanie Kidd in Payroll Services with any questions. She can be reached at slkidd@email.unc.edu or 843-0383.

Seventh year of employee recognition program begins

On Oct. 10, a new Star Heels program year began. The University is entering the seventh year of this program, and has just agreed to continue for three more years with TIAA-CREF as the sole sponsor of this successful recognition program. During the kickoff event, Star Heels recipients shared their stories and how important the recognition from their colleagues is to them.

This year, lunch-and-learn sessions will be available for HR facilitators and managers to come together and share their strategies for promoting and celebrating the Star Heels program in their departments. Classes will be offered in November and January; check the Training & Development Program Guide to register. Also, Star Heels recipients will continue to be featured each month in the Gazette.

Human Resources looks forward to recognizing the efforts of
those dedicated employees who make UNC-Chapel Hill a great place to work.

ITS
George Bowie
Joe Bray
Yaping Du
Kelly Gallagher
Richard Hill
George Jennings
Timothy Ross
Bonnie Smyre

Morehead Planetarium and Science Center
Adam Phelps
Naval Science
Janis Carter

Public Policy
Sudhanshu Handa

Radiology
Virginia Butler

University Ombuds
Victoria Dowd