Human Resources Organizational Update
As GVSU embarks on a new chapter with the Reach Higher 2025 strategic plan, we intend to improve the quality of our services as a department to better meet the needs of the university and collectively shape its future. Our goal moving forward is to reposition Human Resources to support the changes and challenges the university may face. To this end, we will dedicate ourselves to strive for “world class” performance, while delivering HR products and services that exceed university expectations.

Please understand this “construction work” is necessary to bring you the quality services and partnership you should expect from your Human Resources team. We will continue to serve our faculty and staff during this phase; however, recognize there may be bumps along the way. Please bear with us as we undertake this journey:

• Over the summer and fall we completed an internal audit, external department reviews, surveys and focus groups to assist in charting our course forward.
• HR is underway with reorganization of staff and services to better meet the changes and challenges the university may face.
• When complete, there will be four key areas of support for our GVSU employee community.
• Over the next four years, we will undergo strategic departmental changes until we reach our final intended state.

Though our future state is in development, we will communicate our goals and commitments as developments finalize and transpire. Thank you in advance for your patience. We are excited to reimagine Human Resources to align with the vision of the university we aspire to become.

- Mychal Coleman, Associate Vice President for Human Resources

Supervisor Roundtable Discussions
Please join us for monthly roundtable discussions with Natalie Trent, Human Resources Specialist, and a rotating co-host! Throughout the semester, these roundtable discussions will review various scenarios supervisors might face with employees and other supervisory issues. We want to draw from the collective knowledge of our supervisors, so please bring your knowledge and experience to share and provide guidance to others. 

• Wednesday November 3, 10:00-11:00 a.m.: Review of Performance Evaluation tools in the new system to help streamline the review process and gathering feedback throughout the year. This will help make things more efficient for supervisors when completing reviews for their staff during year end.
• Tuesday November 16, 1:00-2:00 p.m.: Gary Atkins, GVSU Work Life Consultant, powered by Encompass, will join to provide an introduction and overview on how his services can be used by supervisors either for themselves or referrals.

Review more Fall 2021 semester discussion dates and register online via Sprout.

Maternity Leave Policy Under Review
Human Resources has partnered with the Women's Commission and legal counsel to review the university's current maternity leave policy. After conducting benchmarking studies, reviewing the research and holding conversations with campus committees, faculty and staff, the final draft is nearing completion. We are pleased to share that a formal announcement with details and timeline for policy implementation will be released once it has reached final approval from the Senior Leadership Team. Stay tuned.

Teach-In: Power, Privilege and Difficult Dialogues, November 10-11
Sessions will address topics related to inequality, power and privilege, and social justice. Supervisors are encouraged to promote and allow opportunity for employees to attend. Learn more.

Additional Resources for Supervisors
The Supervisor Resources webpage has an abundance of podcasts, articles, webinars, training programs and other tools specifically tailored to supervisor growth. Check-in with yourself to see how effective you are as a supervisor, review the steps on how to respond to a COVID-positive employee, and more.

Now Available: GVSU Emergency Paid Sick Leave (EPSL)
GVSU EPSL has been reinstated and is in effect for vaccinated employees, those in the process of becoming vaccinated, and for those with GVSU approved exemptions, starting immediately and ending June 30, 2022. The goal of this is to provide extra care and to ensure employees are able to observe quarantine and isolation guidelines related to COVID-19 for the Fall 2021 and Winter 2022 semesters. If you or your employee would like to request emergency paid sick leave, please refer to the GVSU EPSL webpage for more information.

Supervisor Roundtable Discussions
Please join us for monthly roundtable discussions with Natalie Trent, Human Resources Specialist, and a rotating co-host! The first Supervisor Roundtable will be held virtually on Tuesday, September 21 from 1:00-2:00 p.m. Kersten O'Brien, COVID Assessment Team Lead Nurse, will be the co-host for this meeting. Throughout the semester, these roundtable discussions will review various scenarios supervisors might face with employees and other supervisory issues. We want to draw from the collective knowledge of our supervisors, so please bring your knowledge and experience to share and provide guidance to others. Upcoming Supervisor Roundtable Discussions Tuesday, September 21, 1:00-2:00 p.m. Thursday, October 7, 2:00-3:00 p.m. Tuesday, October 19, 1:00-2:00 p.m. Review more Fall 2021 semester discussion dates and register online via Sprout.

Responding to Distressed Colleagues Training, Thursday, September 23, 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. (Virtual)
When help is needed most, what do you do? The goal of this training is to increase awareness, knowledge, and confidence in responding to crisis situations for colleagues both on- and offcampus. Participants in this workshop will: Review and learn how to use the GVSU Responding to Distressed Colleagues process map, a tool for faculty and staff. Engage in interactive crisis training scenarios where outreach to Encompass EAP or GVPD emergency services might be warranted. Presented by Sara Eklove and Gary Atkins from Encompass, GVSU’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP). Register on Sprout.

How Is Your Emotional Health Today? Check-In With Yourself Using myStrength
In a time of constant change, we could all use a little extra support. Whether you or your employees are struggling with stress, sleep, anxiety, depression, substance recovery and more, myStrength offers personalized courses, activities and other resources to help. You are your employees can set up a free account at mystrength.com or through the mobile app (search "myStrength" in your app store), using the code: priorityhealth. You'll be prompted to answer a few confidential questions about what's on your mind, and then your personalized account will be ready to use. From there, you will be able to check-in with yourself on a daily basis, complete activities to reach your emotional wellness goals, and get reminders to help you stay on track.

When Stress Doesn't Stop
While stress is a normal–and even healthy–part of life, not all stress is the same. The experience of persistent distress can lead to serious physical and emotional health issues, including sleeplessness, digestion troubles, high blood pressure, and may contribute to anxiety and depression. Review these tips, brought to you by Encompass, to help you or your employees manage stress.

Additional Resources for Supervisors
The Supervisor Resources webpage has an abundance of podcasts, articles, webinars, training programs and other tools specifically tailored to supervisor growth. Check-in with yourself to see how effective you are as a supervisor, review the steps on how to respond to a COVID-positive employee, and more.

Lessons Learned: Leadership Corner with Annie Bélanger
Annie Bélanger became a Laker for a Lifetime in June 2017. As the Dean of the Libraries, Annie strives to provide access to information, and the skills to use it, for lifelong learning and research efforts. She likes to describe her role as four main things: the banker, the cheerleader, the culture lead, and the advocate.

When it comes to leadership, Annie takes a human-centered approach and considers people and culture to be at the heart of accomplishing shared goals. Her favorite part of being in her role is leading her team with two things: collaboration and engagement. She says, “It is very satisfying to have dialogue, acknowledge the many views, and find the path through the eye of the needle.”

In addition to being human-centered, Annie believes that empathy and clear communication are key qualities that any leader should possess. Annie’s role has taught her that you must always ask questions—asking questions about how to adapt, how to improve processes, how to build a more positive environment for your team, and so on—especially when there is no clear path forward. “By asking generative questions, you can draw out the concerns from others, as well as creative solutions that come from discomfort and necessity,” she says.

With significant changes happening all around us, Annie says the million-dollar question right now asks, how do we keep employees motivated? Annie motivates her employees by making connections and offering opportunities to grow. She has worked hard to cultivate a culture of care, compassion, acknowledgment and gratitude as part of a collegial practice.

However, Annie says leadership and motivation ultimately come down to one thing: yourself. “When a supervisor is low on energy or motivation, it can send seismic waves through their team. It’s hard to bring empathy, compassion, clarity of purpose if you are feeling low on all of those things for yourself,” she says. “To lead is to learn about self, others, and how to be the best leader that you can be each and every day.”

Return to Community
The university recently announced that all 100% COVID remote work requests will end August 6. New area work plans for the fall are expected to be created, reviewed, and communicated to faculty and staff by July 30, so they can be in place by August 6. View the Return to Community website for more information and resources for coming back to the office.

• New Flexible Work Arrangement Form: Flexible Work Arrangements (FWA) will continue to be an option for faculty and staff. If you would like to request a FWA, please fill out the new online form. All pre-COVID arrangements must be resubmitted through the form as well.
• Facing Return-To-______ Dread: Fill in the blank: workplace, in-person gatherings, social obligations, etc. It may be different for every person, especially as experiences of the pandemic varied dramatically based on individual and family circumstances. Across all experiences, many people are facing fears, concerns, and anxiety about navigating what’s next. Review some strategies from Encompass to work through those feelings and ease into a new sense of normalcy.
• Returning to the Workplace Considerations: We understand that there may be mixed feelings about returning to campus regularly. Watch this video for more tips on how to make your transition smooth, as well as resources to help you and your colleagues maintain emotional wellness during this time.

New Performance Evaluation System Toolkit
The new Performance Evaluation System aims to be more developmental and communicative in structure, as well as to encourage ongoing feedback throughout the year. This system will send emails prompting actions throughout the year. Employees and supervisors will have the ability to log ongoing feedback throughout the year for reference and linking to various steps during the review process.

While many of you have already received training for the new system, each training session is now available on the Performance Management Toolkit webpage for review, or for those who missed it. There are individual training sessions for each staff and supervisor group. Review the training videos, guides, and additional resources to get you started.

If you have any questions, please refer to the Performance Management FAQs or reach out to GV Performance Management at [email protected].

What Steps Can I Take to Become a Better Leader?
Strong leaders are often thought of as outgoing and dominant, but there are a number of ways for those with “quiet” personalities to lead effectively. Good listening skills, the ability to thrive in collaborative environments, and openness to new ideas are all excellent leadership qualities. Here are five tips to help introverts play to their strengths and develop as leaders, brought to you by Encompass.

Supervisor Resources and Tools
As we get back to the office, check out these best practices for having successful one-on-one meetings with your employees. When it comes to your upcoming performance reviews, follow these tips to avoid sugarcoating your feedback. Check out the Supervisor Resources page for additional podcasts, articles, webinars, training programs and other tools specifically tailored for supervisor growth.

Join Natalie Trent, Human Resources Specialist, and fellow supervisors to draw from your collective knowledge and discuss various scenarios you may face with employees and other supervisory issues. Upcoming discussions will be held on July 29 from 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. and August 9 from 1:00-2:00 p.m.

Upcoming Training For the New Performance Evaluation System
In preparation for the new Performance Evaluation system that will launch the week of July 12, 2021, Human Resources is providing specific opportunities for supervisors and employees to attend virtual walk-through training sessions on the new system.

There will be sessions specifically set up for each employee group and their supervisors. Please review the session title closely to ensure you have registered for an applicable training. The review process has variations for the different employee groups and the sessions are not necessarily interchangeable. Registration is now open on Sprout. Zoom links will be provided in the email confirmation upon registration. Details on each PageUp Performance Evaluation Training session are listed below:

• Training for Police (Supervisors & Employees); Tuesday, June 29, 2021 – 12:30-1:30 p.m.
• Training for MGS Supervisors; Tuesday, June 29, 2021 – 1:30-2:30 p.m.
• Training for MGS Employees; Tuesday, June 29, 2021 – 2:30-3:30 p.m.
• Training for AP Supervisors; Tuesday, June 29, 2021 – 3:30-4:30 p.m. (Session 1) OR Wednesday June 30, 2021 – 8:00-9:00 a.m. (Session 2)*
• Training for AP Employees; Wednesday, June 30, 2021 – 9:00-10:00 a.m.
• Training for PSS Supervisors; Wednesday, June 30, 2021 – 10:00-11:00 a.m.
• Training for PSS Employees; Wednesday, June 30, 2021 – 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

Each training session will be recorded and made available on the HR website for future reference or for those who are unable to attend.

*Note this session is a repeat for this particular audience.

Lessons Learned: Leadership Corner with Dave Smith
Dave Smith joined the GVSU Human Resources team in December 2005 and has been a key leader from the beginning. Dave, who is currently the Director of Total Rewards and will be retiring at the end of this month, says that his 15+ years at Grand Valley have focused on two primary themes: building a culture of wellness throughout the GVSU community, and managing the university’s comprehensive benefits programs.

Over the years, Dave says the most valuable lesson he’s learned is to always be as transparent as possible. “Team members and business partners want to know and understand how you got from point A to point B,” he says. This lesson has shaped his work style and has allowed him to maintain a highly motivated team, which he has been able to accomplish by developing a sense of purpose for the work his team members are responsible for, and by providing big picture goals. Dave also believes that it’s imperative to provide employees with both the tools and the space they need to tackle their own projects and responsibilities.

According to Dave, achieving success as a supervisor depends on three qualities: active listening, empathy, and strong communication skills. In addition to these qualities, it’s also important to like what you do. Dave enjoys working with a dedicated team of individuals in Human Resources, and the functional diversity of his role that incorporates benefits and wellness with elements of finance, legal, sales and marketing. In addition, Dave appreciates both macro and micro views of the university while in his role—planning and execution of strategies in order to maintain a viable total rewards program, as well as working closely with individual faculty or staff members to resolve any complex benefits issues.

Regardless of what your role may be, Dave believes it’s important to constantly be learning, and to have a strong support system to help guide you in your personal and professional development efforts. Dave’s advice for other leaders is to “continuously look within yourself and identify areas that need to be further developed, and then seek out mentors and resources to enhance your capabilities as a manager.”

Performance Evaluation Plan: April 23 Deadline
Timeline (Non-PSS Employees): Employee self-evaluation submissions should be complete. Supervisors can start their feedback evaluation once the self-evaluation is done and submitted by the employee. Supervisors will finalize their evaluations, including meeting with their employees, by April 23. A “Submit to HR button” on the portal will allow submission right to the personnel file once completed.

Timeline (PSS employees): Supervisors and employees should have met to discuss the self-evaluation by the April 2 deadline. The employee being reviewed writes their comments in Section D and signs/dates the form. Supervisor signs/dates the form, scans it, and sends an email to GV Performance Management by April 23.

Visit the Performance Evaluation page.

Supervisor Resources and Tools
Wondering how you can better support your remote employees? Looking for new professional development opportunities? Check out the Supervisor Resources page for podcasts, articles, webinars, training programs and other tools specifically tailored to supervisor growth.

Upcoming Supervisor Roundtable Discussion: Wednesday, April 21, 12:00-1:00 p.m. Please join Natalie Trent, Human Resources Specialist, and rotating co-facilitators to discuss and review various information and scenarios that you might face with employees, as well as other supervisory issues. There will be time for open discussion where you will be able to get support in working through any questions or concerns. By drawing from the collective knowledge of our supervisors, we hope to be able to better support you. If you’re unable to join this session, visit Sprout to register for future opportunities.

Community Resources Webpage
A new Community Resources page is available for all new and current employees to find a wide array of diverse/inclusive resources both at Grand Valley and in the West Michigan community. We want employees to be able to bring their authentic selves to our community and find belonging both inside and outside of the institution. We understand there are a multitude of resources available and not everything is listed. This will be a continually evolving resource for our GVSU community.

Lessons Learned: Leadership Corner with Sherril Soman
After 21 years working at GVSU, Sherril Soman, Dean of the College of Education, says she’s learned how important it is to be herself and to lead in a manner that aligns with her values. Dean Soman started at the university in 2000 as a faculty member in the Chemistry Department. From that, she has served in an array of leadership roles, including Interim Associate Dean in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Interim Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs, Director of Financial Aid, and Associate Vice President for Enrollment Development and University Registrar.

When thinking back on her various roles, Dean Soman says, “I have always enjoyed the aspects of my work that are directly related to enhancing our students’ experiences and advancing their education,” whether it’s simply greeting students or working alongside of faculty and staff in order to provide student support. The faculty, staff and students whom she works with have an important role in the success of future generations, and she says that their passion for social justice at all levels makes the work they do highly rewarding.

Dean Soman works hard to foster an environment in which both students and employees can thrive. Making sure her employees understand that they are part of a team who collectively work together in order to achieve desired outcomes is crucial. By inviting employees to provide input and being as transparent as possible in decision-making, Dean Soman has been able to create a supportive space where her employees know that their livelihood and work is valued.

While being in a leadership role is complex and looks different for everyone, Dean Soman believes it’s important for leaders to approach their work with a compassionate and inclusive perspective; an eye to transparency, fairness and consistency; and a strong ethical and moral compass.

Above all, the key to success for those in leadership roles—and in any role—is communication. If she could give advice to her fellow leaders, Dean Soman says, “I think it is important to listen with intent and bring a variety of perspectives to bear in your decision-making. I have found that the more information you have and the more input you garner fosters participation, ownership, and accountability from your colleagues and leads to better outcomes.  It is also important to provide feedback on how you have used the input you gathered so that others understand how you incorporated their views in decision-making.” While she recognizes it’s impossible to please everyone, inclusivity has been vital in her success.

2021 Remote Work Arrangement Requests
The university continues to support remote work arrangements to ensure the safety of the entire Laker community. Supervisors and employees with current 100% remote work arrangements still need to submit plans for 2021. Please follow the steps for reviewing and submitting remote work arrangements for the Winter 2021 academic semester. 

Performance Evaluation Plan (PEP): 2020-2021 Performance Evaluation Transition Year Process
The current electronic Performance Development Program (ePDP) system has various system issues that required us to phase it out and replace it with a new system. For this year 2020-2021, we have created a manual and abbreviated version of the ePDP. This transition year will be more developmental and communicative in structure. You can expect the following changes:

• The transition year evaluation is not as fully automated, but will be more user-friendly than the last few years. 
• We are encouraging ongoing, more frequent feedback during this transition year which will create a pattern of open communication that continues.
• This evaluation form is an active document that will be housed in the department and revisited. HR will not receive this evaluation document until the end of the year. 

On February 1st, a communication will be sent outlining the feedback phase of this years performance review.

If you have any further question or concerns about the Performance Evaluation Plan, please reach out to GV Performance Management at [email protected] or visit the PEP webpage.

New Online Process for Background Checks
When onboarding volunteers to assist with university operated programs, faculty and staff must now submit background checks via a new online system:

• Log in to the new system
• Watch the tutorial on how to complete the background check online form

Supervisor Resources and Tools
Wondering how you can increase productivity within remote work arrangements? In need of self-care tips for leaders? Looking for policies regarding hourly staff, salaried staff or faculty? Check out the Supervisor Resources page for podcasts, articles, webinars, training programs and other tools specifically tailored to supervisor growth.

Upcoming Supervisor Roundtable Discussions: Draw from the collective knowledge of GVSU supervisors and discuss various scenarios you may face with employees and other supervisory issues. Upcoming discussions will be held on:

• January 27, 12-1 p.m.
• February 10, 12-1 p.m.
• February 24, 12-1 p.m.
• March 10, 12-1 p.m.

Frontline Supervisor Newsletter from Encompass
In this issue:

• Am I a Bullying Supervisor? 
• My Employee and I Don't Get Along
• The Issue of Ethics: How to Help

Review the January 2021 Frontline Supervisor from Encompass.

COVID-19 Resources
GVSU FAQs: The GVSU Emergency website has information relevant for our entire community. Visit the GVSU COVID-19 FAQ page for university communication updates, travel and self-quarantine information, and student information.

Human Resources FAQs: If you or a colleague have questions regarding COVID-19, please refer to the Human Resources FAQ page. It is important to utilize and share this page to help manage the situations arising with COVID-19. If you have content you would like added or have any unanswered questions, please contact Human Resources at (616) 331-2215 or [email protected].

Lakers Working Together: Visit our Lakers Working Together page for information on flexible and remote work resources including: equipment and access, web conferencing, transferring phones, remote collaboration, and work life resources.

HR@GV Support In Supervising a Remote Workforce
In the current climate, supervisors may be looking for ways to create and support a productive remote workforce. In order to help with this endeavor, HR@GV would like to provide one-on-one coaching to support your efforts and curate and develop resources and tools to help.

Kim Monaghan, the GVSU Human Resources Career Services for Faculty and Staff Consultant, will be taking the lead on this. She has been providing coaching and training for GVSU faculty and staff for over 10 years, and has been in business for over 14 years as a Professional Certified Coach and owner of KBM Coaching & Consulting LLC.

We are asking supervisors to contact Kim as soon as possible to schedule a time to talk and brainstorm how HR may be of service to them.

Thank you once again for all the hard work that you are doing to lead your team and contribute to GVSU’s ongoing success. We look forward to supporting you as you continue to successfully lead your remote workforce and help them achieve their full productive potential.

Virtual Training Opportunities – April 7 & 8!*
Randy Dean is back! Following up on his recent presentations for Optimizing Your MS Outlook, Randy is now bringing us tips and tools for virtual teams and remote work. Please join us by signing up on Sprout for these timely presentations and encouraging your staff to take advantage of these learning opportunities.

• Virtual Meetings and Virtual Work: Getting More Productivity and Effectiveness From Both; Tuesday, April 7, 2020 at 10-11:30 a.m. & Wednesday, April 8, 2020 at 1:30-3 p.m.

In this new program reflecting our current times with the coronavirus outbreak, Randy Dean, MBA, The E-mail Sanity Expert®, will take his 16+ years of “working from a home office” and leading multiple client meetings and webinars virtually, and provide you with tips that can greatly help increase your productivity and effectiveness with both. We’ll discuss critical set up, equipment, software, tools, and apps that will make your work from home experience more productive and less distracting. We will also discuss critical tips for running and/or attending online virtual meetings so they can be more useful and effective. All in a quick 90-minute webinar program!

*View the recorded version of this training on the GVSU Human Resources YouTube channel.

Taking Time Off to Restore: GVSU Human Resources encourages you to talk with your team about taking time off to restore
It has now been several weeks of changes and adjustments, with many of us still trying to figure out a new normal. At the same time, we have been slowly processing the reality and implications of all the changes in the world, at work, and home. It is not just business as usual; the nature of our home and work life has changed drastically. This is why it is especially important to encourage your team to use their vacation time to rest and restore–restore from long days of wearing multiple hats, and continue to allow space to process everything going on around them. Using vacation time to care for ones self and family will be crucial in preventing burnout, practicing mindfulness, and setting intentions to stay well for the weeks to come. Be sure to have those conversations with your team members about taking time off. Cover for each other and give each other permission for self-care. GVSU Human Resources will support you on this endeavor and is here to consult on various scenarios and situations.

Additional support is available to you by contacting Elisa Salazar, your work life consultant. Her availability can be found on her appointment manager.

New: Send Virtual Kindness Cards
Research reflects that even the smallest gestures of kindness make a big impact. Givers and receivers of kindness experience relief of pain, stress, anxiety and depression, in addition to lower blood pressure, improved overall health, a slowed aging process, and increased levels of happiness. So why not make someone’s day by sending a virtual Laker Kindness Card today!

Download a card and spread some #GVPositivity!

Family Resources For Learning at Home
GVSU is dedicated to supporting K-12 students and families as they temporarily transition to online instruction and instruction at home. To do so, the Charter Schools Office and the College of Education have created ever-growing resource lists for students in elementary grades, middle school, and high school. There are also resources geared toward social emotional learning. The lists will be updated every Friday.

Networks of Support: Lakers Respond to COVID-19
President Mantella has called on the entire community to harness our power, talent, intellectual capacity, and compassion to activate Networks of Support in key areas of need where you have skills and expertise. Learn more about the networks and service opportunities.

"Never have we been called more to do our part. Never has our creativity, human spirit, and instincts been called on so deeply to do what is right for all. We are called to bring our energy to serve humanity in new and expanding ways."

Managing Your Mental Health with Encompass
Check out new webinars from Encompass, your employee assistance program (EAP), to help manage your mental health during this time. Upcoming webinars include:

• Mindfulness
• Coping for Front Line Medical Responders & Medical Professionals
• Managing Financial Anxiety
• Caregiving & Parenting in Turbulent Times
• Resilience & Self Care

Can't attend a desired webinar? Visit the All One Health blog to view all recorded sessions and download accompanying materials.

Wellness Coaches Are Here For You
In this time of uncertainty, it's the perfect opportunity to reach out to a Priority Health Wellness Coach. Wellness Coaches are available to help you navigate any emotional, mental or physical struggles you may be having. One-on-one telephonic coaching is available to GVSU benefit eligible faculty, staff and spouses at no cost to the member. Learn more about how Wellness Coaching works and read success stories from fellow faculty and staff.

Flexible and Remote Work
We are in a new reality where flexibility and remote work options are essential tools that we have as supervisors to help with operational continuity during this time. A sudden switch to remote work can be disruptive to both employees and supervisors without clear communication, tools, or processes in place. During and after remote work implementation, flexibility is still key. The university expects and encourages supervisors to afford maximum flexibility during this time to help accommodate employees needs and minimize the spread of the illness.

Although there are constant changes and many unknowns, we encourage you to use this as an opportunity to think creatively about solutions that fit your team and the work you do. There is no one size fits all; therefore, flexible and creative approaches will be key. Know that we are here to walk alongside of and empower you to lead in effective ways for your team. For more, view these helpful flexible work considerations.

Tech Tips For Remote Work
When individuals cannot be at work and are not displaying symptoms of illness (i.e. self-quarantine, a high risk population, school/daycare closings), supervisors are strongly encouraged to work with staff on remote work options, as feasible. Work from home considerations:

• If employees have concerns with lack of reliable internet, Comcast is offering free internet services.
• Install/set up a VPN connection with Duo Mobile. To setup Duo on your device from on-campus, enroll here. To set up DUO on your device from off-campus, contact the IT Service Desk. It is not recommended that you install VPN software on personal devices to access secure systems (Banner Admin, Argos, OnBase, etc.).
• Test and confirm remote access to email/programs/folders.
• Establish communication mechanisms (Skype for Business, email, home/cell phone number).

Human Resources FAQs has a number of answers related to these topics.

Human Resources FAQs
If you or a colleague have questions regarding COVID-19, please refer to the Human Resources FAQ page.

• It is important to utilize and share this page to help colleagues manage the situations arising with COVID-19.
• Check back often for updates as the situation evolves.
• If you have content you would like added or have any unanswered questions, please contact Human Resources at (616) 331-2215 or [email protected].

General Information and FAQs
The GVSU Emergency website has information relevant for our entire community. Visit the GVSU COVID-19 FAQ page for:

• University communication updates
• Travel and self-quarantine information
• Student information

Note:  Replenish, GVSU's campus food resource, will be open and accessible to student users during the conversion period to online teaching. Students have two options to access Replenish: Kirkhof (KC) 0074 and Center for Health Sciences (CHS) 353. Hours of operation will be 12-4 p.m., Monday through Friday, for both locations.

Student Employees

• If you have student employees who can work and want to work, you can have them work per the normal student employment guidelines (as classes are still in session, albeit in a remote fashion).
• You can help educate students with factual information on COVID-19 and pandemics. Please help by making sure students are familiar with the CDC guidance and the latest information on the pandemic so they can make informed decisions.
• As with other employees, you are expected and encouraged to consider remote work, alternative schedules, or other means to continue to get work done, while being mindful of safety for students (as you are doing for regular staff).
• If your area needs additional assistance, or you have a student who would like to work, but you don’t have work for them, please contact student employment to assist to fulfill other needs of the campus.

For the most up-to-date information, please visit the Student Employment website.

Additional Encompass Resources

• My Life Expert and "Normal Reactions to Abnormal Events"
  • Encompass, your Employee Assistance Program (EAP), recognizes that unexpected events can create heightened emotional reactions for employees. Encompass offers a wide array of online and telephonic resources, including remote counseling. Encompass is available to support all service options in a telephonic format for both intakes and clients who are currently engaged in services. Encompass services are available via phone 24/7 at 1-800-788-8630.
  • Encompass has recently updated their online resources at MyLifeExpert.com. First time users can create a profile using the code: GVSUNI. The website will continue to the updated with the most recent information related to COVID-19. My Life Expert offers helpful articles such as, How to Talk to Children About COVID-19 and more.
  • To help support employees who may be experiencing reactions, Encompass has compiled a packet entitled Normal Reactions to Abnormal Events.
     
• Encompass Soft-Skills Course Feature: Working in a Home Office
  • Working in a home office and maintaining work-life balance requires preparation and regular evaluation of your work practices. By following a few guidelines, you can avoid burnout as you take advantage of working at home. This course includes tips on setting boundaries, dealing with distractions, and making a schedule and sticking to it.
  • Access this course and view other helpful resources.

*As a reminder, GVSU faculty, staff and their families have access to and are encouraged to use Encompass. Encompass is a third-party, confidential provider and will not share any of your information with GVSU.

Professional Development Training Schedule Winter 2020
Looking to develop your professional and personal skills as an employee or supervisor? A number of trainings and workshops facilitated by GVSU’s team of Human Resources experts are available to you as a GVSU employee at no cost. For detailed program descriptions and to register, please visit gvsu.edu/sprout.

Winter topics include emotional strength training, college customer service, getting people to trust you, storytelling for social justice, and more!

NEW! Looking to expand your professional networks for social and career development? JOIN A NETWORK COMMUNITY! There are a number of communities available to you as a GVSU employee. If you are interested in starting a network community or becoming a facilitator, please reach out to one of our key contacts.

New Search Committee Essentials Guide
The GVSU Search Committee Essentials Guide provides the what, why, when and how around key topics related to the search process. Faculty and staff who serve as search committee chairs are encouraged to register for the new search committee chair training which highlights the Search Committee Essentials Guide. Review the guide online.

Supervisor Resources Webpage
Your one-stop-shop for support as someone who manages others at GVSU. Review policies and guidelines, disciplinary and grievance procedures, performance development program details, and more. Visit the Supervisor Resources webpage.

Interpersonal Communication Training
By popular request, there will be another section of Interpersonal Communication offered on February 18th from 8:30-11:30 a.m.! Join Elisa Salazar, work life consultant, in learning new techniques to enhance your current communication, effectively relay your intended message, and to be understood by your audience. This training will provide tools to address effective communication and will set you up to have the most success in asking for what you want. Register today at gvsu.edu/sprout!

GVSU's Employee Assistance Program
Faculty and staff also have access to ENCOMPASS, a third-party employee assistance program which offers 24/7 crisis support, consultation, and coaching. Faculty and staff have seven free sessions as a GVSU benefit.

• Review your complete list of ENCOMPASS benefits including mental health counseling, work/life resources, personal assistants, medical advocacy and financial/legal resources.
• Learn how ENCOMPASS is changing the game in employee wellness with My Life Expert!

For more information, visit ENCOMPASS (www.MyLifeExpert.com, password: gvsuni) or call 800-788-8630.

Fall Workshops and Training Opportunities
Review our new Human Resources Professional Development flyer for a list of upcoming opportunities this fall.

New Supervisor Resources Page
We have revamped the Supervisor Resources page to help you more easily find important and useful information, tools and resources for managing your staff. Whether you supervise hourly or salaried staff, including faculty, this page has something for you.

Have additional information you’d like to see on this page? We’d love to hear your feedback. Please email Natalie Trent with your thoughts and suggestions.

Encompass EAP: Frontline Supervisor Newsletter
My employee has mood swings that range from pleasant to very grumpy and argumentative. Everyone complains about it, but I have not gotten to the point of taking some job action. After all, we all have some personality quirks. How do I decide that it is time to make a referral?

When supervisors inquire about complaints regarding harassment in a work unit, what are some of the classic mistakes they make that cause bigger problems later for organizations? It feels accusatory or at least somewhat awkward to mention the EAP as a source of support for a complainant.

Answers to these questions and more are in this issue of the Encompass Frontline Supervisor Newsletter.

Things to Think About When Deciding to Apply for Social Security Retirement Benefits

• Video now on Social Security's YouTube channel.
• The new my Social Security Retirement Calculator is designed to enhance the user’s benefit planning experience within the my Social Security portal. Users must successfully register for a my Social Security account to access the calculator. The calculator allows the user to receive individualized retirement estimates based on their personal earnings record by selecting a specific retirement age or a specific retirement date.

New and Improved Conflict Resolution Process Website
Videos, resources, links and key contacts are all available on the new site.

Grand Valley State University is aware that the potential for conflict always exists; the university also believes that there are effective tools for dealing with conflict, tools that range from conversation with a neutral party to facilitated meetings and mediation to the more formal complaint and grievance procedures. This website is designed to make you aware of the various resources that the university has available to you and to help you navigate through the GVSU Conflict Resolution Process.

I'm experiencing conflict, what's my first step? Review the conflict resolution process.

Three videos outlining the steps and process are available online. Watch the first one at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDL8waTjKBc.

Frontline Supervisor Newsletter - July 2019
"I want to be a firm supervisor when necessary as well as a nice guy my employees admire. I think most supervisors feel the same way, but I find myself correcting employees more often than I praise them. How can I increase my positive interactions?"

"I read that great leaders are eternal optimists, along with many other traits. How do I become more optimistic in my leadership style?"

Answers to these questions and more are in the July issue of the Encompass Frontline Supervisor Newsletter.

Mindfulness Matters
This months podcast* features ENCOMPASS consultant Lorie Shier. She explores basic mindfulness principles and teaches some techniques that you can put to immediate use.

*This podcast from Encompass are no longer available.

R-E-S-P-E-C-T

This months podcast* features ENCOMPASS consultant Joe Budnick. He explores respect as it affects our daily lives. Joe provides tips on bring respect into our interpersonal communications.

*This podcast from Encompass are no longer available.

University Closure Q&A
The unprecedented 5-day closure at GVSU the week of January 28 proved to be one like no other in our history! As a supervisor, you may be getting questions from your team regarding the closure and what it means to your staff members. We compiled the following list of questions and answers to assist you.

For specific information on the GVSU cancellation/closure policy, visit the policy site.

In general, essential staff are required to report to work during a closure and are paid their regular pay for the time worked. Those deemed non-essential are not required to report to work. However, non-essential staff can be required to work if the operations of the university (i.e. running payroll) are dependent on their work.

Q: Was there any disruption to payroll or the February 5 hourly pay date?
A: No. Payroll, HR, Finance and other staff members worked during the closure to ensure all payroll processing was completed and the hourly payroll was posted for February 5.

Q: If non-essential staff needed to come to work during the closure, do they receive both closure time pay and pay for any hours worked? When does overtime pay apply?
A: No, any staff member who worked during the closure receives their regular pay for hours worked. If a staff member did not work a full day, regular pay will be supplemented with closure pay to ensure a full day of pay. Overtime is only granted for those that worked overtime.

Q: If was on a planned vacation during the closure, do I still have to use my vacation hours?
A: Yes, if as an hourly or salaried staff member you had planned vacation days for any or all of the closure dates, you will continue to use your vacation time for those dates.

Q: If I am on salary continuation/short term/long term disability, will I have a week added to my leave?
A: No. The time the University is closed has no impact on your leave eligibility or length.

Q: If I am currently working on a performance improvement plan and it is time bound, will I have one less week to complete my plan?
A: No, the week-long closure will not count towards the total time of your plan.

Q: Were there any disruptions to job postings, hiring approvals or other employment processed due to the closure?
A: No, all processing continued to move forward during the closure. The HR and Inclusion and Equity teams continued to manage the employment processes so that none were impacted.

If you have other questions, please reach out to Human Resources.

Building Positive Relationships at Work
This months podcast features your ENCOMPASS Employee Assistance Program consultant Michele Kimmel-Fors. She examines patterns in our workplace relationships and how we can make them more positive.

Visit the ENCOMPASS website (username: gvsu), then click on the orange "PODCAST" logo to listen to this month's feature and review our library of past offerings.

Frontline Supervisor
"When employees are in conflict, it can disrupt work flow and group harmony, but should supervisors intervene in every instance? Can you offer guidelines for deciding when to take control of a situation and step in?"

"I referred my employee to the Encompass Employee Assistance Program because of ongoing attendance issues. This was just a referral, but he didn’t go and insisted no personal problems were to blame. What should I have said to win this argument? (He never went.) ..."

Read answers to these questions and find out more in the Frontline Supervisor newsletter provided by Encompass, GVSU's Employee Assistance Program.

Encompass Frontline Supervisor
"I want to create a positive workplace for my employees. They seem happy as a group. Is that the only measure I need?"

"What’s the number one complaint that employees have about bosses?"

Read answers to these questions and find out more in the Frontline Supervisor newsletter provided by Encompass, GVSU's Employee Assistance Program.

Encompass Frontline Supervisor
"I saw an online article that said bad bosses can make employees sick. What are they referring to, and exactly what boss issues affect employees most?"

"I am frustrated and angry with my employee for coming to work late. Sometimes, I lose my cool. However, I am not letting the employee get away with it. I encourage coworkers to confront the behavior. A fellow manager said I am an enabler. How so?"

Read answers to these questions and find out more in the Frontline Supervisor newsletter provided by Encompass, GVSU's Employee Assistance Program.

Certified Healthy Department Feature: Statistics
The Statistics Department is the newest Certified Healthy Department at GVSU. Kay Hart, Office Coordinator, spoke on behalf of the department on how they created a fun, active, and empowering atmosphere encouraging each other to make healthy choices on a daily basis.

The Statistics Department was very excited to receive their Healthy Department Certification and proudly display their certificate on the wall. Employees utilize GVSU's Campus Recreation services and facility, as well as the Health and Wellness faculty/staff programs, including the Team  Up to Be Active Challenge and faculty/staff fitness classes. They also enjoy walking or running outside during their lunch breaks and before or after work.

Kay states, "Our department focuses on balance." For example, faculty seminars within their department include healthy snack options like a protein, fruits, and vegetables with the traditional cookie to ensure choices. Even with the occasional sweets, Kay’s co- workers motivate each other and hold each other accountable to their goals.

The Statistics Department also creates fun ways to be active outside of work. One way is by holding a golf outing in August. This event provides a team-building atmosphere and is a great way to kick-start the new school year. Another activity includes gathering for an outdoor picnic at a park. These are fun ways to energize the group mentally and physically. Kay's advice to her fellow faculty and staff members striving for a healthier lifestyle is "Start small." Kay says "Start to eat healthier, then once you feel comfortable add in moderate exercise. Keep building, don't throw yourself in all at once. It takes time!"

Is your department Certified Healthy? Review the application and apply for the designation.

Human Resources Career Services
Hi, I’m Kim Monaghan, your Human Resources Career Services for Faculty and Staff Consultant. As an international coaching federation Certified Professional Career Coach (PCC), I help professionals reframe personal and professional challenges, set goals for performance improvement and craft strategies for realizing their career potential. Though I am an onsite contractor for GVSU, I am vested in the long-term success of the university and respect its collaborative culture. I look forward to meeting you and helping you create and implement a plan for career success.

Please feel free to contact me directly to find out how I can work with you or your team. To learn more please visit the GVSU Human Resources Career Services website.

Kim Monaghan
Human Resources Career Services for Faculty and Staff Consultant
Limited Onsite at GVSU with telecoaching availability.
Phone: (616) 331-2215
Email: [email protected]

Free Online, On-Demand Leadership Training Courses
Leadership IQ offers 40 online on-demand e-learning training courses, covering the most critical leadership skills. While some aspects of the courses have a business focus, the leadership concepts discussed easily apply in a higher education environment. Each program is engaging, enlightening and gives leaders instant access to answer the most pressing leadership challenges. Watch a leadership seminar right on your computer. You never have to leave your office. They're available 24/7 anywhere with an internet connection.

To be recognized as having completed Leadership IQ programs, the entire video and related quiz must be completed: To request a new account, or if you need help logging in, please contact Kim in Human Resources at [email protected] or (616) 331-2215.

• Leadership IQ Log in
• Course List
• Course Descriptions