PRIPC Minutes 3/4/11

Attending: Liz Havey, Bevan Burgamy, Edward Whatley, Lyndall Muschell, Susan Allen, Catherine Whelan, Chris Skelton, Diane Kirkwood

Regrets: Judy Malachowski, Pete Shields, Jen Maraziti

Call to order

Approve agenda

Approve minutes from last meeting on November 5, 2011

Diane Kirkwood of Human Resources attended to gain feedback on the developments with the possibility of a shared leave pool. Comments, questions, concerns that came out as follows:

• Currently there is an awkwardness associated with the lack of confidentiality in requesting leave from colleagues
• BOR policy was implemented after Georgia College had developed and implemented the current policy
  • Concern voiced over the labor requirements of developing a shared leave pool and the impact it would have on an already short-staffed human resources department
  • Current policy summary: an employee exhausting leave completes and application, a committee reviews, then (if approved) the employee solicits hours from colleagues, which poses concerns about HIPPA and “popularity” sorts of questions; when volunteers are found, payroll removes leave from the donor and puts it to the requestor
  • Staff Council would like a hybrid program that would combine the pool with the current system for donating leave directly to an individual; the pool is like an insurance plan as one must donate in order to receive any leave
  • HR will have forums available later in March
  • HR will look into a cafeteria plan
  • BOR policy stipulates that one cannot use more than 480 hours of leave from a pool within a five year period. Can GC exceed this limit or set our own?
  • Can we lower the accrued limit for donation to aid new employees?
  • Would like to see a side by side comparison of the different options
  • Will donors be provided with a definition of life threatening?
  • Can we extend the leave pool to cover absence related to the life threatening illness of an immediate family member?
  • How does this work with faculty leave?
  • Diane defined sick leave as interpreted here: covers bereavement, personal illness, dr. appointments, family illness and quarantine
  • The goal is to get this through Senate before Open Enrollment next fall.
  • Some concern expressed over the qualifications to enter the pool and remain in the pool

Other HR Updates:

Drug testing will be readdressed in fall

The Motor Vehicle Policy will be implemented in March

The BOR Ethics course policy is required within 90 days of employment and renewed annually. They are looking for an alternate for students.