Performance Excellence and Merit Increases

May is an busy time of year as we embark on the merit salary planning process. As the below diagram shows, the Performance Excellence process begins with performance planning and goal setting.  
 

Each year, staff members and their managers should reach agreement on performance goals for the upcoming year. Throughout the year, regular feedback and discussion should occur to:

1. Ensure that performance goals remain aligned
2. Address whether there are improvements required
3. Consider any barriers to effective performance that must be addressed in order for the employee to perform the work to the required standard.

The Performance Excellence process concludes with a year-end evaluation that is designed to assess your performance over the past year against your stated goals.  Additionally, this is an ideal opportunity to discuss and highlight professional development opportunities and create a plan for ongoing success as well as promote discussion related to your career goals and aspirations. 

As the Performance Excellence documents are completed there may be questions about how the merit increase amount is affected by performance.  Performance is a key factor.  Achieving individual goals links to the objective of the entire organization and contributes to its success, as well as contributes your growth and development within your position.  Other factors that may be considered include the amount that has been allocated for the merit pool, your current salary/pay rate, and how your pay relates to your salary range, etc.

Performance evaluations should be completed by June 19^th.  Please direct any questions you have to your manager, or the HR Consultant or Compensation Consultant that supports your area.

Employee Tuition Benefits Information Sessions

Northwestern University School of Professional Studies (SPS) and the Northwestern University Human Resources Benefits Division will host information sessions for benefits-eligible NU employees on Monday, May 11 and Monday, May 18.

The sessions will explain how to take advantage of your employee tuition benefits through the part-time, evening and weekend undergraduate, post-baccalaureate, professional development, graduate and advanced graduate programs available through SPS.

Academic, admissions and student service representatives from SPS and a representative from the Human Resources Benefits Division will be available to answer your questions.

Lunch will be provided.  Space is limited and reservations are required.   Click here to register online.

We hope to see you on campus.

Attainable and Sustainable: Simple Tips for Going Green in the Workplace

There are many ways to promote a greener, more sustainable workplace and even small steps can make a big difference. Integrating the following "green" tips into your daily work habits - or even a few of them - can positively impact Northwestern's footprint and help propel it forward in its sustainability efforts.

Check out Green Office Certification if you are interested in learning more about what you can do to reduce waste and conserve energy and water on campus. More than 20 departments have signed up and the University Library has already been certified!

Reduce Waste

• Make an effort to bring and use reusable containers, such as bottles, mugs, cups, plates, and utensils, while at work.
• Don't print documents unless it's really necessary. If printing is a must, then print double-sided and in black and white with narrow margin settings and use any misprints as scrap paper.
• Recycle at your desk rather than putting things straight into the garbage can. If you need a recycling bin or bin labels, contact recycling@northwestern.edu.
• Recycle all electronics, such as computers, copiers, and cell phones. Click here to learn more about Northwestern University's computer and electronic recycling program.

Conserve Energy

• Use natural light whenever possible and turn off the lights when you leave the room.
• Plug your computer and other electronics into a power strip, and make it a habit to turn off your computer and the power strip at the end of every work day.
• Set your computer to energy-saving settings. Additional information can be found in Northwestern University Information Technology's Policy on Energy Efficient Computing and their Green Technology at NU page. However, it's recommended that you don't make any changes without first consulting with your local IT department.
• Avoid space heaters or opening up windows or doors to "fix" temperature issues. Please submit a maintenance request.

Travel Sustainably

• Walk, bike, or take public transportation or the NU shuttle whenever possible when traveling to work. When that's not possible, see whether there is a colleague with whom you can share a ride.

For many more ideas on ways to live sustainably, and to learn more about Northwestern's sustainability efforts, visit the Office of Sustainability web site at http://www.northwestern.edu/sustainability/. Additionally, if you know someone in your area who has raised awareness in sustainability, you can nominate them for an Excellence in Sustainability award.

Summer Hires

As the summer hiring season approaches, please keep these important compliance issues in mind.  Hiring paperwork for temporary employees must  be submitted within 5 business days of hire to comply with Illinois labor laws.  Please send hiring paperwork as soon as possible to the Payroll Office.  Please refer to the biweekly cut-off schedule for submission deadlines to ensure paperwork is processed in time for employees to enter their work hours in Kronos.

To comply with I-9 and E-Verify requirements, Section 1 of the I-9 must be completed by the employee (using any computer) no later than the first day of employment. Section 2 of the I-9 must be completed no later than the third day of employment.  The employee must show their documents in person to an NU representative.  If an employee cannot complete the I-9 Section 1 or Section 2 by these deadlines, the employee cannot begin working.  Holding paperwork until the I-9 is completed is not appropriate and may result in non-compliance penalties.

Summer Salary Training

Are you responsible for completing faculty summer salary requests for your department?  Are you new to the process or need a refresher?  Sign up for one of our live, online trainings.  For more information and to register, click here and log in with your NetID.

Employee of the Year

A committee has reviewed all submitted nominations for Employee of the Year 2015 and selected seven finalists. From those seven finalists the committee has selected one Employee of the Year winner, to be announced at the annual Staff Service Recognition Luncheon on Tuesday, May 19, 2015.

Letters will be mailed to all nominees notifying them of their nomination and whether or not they have been selected as a finalist.  An email was also sent in March, to those who nominated a staff member informing them whether or not their nominee was selected as a finalist.

If you have any questions regarding Employee of the Year, please contact Maudell Gaines at 

maudell-gaines@northwestern.edu or 847-491-7509.

Length of Service Employee Recognition Program Is Going Green

Northwestern University is proud of its dedicated staff members and applauds their many contributions to Northwestern's success. One way that Northwestern recognizes these individuals is through the Employee Recognition Program, in which staff members receive a gift for every five years of continuous service with the University. Moving forward, staff members at the 15-year milestone and above will receive a direct link to the awards web site to select a gift of their choosing, rather than a separate printed brochure. This web link will be provided in the letters that staff members receive from the Vice President of Human Resources. This is being done in an effort to reduce paper and support the green efforts of our campus community, and will not affect the gifts available for selection or the distribution process for the gifts.

If you have any questions about the Length of Service Employee Recognition Program, please visit the Employee Recognition home page or contact Maudell Gaines at 847-491-7509.

Northwestern University Is Now an Illinois Hires Heroes Consortium Member

The Office of Equal Opportunity and Access (OEOA) is pleased to announce that on March 5, 2015 Northwestern University became a member of the Illinois Hires Heroes Consortium (IHHC). The IHHC is a group of elite Illinois employers who recognize the considerable value veterans bring to the workplace and hopes to make the term "veteran-friendly" ring true by implementing viable veteran recruitment, training, and retention practices.

As an IHHC member, Northwestern has pledged to implement robust recruitment, training, and retention practices. All Northwestern University jobs will be posted on ILJobsLink, our state agency job board, and USAJOBs, another job board resource designed to ensure veterans, transitioning service members, and their families receive accurate and consistent information regarding veteran employment opportunities.

Northwestern HR Staffing Consultants will participate in multiple trainings designed to deepen their knowledge of best recruiting and hiring practices for military veterans. 

Lastly regarding retention, the NU Veteran Committee will serve as an affinity group for our IHHC membership. This NU Veteran Committee was created in 2012, and its mission has been to improve and enhance services provided to Veterans, Reservists, National Guard, Active Duty, and family members across campus; to help them identify and utilize benefits and services available to them through the Northwestern community; to improve their academic and professional success; and to provide an opportunity to continue their call to service through university life.  The NU Veteran Committee continually strives to increase the inclusion of our veteran students, faculty, and staff members at all levels of the University. 

If you are interested in becoming an active member of our NU Veteran Committee, please reach out to Julia Jenkins (julia-jenkins@northwestern.edu) or Natalie Furlett (n-furlett@northwestern.edu) to discuss how you might be able to assist and serve our Northwestern Veteran Community.

May marks the month-long celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.  The Office of Equal Opportunity and Access (OEOA) would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the contributions and enrichment the generations of Asians and Pacific Islanders have made to the fabric of the American landscape and its history.  This historical celebration began with a congressional bill in 1977 to observe a week-long celebration, Asian Pacific American Heritage Week, which was always observed May 1^st through May 10^th. In 1992 the observation became the month-long Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.  

Please join the Office of Human Resources in recognizing and celebrating the rich culture and traditions of all Asians and Pacific Islanders and in thanking all of our Asian and Pacific Islander faculty, staff and students for their hard work, dedication, and contributions to Northwestern University.

National Military Appreciation Month

May is National Military Appreciation Month to honor, recognize, remember, and show appreciation for our military personnel.  The Office of Equal Opportunity and Access (OEOA) is honored to take this opportunity to highlight our appreciation for the dedication and sacrifice our military gives to our nation. 

Legislation was passed in 1999 in the U.S. Senate to designate May as National Military Appreciation Month.  More comprehensive legislation was passed in both houses of Congress in 2004 which "urges the President to issue an annual proclamation calling on the American people to recognize this special month of May through appropriate ceremonies and events."

Please join the Office of Human Resources in honoring and recognizing the dedication and sacrifice of our military personnel and their contribution to Northwestern University.

Office of Equal Opportunity and Access (OEOA)

847.491.7458 ● eeo@northwestern.edu ● www.northwestern.edu/hr/eeo