Work-Life Initiative Progress Report
Child Care
April 21, 2008 - A key finding from the UK@Work study suggested the need for additional child care on campus. After a feasibility study was undertaken that verified the need for enhancing child care on campus, the Child Care Work-Life committee recommended that two child care centers be established on or near the UK campus to accommodate the care of infants, toddlers, and pre-school age children. The committee recommended that each center should accommodate 120-150 children and should work in collaboration with each other. In the May 2007 report, the committee recommended that one center be located on the north end of campus, in the general vicinity of 457-461 Woodland Ave, while the second center will be located off University court, southeast of the Regulatory Services Building.
During the summer, the committee drafted and distributed Requests for Proposals for the development of the two child care centers. Responses to the report indicated that the university would be required to subsidize a significant percentage of the construction for a potential vendor. Consequently members of the committee are currently looking for potential funding sources. In the meantime, for child care centers around campus, please go to http://naccrraware.net/naccrrajsp/servlet/naccrra.servlets.MaskSearchServlet?pid=xfo9v0ql03wsdak, developed by the Kentucky Child Care Council on behalf of the Work Life Office.
Career Advancement and Professional Development
April 21, 2008 - In response to the UK@Work survey results indicating low employee satisfaction about the information and availability of advancement and professional development opportunities, the Career Advancement and Professional Development committee developed various strategies and solutions for improved communication about job opportunities, job/career coaching, monetary incentives for completing a GED, and staff designated academic advisors and career counselors.
Managers and supervisors often require new tools and skills to manage a work-life balanced workforce, particularly as our university is changing and evolving toward a top 20 university by 2020. Several new Work-Life initiatives will support both the supervisory role and our workforce. These initiatives will work through training, development, and consultation services dedicated to strengthening job performance, building leadership capabilities, and fostering personal and professional growth for all employees.
A coordinator, Melanie Hagan, was hired to create the engagement process to assist new supervisors in getting the required training for their new roles. The process is currently being piloted in the College of Medicine in the Spring of 2008. T&D is also developing an online version of the SuperVision program. The first module of the program will be also be piloted in the Spring of 2008.
Career Development and Talent Management
April 21 , 2008 - Diane Kohler joined T&D in December 2007 to develop services that will assist employees in exploring career options relative to their individual needs. She is currently building the infrastructure of the new program, meeting stake holders in HR and across the University, and selecting electronic and hard copy resources to promote employee career development. In addition to helping employees develop individualized career action plans, Diane will also work closely with university units to help align their departmental human capital goals with the University's strategic plan of recruiting, developing, and retaining talented professionals. Employees interested in career exploration and/or job search coaching are encouraged to contact Diane at 859.257.8920 to schedule an appointment for career counseling, resume development, interview coaching, and job search strategizing.
GED Award Program
February 8, 2008 - As of July 1, 2007, regular full time employees who earn a GED diploma will receive a one-time bonus of $1,500. To date two employees have earned their GED diploma and the bonus. For more information about the GED Program, contact Susan Dworkin at 257-7863.
Computer Loan Program
April 21 , 2008 - Employees currently enrolled in an academic programs or be working towards a GED might be eligible to borrow a laptop computer from the new Computer Loan Program. Currently all 20 computers are on loan with 20 staff members on the waiting list. For more information, call Alesia Miller at 257-7911 or go to http://hr.uky.edu/TandD/StaffLaptopLoanProgram.html
Family Education Program
April 21 , 2008 - Results from the UK@Work survey indicated that the Employee Education Program (EEP) is considered to be one of the most valued Work-Life offerings on campus. Employees also expressed a desire to have these benefits extended to their dependent, as one of the top three potential Work-Life initiatives. Consequently, the Work-Life Committee-Employee Education Program drafted recommendations to accomplish this goal. Beginning Fall 2007, tuition discounts are available at the University of Kentucky for the spouses/sponsored dependents and dependent children of full-time employees and their eligible sponsored dependents via the Family Education Program.
Tuition discounts are based on years of continuous, full-time university employment and cannot exceed 50% of in-state tuition. To be eligible for the discount, students must be admitted to University of Kentucky in good academic standing and registered in undergraduate, for-credit classes. The Employee Education Program and the Family Education Program cannot be utilized simultaneously.
Currently 316 participants are enrolled via this program. More specifically, 286 children, 24 spouses, 2 sponsored dependents; 1 child of a sponsored dependent. Tuition discount percentages are 17@10%; 10 @20%; 10 @ 30%; 14 @ 40%; 262 @ 50%.
For more information about the benefit, contact the Benefits Office at 257-9519, choosing option 3 for customer service representative or visit http://www.uky.edu/HR/benefits/fep_overview.html.
Sponsored Dependent Benefit Program
April 21, 2008 - The Domestic Partner Benefits Work-Life committee recommended that employee benefits be extended to an employees’ adult dependent and/or child(ren). In response to the committee’s recommendations, the university now offers benefits to qualifying sponsored dependents. To qualify as a sponsored adult dependent, an individual must share a primary residence with the UK employee prior to coverage for at least 12 months, be at least the age of majority; must not be a relative; must not be a UK employee; and must not be eligible for Medicare. Children age 25 or younger, who are under the primary care of UK employees, are also eligible for benefits if they meet additional criteria. For more information about eligibility guidelines for sponsored dependents, please call the Benefits Office at 257-9519, choosing option 3 for customer service representative or visit http://www.uky.edu/HR/benefits/SponsoredDependent.html.
Number of participating employees: 58 (7 faculty and 51 staff) 51 on health plans (6 faculty; 45 staff) 18 with dental, vision, life (1 faculty, 17 staff)
For more information about eligibility guidelines for sponsored dependents, please call the Benefits Office at 257-9519, choosing option 3 for customer service representative or visit http://www.uky.edu/HR/benefits/SponsoredDependent.html
Employee Assistance Program
April 21 , 2008 - The Employee Assistance Program committee recognized that many campus resources for employees need greater advertisement and coordination in order for employees to take advantage of them. In response, the committee recommended that there be a central point of contact for employees seeking information, better coordination between existing services, and increases in funding to strengthen the existing employees assistance program known as REFER.
For fiscal year 2007-08, the REFER program has received $9,000 in additional funding to enhance its services to employees. Secondly, nonrecurring funds of $10,000 for technical services to create a comprehensive referral data-base of services were approved. Thirdly, funding for the hire of a Program Specialist within the Work-Life Office to assist employees with campus-wide information and referral has been approved.
The hiring of a Program Specialist within the Work Life Office has currently been put on hold because of projected budget cuts. At the same time, alternative options for an internal EAP are currently being explored by members of the EAP committee and representatives from UK healthcare.
Additional Benefits
Staff Shared Leave Pool
If you are a regular staff employee (0.5 FTE or greater) who has suffered a personal catastrophic illness or injury and has exhausted all accrued paid leaves, you may now be eligible for benefits from the Staff Shared Leave Pool. The amount of available Vacation Leave in the Staff Shared Leave Pool depends upon staff donation of vacation time. Regular staff employees can donate up to five days of vacation leave per year between August 1-August 31. To find out more about eligibility requirements or to make a donation, please call the Employee Relations Office at tel. 257-8758 or go to http://www.uky.edu/HR/emprel/SharedLeavePoolOverview.html
Total days donated: 440 Total number of employees donating: 448 Of days donated: 40% donated five days to the pool
To date: A total of 12 people have been awarded approximately 192.5 (8 hour) days.
Flexible Working Schedule Guidelines
April 22, 2008 - Flexible Working Schedule guidelines, drafted by the Flexible Work Arrangements Work Group, were approved by the Work-Life Advisory Council and approved by President Todd in April. A training workshop, “Flexible Work Arrangement Toolkit for Supervisors” was developed and administered by the Director of Work Life in April. Additional training will be scheduled for the Fall. For more information about arranging a successful flexible work arrangement,
go to http://www.uky.edu/HR/WorkLife/flexibility.html.
Updated April 22, 2008
