Personnel Issues

Safety Employee Safety is of paramount importance. If you work in an area with potentially dangerous equipment, do not use it until trained to use it properly. If you don’t know how to use a tool or piece of equipment that you are assigned to, ask for help Report all unsafe working conditions (even if you are not sure) Keep your work area clear of debris at all times If you see a spill, clean it up or find a custodian, don’t just ignore it.   If you have an accident while at work, no matter how small, report it to your supervisor immediately and fill out an accident report.   Slips and falls account for about one-third of all the employee injuries reported at UMass. Watch the above video on what simple steps you can make to avoid slips and falls.

(Charred remains from a room fire)

Fires If there is a fire pull the fire alarm, evacuate the building, call 911, and report to your department's designated meeting place. Pull the nearest fire alarm If safe to do so, turn off any computers, electrical equipment, or cooking appliances if you are using one. Evacuate the building though the nearest Exit. Do not use elevators. Call 911 after leaving the building. Calls from a campus phone go to UMass Police. Calls from your cell phone go to the Massachusetts State Police in Northampton. Go to your department's designated meeting place outside the building and report to your supervisor and/or manager so everyone can be accounted for during the emergency. Do not re-enter the building until you are given permission. Remember to stay calm, and not to panic. (Treat all alarms as an actual emergency, evacuate the building, and report to your supervisor at the designated meeting spot outside the building).

 

Customer Service We are here to serve our customers. It is very important that everyone is professional, pleasant and helpful both with our guests and with our co-workers. We should make those we serve feel ‘special’ by giving each and every one our personal attention. Always be polite and cheerful. Most customers will be polite and cheerful in return. Here are a few basic pointers: • Treat customers the way you would want to be treated • Greet each customer with a smile • Try to make unhappy customers happy • Be a problem solver for your customer • Tell customers about daily specials and upcoming promotions • Take pride in your job. • Make the customer’s time with us a positive experience   Front line staff will treat customers the same way they are treated by their co-workers and supervisors. If the way you are treated makes it hard for you to smile, let your supervisor or manager know what specifically is going on.   Keep your workplace clean and attractive. If you have down time, go find, or ask your supervisor for other tasks to keep you busy. This place is your place. If it looks bad, so do you.

 

Expectations & Discipline While working at UMass your managers and supervisors will have expectations for you as an employee. You also have expectations for your supervisors. We surveyed both students and supervisors and here is what we found. Supervisors want employees who are... • Punctual: Show up on time and discuss changes in advance. • Reliable: Follow procedures and directions. • Responsible: Accept challenges and ask questions. • Motivated: Work as part of a team. • Honest: Tell the truth…especially when an employee make mistakes. • Courteous: Respect customers and co-workers. • Helpful: Look for things to do and suggest new ideas. Employees want supervisors who are... • Clear: Make sure employees understand what they are supposed to do. • Consistent: Coordinate expectations with other supervisors. • Fair: Don’t play favorites. • Competent: Know their jobs. • Helpful: Pitch in and help out. • Leaders: Model in action and attitude what they expect. • Respectful: Treat employees the way they themselves want to be treated. • Honest: Regularly tell employees how they are doing. If your performance does not meet expectations, disciplinary action will be taken. Discipline is progressive which means that, unless you have done something totally unacceptable, it will start with a conversation. If there is no improvement, it may progress through suspension to termination. When you are being disciplined your supervisor is required to tell you in detail: 1. Why she or he is disciplining you, 2. What the consequences are, 3. What will happen if the problem happens again, and 4. What to do to correct or improve your performance. Your supervisor is not permitted to discipline you without good reason and she or he is required to hear your side of the story. If you feel that you have been unfairly disciplined you should speak with your manager, visit your department Human Resources office (for 0-3 employees), or the Student Employment office in Whitmore (for student employees), but you should write it down and please be specific. Harassment & Discrimination Harassment is any unwelcome behavior or activity that is seen to be insulting, intimidating, frightening or embarrassing. This can include hitting on people, sexual innuendo and loud profanity. Discrimination is any form of differential treatment based on gender, race, color, sex, religion, nationality, age, disability, sexual orientation or marital status. It is your right not to be harassed and it is your right not to suffer discrimination. If you experience or witness either of these you must immediately report it in detail to your supervisor or manager and they are required to take action. If they fail to take action you are required to report this and their failure to take action to their manager. If they fail to take action, or if you for any reason feel unsafe or uncomfortable reporting to these individuals, you are required to report this to Human Resources.

 

 

Administrative Time Cards: Auxiliary Services uses Kronos, which is an electronic time card system. You will use your UCard to punch in and out. You swipe your card through the black card reader on the GREY box and your name should appear on the screen. If your name does not appear then your card is not working correctly and you should go to the Human Resources Office, Room 810 Campus Center so we can fix it. If you forget either to swipe in or out, you will not be paid, so don’t forget to swipe. Swiping in or out for a friend or when you are not actually working is stealing. You will get caught. Don’t do it. Paychecks:Paychecks are issued biweekly on Fridays. A pay statement detailing your earnings and deductions is available online in HR Direct. Direct Deposit: Direct Payroll Deposit is Required You must enroll in direct deposit. Direct Deposit means your paycheck is automatically deposited into your account after you enroll. If you would like to change your Direct Deposit the forms are available in the Auxiliary Services Human Resources Office, Room 918 Campus Center or in 325 Whitmore. You just need a voided check if you want it deposited in your checking account. International Students: As an F-1 or J-1 visa holder you are limited to working 20 hours per week. Please be sure to let your supervisor know this. If you go over the 20 hour limit you will have violated the terms of your visa and you may be deported. If you have questions contact the International Programs Office at 545-2710. Name/Address/Phone Number changes: You need to keep all of your information up to date. Changes you make in SPIRE are not reflected in your Human Resources records. To change this information please go to room 920 in the Campus Center or to 325 Whitmore.