Nominations are being solicited for the spring 2011 Student Excellence Award. The purpose of the award is to recognize those student assistants who are dedicated, creative, and/or industrious. Any student assistant employed in any MU Libraries department is eligible for consideration. The recipient will receive a certificate of appreciation which will be presented to the student in his/her own department.

The nomination deadline is Friday, April 29. The award will be announced before the end of the semester. Please forward nominations to Leo Agnew, 104 Ellis Library. The nomination form can be found at http://mulibraries.missouri.edu/staff/committees/staffdevelopment/development_opportunities/employee_awards/student.htm. In the event of multiple nominations, the ‘extra’ forms will be retained for consideration for the fall 2011 student award.

It has been a while since the award was last given*. As such, it seems prudent to list the criteria:

1. This award is to be given to a student who exceeds in quality and/or quantity the expectations for his/her position, and who has made exceptional or outstanding contributions to the achievement of a department’s goals and objectives.
2. The award may be given up to two students per semester.
3. Students are nominated by any MU Libraries employee.
4. This award is to be given to any student currently employed in the Libraries.

*You will notice the monetary award has been dropped. It is the hope of SDC that student recipients will still find value in being nominated for the award and that supervisors will want to recognize outstanding student assistants via this award.

4/5/1976, Alan Bloom

4/1/1985, Karen Eubanks

4/2/1990, Katy Dodson

4/7/1994, Michaelle Dorsey

4/6/1998, Libby Myre

4/10/2000, Terri Hall

4/15/2002, James Cogswell

The March Lunchtime Leadership Book Talk will take place on the 29th from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m., in 159 Ellis.

This is an opportunity for MU Libraries employees to gather informally over lunch and share quotes from books or articles on the topic of leadership or management that seem especially pertinent for MU Libraries right now. This is open to all library employees as it seems sensible to hear from current and emerging leaders within the organization in terms of what they are reading on the topic.

Attendance is voluntary but compensable for non-exempt supervisors since the discussion applies to the workplace. As such, schedule adjustments may be needed to offset overtime considerations. RSVP’s are not required.

But, we ask you bring a brief something to share with the group, e.g., copies of the talking points of the book or journal article. For examples of documents shared at the Nov. and Dec. sessions, go to http://mulibraries.missouri.edu/staff/committees/staffdevelopment/default.htm – this leads to a SharePoint site.

With the April 5, 2011 elections date just around the corner, it seems like a good time to review HR 411, the University’s policy on voting and related requests for time off. To highlight the main points:

MU Policy – HR 411 Voting

The main points:

• Employees may be excused from work for time necessary to allow them to vote (this includes time away for absentee voting, if necessary).
• This time may be up to, but not exceed, three (3) successive hours for the purpose of voting.
• Such period of time includes any off-duty time between the opening and closing of the polls (e.g., lunch).
• Employees shall be paid for any time requiring absence from duty to allow up to three (3) successive hours; provided, however, that such absence is requested prior to the election. Such time must be recorded on a time sheet or a monthly absence form.
• Supervisors have the right to specify the time an employee may be absent for voting (e.g. for coverage issues).
• Employees whose work hours permit three (3) successive hours between the opening and closing of the polls when not on duty will not be eligible for any paid time off for the purpose of voting.

Feel free to contact Leo at 882-9166 or agnewl@missouri.edu if additional information is needed.

 

March 16, 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., room 4F51-A Ellis. Workshop III will be led by Dr. Greg Holliday and Dr. Jill Hermsen, both of UM System HR. Greg is the Director of Talent Management and Jill is the Assistant Director. This workshop will focus on the set of skills that involve the ability to monitor one’s own and others’ feelings and emotions, to distinguish among them, and to use this information to guide one’s thinking and action. Attendance is voluntary and open to all library employees, per supervisor approval. RSPV’s are requested for head count purposes, only (AgnewL@missouri.edu).

A reminder that Workshop IV, an interactive skit by the MU Trainers’ Network on team building and leadership development, will take place April 7, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., room 4F51-A Ellis.

The LIA position in Access Services, Circulation/Reserve and Shelving, has been filled. Welcome back to Hayden Murphey, effective March 7. Hayden rejoins us after spending time completing a MLS at University of Wisconsin—Milwaukee in 2009 and beginning a Geographic Information Systems Certificate via Metropolitan Community College—Longview, Kansas City, MO.

3/15/1987, Duane Bittle

3/5/2001, Mary Amann

Gena Scott has accepted an offer to be the new Director of Development for University Scholarships.   She will start March 7^th, and she will be housed in Reynolds Alumni Center.  Gena has worked as the Director of Development for MU Libraries for almost 10 years and has been successful in her efforts in raising funds for the program.  Gena will be responsible for major gift fundraising for the Flagship Scholarship program and for general university scholarships. March 4th will be her last day with the MU Libraries.

A library employee recently noticed an increase in tax withholding on his 2/16/11 pay check and asked me for information. My research discovered some interesting information that should be shared library-wide. For those of you that may be asking “Why did my Federal Withholding increase in 2011,” or “Why is my net pay less than it was?” here is a website that addresses the two questions rather nicely: http://forums.blackbaud.com/blogs/fundaccounting/archive/2011/01/10/why-did-federal-withholding-increase-in-2011-why-is-my-net-pay-less-than-it-was.aspx

In layman’s term the Federal Government reduced the Social Security tax also know as (FICA-OASDI) from 6.2% to 4.2%, effective January 1, 2011. It shows up on our pay advices as “Fed OASDI/EE”. What we didn’t hear was that the “Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act” of 12/2011 did not extend the “Making Work Pay Credit Act” of 2003, which reduced federal withholding and resulted in more income going into employees’ paychecks.

What all of this mean for biweekly paid employee is that the 1/5/11 & 1/19/11, paychecks did not reflect the reduced 2% Fed OASDI/EE. To correct this problem Payroll department placed the refund for both of these pay periods in the 2/2/11 paycheck. For monthly paid employees your end of January pay check will reflect the correct deduction for your Fed OASDI/EE.

In contrast, the expiration of the “Making Work Pay” credit will result in an increase to the Federal Withholding tables. For most biweekly employees, you’ll see an increase in Federal Withholding on the 2/16/2011 pay check.  That amount should be the normal federal withholdings in future checks. For Monthly employees your end of February pay check will reflect the increase in your “Fed Withholding”.

I would advise everyone to consult with their tax accountant or tax consultant on how to change one’s W4 forms to offset any undesired increases from the above changes reflecting in your pay checks.  Here is the new IRS tax Withholding:  http://www.irs.gov/pub/newsroom/notice_1036.pdf

Hope this information was helpful.

Website References:

Blackbaud. (2010). The FundWare Post: The Official Blog of FundWare: Why did Federal Withholding increase in 2011? Why is my net pay less than it was? Retrieved from http://forums.blackbaud.com/blogs/fundaccounting/archive/2011/01/10/why-did-federal-withholding-increase-in-2011-why-is-my-net-pay-less-than-it-was.aspx

Department of the Treasury Internal Revenue Service. (2010). Notice 1036: Early Release Copies of the 2011 Percentage Method Tables for Income Tax Withholding. Retrieved from http://www.irs.gov/pub/newsroom/notice_1036.pdf

Fivecentnickel.com. (2011). Did Your Federal Tax Withholding Increase? Here’s Why… Retrieved from http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2011/01/07/did-your-federal-income-tax-withholding-increase-heres-why/

HubPages. (2010). Federal Payroll Tax Withholding Tables for 2010, 2011 65. Retrieved from http://hubpages.com/hub/Federal-Payroll-Tax-Withholding-Table-for-2009–2010

Intuit. (2011). Small business, rejoice. Federal Tax Withholding Tables and Social Security Tax changes for 2011: Overview: Retrieved from http://payroll.intuit.com/support/kb/2000996.html

IRS.gov. (2010). Payroll Tax Cut to Boost Take-Home Pay for Most Workers; New Withholding Details Now Available on IRS.gov. Retrieved from http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=232590,00.html

–Sheena Waggoner

Space is available for the remaining Skill Awareness Workshops. For these workshops, attendance is voluntary and open to all library employees, per supervisor approval.

Workshop II – Leo Agnew, Developing Conflict Competency. March 3, 10:00 – 11:30 a.m., room 4F51-A Ellis

Workshop III – Greg Holliday and Jill Hermsen, An Introduction to Emotional Intelligence. March 16, 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., room 4F51-A Ellis

Workshop IV – Interactive skit, MU Trainers’ Network, April 7, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., room 4F51-A Ellis

Workshop #2 will be led by Leo and considers the skills needed to increase one’s conflict competency. Conflict in the workplace is unavoidable. A 2009 survey by the Center for Creative Leadership found that 85 percent of leaders experience conflict on a regular basis. As such, the question isn’t one of avoiding conflict but rather what you will get out of conflict when it does occur. Participants will identify different types of conflict, discuss the difference between trust and trustworthiness, and identify behaviors that push their ‘hot buttons.’ In addition, participants will be able to reflect upon the skills needed to demonstrate conflict competency, e.g., compassionate listening.

Workshop #3 will be led by Dr. Greg Holliday and Dr. Jill Hermsen, both of UM System HR. Greg is the Director of Talent Management and Jill is the Assistant Director. This workshop will focus on the set of skills that involve the ability to monitor one’s own and others’ feelings and emotions, to distinguish among them, and to use this information to guide one’s thinking and action.

The final workshop is an interactive skit based on the book written by Patrick Lencioni ‘The Five Dysfunctions of a Team.’ This is a dynamic training program performed by members of the MU Trainers’ Network in which audience members interact with each other and with skit characters, assessing character behavior and comparing their recommendations for improving the skit team. In addition, the skit provides audience members with the opportunity to talk about the listening skills demonstrated by the characters as well as conflict competency, self-monitoring of emotions, etc. As such, this workshop helps to bring together the skill awareness gained in the previous three workshops.

How do you sign up for these workshops? Check your e-mail for Outlook invitation notices. Simply click on ‘Accept’ to add the workshop to your calendar. Or, send Leo an e-mail to reserve a seat (AgnewL@missouri.edu).