News You Can Use!

Important Information for Employees of Oklahoma State University

January 2005

 

 

 

 

 

 

Use Web for Employees for Up-to-Date Payroll and Employee Information

Need Access to Web for Employees?

OSU Needs Your Opinion Retirement Plan Vendors

Direct Deposit Update - No More Priority Distribution Locations

2004 W-2s

Early 2005 Training Opportunities

What You Need to Know About "The Bus"

 

 

Use Web for Employees for Up-to-Date Payroll and Employee Information

 

Web for Employees is a feature of the Human Resource System which allows employees of the OSU/A&M system to view payroll, benefits, deductions, leave balances, OSU employee job history, and other personal information.


Employees can use any computer with Internet access and Internet Explorer or Netscape versions 4 and higher to access Web for Employees, weekdays, evenings, and even weekends, at home or at work. Employees can easily update certain information, such as address and emergency contact.


Payroll Advice information is available on Web for Employees. The Payroll Advice process is currently being transformed to a paperless system. An e-mail notification to the employee being paid will request the employee view specific pay information on Web for Employees.


The e-mail notification will include how the pay is being distributed (direct deposit or pickup), and other important announcements. A link to Web for Employees will also be embedded in the e-mail.


E-mail notifications will be sent to employees’ @okstate.edu e-mail address. Employees need to be sure they are monitoring that e-mail or have a forwarding address set up for their @okstate.edu email account.


Employees will need to activate their O-Key account. This can be done by contacting the Help Desk in Information Technology, (405) 744-4357.
Employees who do not have immediate access to a computer can use a computer in Human Resources, 106 Whitehurst. Employee Services staff are available to help employees with Web for Employees. There are also computers available in Physical Plant and Residential Life.


The current implementation timetable is for the January 2005 monthly Payroll Advice to be issued using both the paperless and current paper process. After that, all monthly Payroll Advices will be issued using the paperless method. The paperless Payroll Advice for biweekly employees will be implemented later.

 

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Need Access to Web for Employees?


To access Web for Employees, go to the OSU Home Page, http://osu.okstate.edu/, select Human Resources from the drop down menu, and then select Web for Employees at the top of the page. Or you can go straight to http://prodhosu.okstate.edu/. Select Click Here to Enter Employee Self Service. Type your Employee ID and your PIN. All employees are given a default PIN equal to their birth dates (mmddyy). When you log into Web for Employees for the first time, you will be required to change your default PIN to a new PIN.


If you forget or lose your PIN, you may request your PIN be reset by calling Employee Services, (405) 744-5449, or by coming to 106 Whitehurst. Upon presentation of identification or verification of personal information on HRS, an Employee Services representative will reset the number for you.


A Web for Employees brochure is available for download at www.okstate.edu/osu_per/docfiles/docfiles.htm or call and request a copy from Human Resources, (405) 744-5373.

 

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OSU Needs Your Opinion Retirement Plan Vendors


Some OSU employees have requested that additional investment vendors be added to both the OSU Defined Contribution Plan, available to employees hired prior to July 1, 2004, and the OSU Alternate Retirement Plan, available to employees hired July 1, 2004 or thereafter. OSU’s Retirement Investment Options Subcommittee (RIOS) is seeking employee input on the names of vendors of interest to employees. As a Request for Proposals process is begun, OSU will notify these vendors of the proposal process. There is no plan to remove TIAA-CREF as an approved vendor.


Please send an e-mail to osu-es@okstate.edu and provide the names of investment companies you would recommend as additional carriers.  Alternatively, you may indicate if you think no new vendor(s) should be added.  If you lack e-mail access, you may send a written response by campus mail to Vendor Recommendations, Human Resources, 106 Whitehurst, Stillwater. Human Resources will ensure that vendors you recommend receive an invitation to bid as we move forward with the bid process.


The RIOS committee will use this information to help ensure that bids are sought from companies that are preferred by the OSU community. Once the bids are received, an outside consultant will be engaged to facilitate the analysis of bids from potential vendors. 


Remember — there is no intention of removing TIAA-CREF as an option for employees and this process does not affect OTRS contributions or accounts. It also does not affect OSU’s 403(b) Voluntary Supplemental Tax Deferred Annuity Plans or OSU’s 457(b) Voluntary Deferred Compensation Plans.

 

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Direct Deposit Update - No More Priority Distribution Locations


In accordance with State legislation, all new state employees, including OSU employees, will be required to sign up for direct deposit if hired after January 1, 2005. In addition, all other OSU employees who are currently not on direct deposit will be required to have their pay checks direct deposited by June 30, 2007.


Effective January 1, 2005, Stillwater employees will only be able to pick up paychecks from the Bursar’s Office, 113 Student Union. There will no longer be priority distributions from areas such as Physical Plant or Residential Life. Employees may pick up checks from the Bursar’s Office during normal office hours. During the month of January, paychecks will be available for pickup from the Bursar’s Office during normal office hours. The pick-up schedule will change throughout the year. To review the schedule, go to www.okstate.edu/osu_per/payrollserv.htm.


If you currently pick up your paycheck, you will want to complete an Automatic Deposit Transmittal form and submit it to Payroll Services, 409 Whitehurst. Don’t forget to attach a voided check to your request. The form is available on the web at www.opm.state.ok.us/opm-73.pdf or call Payroll Services, (405) 744-6372.
You will want to review your Payroll Advice carefully to verify the distribution of your paycheck. The State no-longer pre-notes, which means the State no longer sends a “dummy” deposit to the employee’s bank to verify bank account information.


Pay which is direct deposited is usually available at your financial institution several hours or even days before the paper check is distributed.

 

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2004 W-2s


All OSU employees who have active assignments will receive their 2004 W-2 Wage and Tax Statements by campus mail on or before January 31, 2005. Employees who no longer work at OSU will receive W-2 forms at their home addresses as reflected in HRS.


The last payroll advice you receive in 2004 can be used to estimate your salary and taxes paid for 2004 if you are ready to start working on your income taxes before you receive your W-2.

 

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Early 2005 Training Opportunities


Jan 13 The Straight of It!
Jan 18 Purchasing Card Training
Jan 18 Building Interpersonal Skills
Jan 19 Developing Creative Strategies for Organizational Challenges
Jan 20 Human Resources and the Law
Jan 25 Telephone Etiquette
Jan 26 Sexual Harassment
Jan 27 Management Skills for First-Time Supervisors
Feb 1 OSU Employment Practices
Feb 2 Life: The Character Classroom
Feb 3 Recruitment and Compensation Topics
Feb 3 New Employee Orientation
Feb 8 Purchasing Policies and Procedures
Feb 9 Safety is Everybody’s Business


For more information, or to register, refer to your 2005 Faculty and Staff Development Opportunities brochure, or go to www.okstate.edu/osu_per/hr/staff_dvpt05.htm, or call Training Services, (405) 744-5374.

 

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What You Need to Know About “The Bus”

 

The OSU / Stillwater Community Transit System, known as The Bus, offers a transportation alternative to faculty and staff at OSU. For starters, all faculty and staff members at OSU can ride any on- or off-campus transit route at no charge. That’s right, you can ride The Bus for free!


The Bus operates seven routes from 6:30 a.m. until 7 p.m., Monday through Friday. These routes include two on-campus routes:
• Black Route is on a 7 minute cycle, with stops that include the Athletic Avenue Transit Center (AATC), the Student Union, Ag Hall, and overflow parking lot 74, across from the Colvin Center.
• Orange Route is on a 15 minute cycle. Its stops include the Student Union, The Market, Ag Hall, and Wilham and Walnut.
There are also five off-campus routes. Every off-campus route stops at the AATC and Student Union:
• Blue Route is on a 30 minute cycle. Its stops include Miller and Main; Main and Hall of Fame; OSU Library Annex; and the Stillwater Airport.
• Brown Route is on a 45 minute cycle, with stops that include Stillwater Medical Center and Meridian Technology Center.
• Gray Route is on a 30 minute cycle, with stops that include Wal-Mart; Hall of Fame and Perkins; McElroy and Perkins; and Lakeview and Perkins.
• Purple Route is on a 30 minute cycle, with stops that include the OSU Foundation and Technology and Research Park.
• Scarlet Route is on a 45 minute cycle, with stops that include the Stillwater Public Library, Downtown, and 6th and Burdick.
In addition, The Bus offers two night time routes that operate 7 p.m. until 10:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
• Green Route, which is the off-campus route. This route runs a 30 minute cycle, with stops that include Main and Hall of Fame; OSU Library Annex; Boomer and Lakeview; the Carmike Theater; McElroy and Perkins; and Wal-Mart.
• Gold Route, which is the on-campus route. This route runs a 15 minute cycle, with stops that include the Student Union, Ag Hall, The Market, and Wilham and Walnut.


If you are heading for an on-campus meeting, consider The Bus instead of driving and hunting for a parking space. For those who don’t want to drive to campus and park, try parking at the OSU Library Annex, Stillwater Airport, or the Stillwater Public Library and ride The Bus to campus!


For more information about The Bus or for route maps and schedules, visit www.transit.okstate.edu or call 744-2832.

 

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OSU Human Resources developed this information for the convenience of OSU employees. It is a brief interpretation of more detailed and complex materials. If further clarification is needed, the actual law, policy and contract should be consulted as the authoritative source. OSU continually monitors benefits, policy and procedures and reserves the right to change, modify, amend, or terminate benefit programs at any time.