Vol. 38, No. 18

2-15-2007
By: Adam King

Report shows staff concern for three C’s

The three C’s — compensation, care and career — top the list of concerns staff have about the work experience at the university.

The University Staff Advisory Committee presented its annual Staff Compensation and Benefits Committee report to administration leaders on Feb. 8 in the Biomedical Research Tower.

The top concerns in the report show that staff want merit increases as opposed to across-the-board percentage increases, clearer communication on health care changes, increases in domestic partner benefits and a better solution to parking problems and costs.

USAC, whose members are appointed by the president, culls its recommendations from the SCBC survey, which was completed by 495 staff out of 1,318 surveys sent.

“This is another thorough and comprehensive report and I am impressed with what you came up with,” President Karen Holbrook told USAC members. “I am always energized by these meetings.”

The president suggested the committee consider a mid-year meeting with Human Resources to evaluate what has been accomplished and what is left to work on.

After the report was presented, top administrators responded to the concerns.

Executive Vice President and Provost Barbara Snyder said the university is committed to merit pay and rewarding workplace performance. Ohio State, she added, does not give raises for cost-of-living adjustments.

“We want employees to get feedback every year on their performance because it affects morale,” she said. “If people are getting similar pay increases and one is working hard and the other isn’t, it affects overall performance. We need to educate new employees about our expectations.”

Snyder said the university is aware not all supervisors conduct performance reviews, but they are urged to perform them annually for each employee.

Changes are afoot for the university health plans, Larry Lewellen, associate vice president for Human Resources said, including this year’s incentive program. The Health Plan Oversight Committee also is discussing how health plans will be revamped for 2008, he said.

Understanding the changes is important to the staff, according to survey results.

“Benefits are becoming more and more complex and difficult for everyone to understand and to know what is covered,” said committee co-chair Chris Brakenbury.

Lewellen said suggestions are welcomed on the process.

“We have good incentive programs this year, but we need all the help we can get in communicating that well,” Lewellen said.

In its report, USAC recognized that Ohio State is a leader in domestic partner benefits but said more can still be done. It recommends domestic partners and their dependents receive equal benefits in all areas that staff do, such as tuition assistance.

Also, USAC has recommended the two affidavits requirement for domestic partners be stopped.

“Married couples are not required to document and show proof of marriage,” the report stated. “The documentation required by married couples should be more, rather than less, similar to documentation required of same-sex domestic partners.”

Lewellen said the paperwork likely wouldn’t decrease for domestic partners but will likely increase for all faculty and staff, including potentially having everyone with dependents re-enroll in the health plan during fall 2008 to recertify who is eligible to receive benefits.

Parking continues to be a concern for staff. USAC recommended parking costs be spread equally on a “per-spot” basis.

Senior Vice President of Finance Bill Shkurti said that idea was quickly shot down in committee.

“We saw how that would ripple through and fall hardest on ‘B’ and student parking tag holders,” he said. “Those already able to pay higher prices would benefit the most, so there’s no easy answer to that.”

USAC also suggested the campus bus service market its services to faculty and staff. Shkurti said that was tried in 2000 with little impact.

To see the complete report, visit usac.osu.edu.

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