Welcome

Introduction

Benefits

Employment Practices

Other Policies

Human Resources Personnel Policies and Procedures

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East Tennessee State University Staff Handbook

Administrative Closing

In addition to the eight holidays granted, five administrative closing days shall be designated as time off from work with pay for regular full-time and part-time employees. Certain days, such as the Friday after Thanksgiving Day and those during the week of Christmas when classes are not in session, may be designated as days of administrative closing each year by the University President, with the approval of the Chancellor. Additional information can be found in the Personnel Policy Manual - PPP-14.

Annual Leave

All personnel entitled to accrue annual leave may request use of annual leave at any time preferred by application to their proper approving authority. Such requests are subject to the discretion of the approving authority, who is responsible for planning the work under his or her control, and should be approved only at such times as the employee can best be spared. Regular full-time employees (excluding nine, ten and eleven month faculty) regardless of probationary status, shall be eligible to accrue annual leave. Regular part-time employees, including twelve month academic personnel (excluding nine, ten and eleven month faculty) scheduled to carry less than a full teaching lead or its equivalent, regardless of probation status, shall be eligible to accrue annual leave on a prorated basis equal to the percentage of their employment to full-time employment.

Regular full-time and part-time clerical and support personnel (non-exempt) shall accrue annual leave in accordance with the following schedule:

Executive, administrative and professional personnel (exempt), who are regular full-time employees, who are exempt from the provisions of the Federal Wage and Hour Law, shall accrue annual leave at the rate of 15 hours per month, with the maximum accumulation of 315 hours to be carried forward to the next fiscal year. All regular part-time personnel employed on a twelve-month basis and regular part-time personnel on MODFY (modified fiscal year) appointments shall accrue annual leave on a prorated basis equal to the percentage of their employment compared to full-time employment, with said percentage to be applied to the rate of accrual and maximum accumulation described in this section, as applicable.

Additional information can be found in the Personnel Policy Manual - PPP-17.

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Athletic Events

All regular full-time and part-time employees may purchase season tickets to athletic events at a discount for all home games. Schedules are posted on the ETSU website. Contact the Ticket office at Memorial Center for further information.

Career Skills Enhancement Program

The Career Skills Enhancement Program (CSEP) is an employee training program offered through the office of Human Resources. Its mission is to educate University employees to improve job and lifelong learning skills. The program is open to all regular full-time and part-time University employees. Work release may be approved for employees with no lost pay, and no need to use annual leave. For more information contact the office of Human Resources.

Certified Professional Secretary Examination (CPS)

Employees who work in a clerical-secretarial or clerical-management non-exempt position will be granted a nine percent (9%) increase in salary upon successful completion of the Certified Professional Secretary Examination. Exempt (administrative/professional) employees are not eligible for the increase. It is the employee's responsibility to provide the appropriate verification to the office of Human Resources after passing all parts of the examination. Additional information is available in the office of Human Resources.

Credit Unions

There are several credit unions in the Johnson City area. One credit union is located on the ETSU campus.

Educational Benefits

Support for educational assistance of personnel and their dependents is available subject to funds being budgeted and available within the University. The office of Human Resources is responsible for the administration of the various programs. Forms for each program can be obtained from the office of Human Resources. Guidelines and/or restrictions that may apply are listed in each program. Additional information on the following is available in Personnel Policy Manual - PPP-13.

Types of support for educational assistance

1. Administrative/Professional Staff Grant-in-Aid (GIA) program - is intended to serve as a means of career (job-related) development as well as individual professional development. All regular administrative and professional staff who have been employed by the University for two years or more may be eligible for a GIA.

2. Administrative/Professional Staff Tuition or Maintenance Fee Reimbursement Program - is intended to serve as a means of career (job-related) development as well as individual professional development. All regular part-time or full- time administrative and professional staff who have been employed by the University for at least six months may be eligible to participate.

3. Employee Audit/Non-Credit program - is designed to provide course or maintenance fees only for an employee who takes courses on an audit or job-related non-credit basis. Any regular full-time or part-time employee who has been employed by the University for at least six months is eligible to participate.

4. Clerical and Support Staff Maintenance Fee Payment Program - is to encourage staff members to develop their skills and knowledge through participation in educational programs. It is available to all regular part-time and full-time clerical and support staff employees who have been employed by the University at least six months.

5. Fee Waiver for TBR/UT System Employees (PC-191) - Full-time employees with the TBR system are eligible to enroll in one course per term at any public post secondary institution with fees waived for the employee on a space available basis.

6. Fee Discount for Spouse and Dependent Children of Employees - provides fee discounts up to 50% of the undergraduate fee and technology access fee for spouses and dependent children of regular full-time and part-time employees when enrolled in undergraduate courses at any of the institutions in either the Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR) or the University of Tennessee (UT) systems.

EMPLOYEE DEVELOPMENT CENTER

 The Office of Human Resources is committed to the value and necessity of employee training, education, and development in maintaining a productive workforce.  The mission of the Office of Human Resources' Employee Development Center is to:

(1)    Improve individual and organizational performance;

(2)    Reduce employee turnover;

(3)    Enhance workplace harmony and communication;

(4)    Enhance overall well being of employees.   

Check the Office of Human Resources' Employee Development Center (EDC) web site for current training opportunities, www.etsu.edu/edc.

Holidays

The University observes eight designated holidays per year. Designated holidays include: New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. In addition, the University President may declare 5 administrative closing additional holidays to be observed by the University. (See Administrative Closings)

When a holiday falls on Saturday, the Friday preceding will be substituted. When a holiday falls on Sunday, the Monday following will be substituted. When work schedules or duties make it necessary for an employee to work on a holiday, a corresponding amount of time off may be granted. Additional information can be found in the Personnel Policy Manual - PPP-20.

Identification Cards (ID Cards)

Personal Identification cards are issued to regular full-time and part-time personnel through the University ID System.

Insurance and Optional Benefits

Employment benefits such as health insurance, life insurance, cancer care, long term disability, optional term life and optional universal life, dental, flexible benefits, optional annuities, employee assistance program, and retirement are discussed in detail during new employee orientation session. For additional information and assistance, you may contact the office of Human Resources.

Longevity Pay

The longevity pay plan became effective on July 1, 1979. All regular full-time clerical and support staff, administrative/professional employees, and modified fiscal year employees with 36 months of full-time service are eligible for longevity payments. In addition, all regular part-time employees who are scheduled to work 1600 or more hours in a fiscal year and have 36 months of service are also eligible for longevity payments. Additional information can be found in the Personnel Policy Manual - PPP-15.

Recreation

All recreational programs provided for students including the New Center for Physical Activity are available to employees as well.  There are five types of activities:  fitness, intramural sports, non-credit instruction, outdoor adventure, and sports clubs.  The CPA's fitness floor, pool, and racquetball courts are available on a daily basis and employees are encouraged to participate.  Family programs are scheduled as well.  For more information, please call 439-7980.

Service Award Program

Certificates and service pins are awarded to active regular employees with 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, and 40 years of State service. Additional information is available in the office of Human Resources.

Sick Leave

It is the policy of the University to protect all regular full-time and part-time employees against loss of earnings due to illness, injury, or incapacity to work, including illness or incapacity to work due to pregnancy, and to provide time off to employees in the event of serious illness or death of certain family members. Additional information can be found in Personnel Policy Manual - PPP-24.

Sick Leave Bank

The Non-Faculty Sick Leave Bank was established to provide emergency sick leave to participants in the plan who have unexpected personal illness, surgery, or injury with complications beyond their control and who have exhausted their personal sick and annual leave.

Additional information can be found in Personnel Policy Manual - PPP-39.

Suggestion Award Program - State Employees

This program provides cash or honorary awards to State employees and Retired State employees whose adopted suggestions will result in substantial savings or improvement in State operations. The program is administered by the Employee Suggestion Award Board which is composed of the Commissioner of Finance and Administration, the Commissioner of Personnel, the Commissioner of General Services, the Executive Director of Fiscal Review committee, and one member appointed by the Tennessee State Employees Association.

Contact the office of Human Resources to obtain forms and further instructions for submitting suggestions. Additional information can be found in the Personnel Policy Manual - PPP-12.

Travel Regulations

All regular full time employees who need to travel in relation to job duties may do so in accordance with provisions provided in Financial Procedures Manual - Directive #FP - 7.

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Welcome | Introduction | Benefits | Employment Practices | Other Policies | Human Resources Personnel Policies and Procedures | Staff Senate | ETSU Home

Questions or Comments, contact
Staff Senate President
Lisa Blackburn
University Center

423-439-4642

This page was updated on February 2, 2007.