HR Update; February 23, 2007

In this Edition

UCSF is a Smoke-Free Campus

Effective July 1, 2005, UCSF joined a growing number of health sciences campuses that prohibit smoking outdoors on campus. The UCSF indoor smoking prohibition has been in effect for many years at UCSF, predating the similar statewide law.

Faculty, staff, students, patients, and visitors, continue to voice concerns about secondhand tobacco smoke exposure. Tobacco smoke is entering UCSF buildings because smokers congregate near entrances, exits, operable windows and fresh air intakes for building ventilation systems.

Most disturbing are the repeated violations by the same persons, even after being reminded that they are violating University policy. Supervisors are responsible for enforcing the no-smoking policy, just as they are responsible for enforcement of all other University policies.

Any member of the UCSF community can ask the smoker to show his or her identification badge and may report that violator to the individual’s supervisor or appropriate department representative. The non smoking poster is available on the web for viewing and printing.

UPTE Bargaining Update

University of California officials today announced that they have reached a tentative agreement with the University Professional and Technical Employees (UPTE) on a new labor contract for the 2,300 health care professional employees who work in UC medical centers and student health facilities. Details of the agreement will be available once UPTE has completed the ratification process.

Accounting Responds to Feedback - Offers New Classes

Accounting Responds to Feedback - Offers New Classes

In response to feedback given at town hall meetings, the Controller’s Office has created two new classes now open for registration:

These new classes replace Fund Accounting & General Ledger Basics and OLFS Weblinks.

Jeffrey Yepsen, Assistant Accounting Officer, teaches both new classes in Development & Training’s computer classroom to give participants extensive ‘hands-on’ experience. Learners will work at computers as they explore the Accounting website, master UCSF Accounting principles, and use the WebLinks tool to track, review and reconcile various department financial transactions.

General Ledger & Fund Accounting using OLFS WebLinks - Part I focuses on learning the relationship between higher education fund accounting principles and daily accounting operations by following the flow of transactions through the department using the WebLinks financial reporting tool.

General Ledger & Fund Accounting using OLFS WebLinks - Part II continues to build upon the general ledger and fund accounting concepts learned in Part I by using WebLinks reports and case studies to reconcile fund balances, correct problems, review year-end transactions, and evaluate STIP.

The classes are appropriate for any employee who is responsible for creating, reviewing, or monitoring department financial transactions.

Both new classes are now open for enrollment through Development & Training. Click on the course names or http://training.ucsf.edu to read the full descriptions, check prerequisites, and register.

Understanding Your Dental Plan Benefits

Hot Tips from Your Health Care Facilitator

Did you know that UC pays 100% of your monthly UC sponsored Dental Plan premiums for eligible employees and your eligible family members! You have a choice between the Delta Dental Plan and the PMI Dental Plan. Both plans cover a wide range of preventative and treatment services. A complete explanation of benefits, including exclusions and limitations is included in the dental plan EOC books. (You can switch plans during the November Open Enrollment period if you are not satisfied with your current plan).

New for 2007 for Delta Dental plan members: When a Delta Dental PPO dentist is used, the annual plan maximum increases from $1,500 to $1,700.
Are all Delta Dentists PPO dentists?
No. Delta Dental has two provider networks: Delta PPO (preferred provider organization) and Delta Premier (managed fee-for-service program). All Delta dentists participate in the Premier plan, but not all Delta dentists are part of the PPO plan.
What is the difference between Premier and PPO dentists?
PPO dentists agree to provide treatment at reduced fees, which means your share of the bill will be less (co-payments and other fees). You can either ask the dentist if they are a PPO provider or check on the Delta Dental website. Before beginning any treatment or having a procedure done, contact your dental plan for specific information about coverage. If you have Delta Dental, for any claim anticipated to be over $400, ask for a predetermination of costs to be sure of the coverage level.
Can I see a non-Delta dentist if I am enrolled in the Delta Dental Plan?
Yes. However, you need to pay the dentist directly and then file a claim with Delta. Delta cannot assure what percentage of the charges will be covered.
If I am enrolled in the PMI Dental Plan, what dentists may I see for care?
Dental services are only covered if you visit your PMI provider. When you enroll in the plan you can select or are assigned to a participating dentist near your home. The network of PMI dentists is much smaller than the Delta Dental network. If you are considering selecting this plan for the first time, confirm that your dentist participates in the plan.
There are no changes in the PMI Dental plan for 2007.

For more information on dental plan benefits, check out the Health Care Facilitator website or At Your Service website.

What’s Contributing to Your Self-Esteem: Part II

In Part I of What’s Contributing to Your Self-Esteem we discussed what self-esteem is and how acknowledging our positive traits and actions can increase our self-esteem. The inverse is also true: focusing on our mistakes can hurt it. Our internal voice, often referred to as the self critic or self judge, can have detrimental effects on our self-esteem. It can be very direct in its assaults, or it can be subtle while still causing significant damage. The general rule is that if self talk makes you feel worse, it’s not productive. Some examples of damaging self talk include calling yourself names, thinking over past events and berating yourself with ‘you should have _’ or ‘why didn’t you _’, assuming that others think negatively about you or telling yourself that you’re not good enough or are undeserving. Do not get caught in the trap of continuing with such behaviors because you believe the internal dialog to be true. Such thought patterns are hurtful and self destructive. There are plenty of other people and situations that attempt to pull us down or hinder our success or development. We need to develop a strong, supportive internal voice to keep up our positive self image and self-esteem.

Negative self talk can develop from a variety of sources. We are strongly influenced by our upbringing and the voices we heard while we were being raised. If, for example, our parents were supportive and nurturing, we will be more likely to internalize a positive self regard. However, when we are reared by those with critical, demanding or hurtful messages those are internalized instead. In the same vein, we tend to assimilate the attitudes of those around us. When we hear other’s making negative comments too often, we sometimes begin to think they are true. You might take a moment to notice if your self talk reminds you of anyone in particular. Sometimes it can be beneficial to realize from where it comes.

Why is self talk such an important part of self-esteem? Because our thoughts proceed our emotions. If you think unhappy or pessimistic thoughts, you feel unhappy. Hearing others talking negatively creates enough strain. There’s no reason to compound the struggle with your own internal dialog. If you tell yourself that you can’t do something, then, guess what! You’re probably right. If you tell yourself that you can, however, you have a much higher chance of succeeding.

Negative self talk leads to low self-esteem, low confidence or even depression, all of which can lead to negative self talk. A vicious cycle. But there are ways to begin to increase your positive self talk, thereby impacting your self-esteem.

Use positive or relaxing visualizations and uplifting affirmations.
Don’t accept negative messages sent by others. Either negate them out loud (politely, but firmly) or negate them to your self. It’s a fact that it takes 20 positive statements about ourselves to counteract one negative statement.
Many religious, spiritual and cultural practices promote uplifting and self affirming values and utilize awe inspiring quotes and confidence boosting ideas. Use your own personal beliefs as a source of strength and direction.
Be easier on yourself. Be kind and gentle with yourself. Forgive yourself.
Serve others. In helping others there is happiness and satisfaction for ourselves, as well as self respect. Service can be given as part of a large project, perhaps through a community service organization, or it could be a simple daily act like giving up your seat on BART, opening a door or sharing a smile.
Use positive self talk. This includes not only the type of words you say to yourself but also the way in which you say them. When you hear your self critic, cut it off and negate it emphatically.

If you find yourself caught in cycles of negative self talk, or struggle with low self-esteem, the UCSF Faculty and Staff Assistance (FSAP) program can help. FSAP provides confidential assessment, counseling, and referral services that support the well being of both the individual and the organization. Please contact us at (415) 476-8279 or visit the HR web site.

If you would like to do some independent study on topics of self-esteem or self talk, check out the references for this article:

References

Books

“The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom,” (A Toltec Wisdom Book) by Dan Miquel Ruiz

Websites

New Online Title and Pay Plan

Human Resource’s searchable title and pay plan has been redesigned. New features include: Improved search capabilities and sort-able search results. Behind the scenes, the pay plan rates will be regularly synchronized with UCOP’s pay plan data.

Soon Human Resources will be adding pay plan history and pay average features to the online pay plan search. These features will be available to each department’s designated Administrative Director/Manager and HR manager. We will contact you soon with information on how to access these new features.

Check out the title and pay plan on the web.

What is Reasonable Accommodation?

Reasonable accommodation is any modification or adjustment to a job or the work environment that will enable a qualified employee with a disability to perform essential functions. Reasonable accommodation also includes adjustments to assure that a qualified individual with a disability has the same rights and privileges in employment as non- disabled employees. Please refer to the following websites for more information: http://ucsfhr.ucsf.edu/index.php/dismgmt/article/1202 and EEOC website: http://www.eeoc.gov/policy/docs/accommodation.html#types

UC Retirement Plan & UC Retirement Savings Readiness Education Program Workshop Schedules

Please pass this on to your colleagues, circulate invitations, post the actual schedules, or otherwise re-broadcast these weekly reminders about our valuable (FREE) education programs for faculty and staff.

UC Retirement Plan (UCRP) Defined Benefit Plan
- “The Features of UCRP”
- Refer to this schedule for details and future workshops
- The Future of UCRP
UC Retirement Savings-Readiness Programs-the 403(b), 457(b) and DC Plans
- “Enrolling in Your UC Retirement Savings Program”
  - March 1, SFGH, Carr Auditorium, 8:00 - 9:00 a.m.
- “Finding the Right Investment Strategy”
  - March 1, SFGH, Carr Auditorium, 10:00 - 11:00 a.m.
- “Achieving a Sound Retirement”
  - March 1, SFGH, Carr Auditorium, 12:00 - 1:00 p.m.
- Refer to this schedule for details and future workshops
- Focus on Your Future!

Usually there can be at least one (or more) workshop(s) per week scheduled at various UCSF locations around town. For more details and listings for upcoming scheduled presentations, please refer to our Workshops and Presentations Schedules menus found at our local UCSF HR/Benefits website.

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