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2023-24 Personnel Issues Annual Report

 

By

UNC-Chapel Hill Employee Forum

Personnel Issues Committee

2023 – 2024 Annual Report

I.     Introduction

 

The Personnel Issues Committee hears, elevates, and helps address staff concerns from across the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Staff connect with the committee through their delegate representatives, the anonymous reporting feature on the Forum website, or directly to committee Chairs. The Committee addresses staff concerns by meeting with University administrators, asking questions at the Vice Chancellors Representatives meetings, and drafting formal resolutions for the Forum.

 

II.    Accomplishments

 

The Personnel Issues Committee helped address staff concerns during the 2023-2024 term by:

  1. Advocating for Juneteenth to be designated an official University holiday
    1. Resolution 23-02
  2. Meeting with the University’s Policy Specialist & Grievance Coordinator Cassidy Johnson to learn more about the grievance processes for SHRA and EHRA Non-Faculty employees
  3. Participating in an extensive Q&A with the Senior Associate Vice Chancellor for HR and Academic Personnel Linc Butler to clarify details about the recently updated SHRA pay ranges and process by which departments can initiate pay increases for their staff
  4. Meeting with individual employees to hear their concerns and, in some cases, referring them to other offices or staff on campus who could better address their issues.

III.   Ongoing Concerns and/or Issues for Next

 

  1. Continuing to advocate for better treatment, resources, and pay for Housekeeping Services employees in follow-up to Resolution 22-02 since the University hired Associate Vice Chancellor for Facilities Services Wendy Halsey in February 2024.
  2. Calling for the University to work with state and local governments and other relevant stakeholders to increase the amount of affordable housing in the Town of Chapel Hill and nearby communities so employees have safe and affordable housing near where they work.
    1. Meet with the Associate Vice Chancellor of University Real Estate Operations Gordon Merklein
  3. Calling for University leadership to improve the University’s ability to hire and retain a diverse and skilled workforce.
    1. Meet with Office of Human Resources representatives to better understand recruitment and hiring processes
    2. Monitor changes to employee leave, pay, classification, benefits, and other policies proposed and/or implemented by the State of North Carolina, UNC System Board of Governors, UNC-CH Board of Trustees, and campus leaders as well as the impact these changes have on recruitment and retention:
      1. Conversion of EHRA to EPS
      2. State Health Plan
        1. Third party administrator change from Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) to Aetna effective January 2025; decision still being litigated as of June 2024.
        2. Dropped coverage of GLP-1 and GIP-GLP-1 drugs for the purposes of weight loss effective April 2024, although these drugs will still be covered for members managing diabetes.
      3. State Retirement Plan
        1. UNC Health and ECU Health moved to a new retirement system effective January 2024. It remains to be seen what impact this will have on the Teachers and State Employees Retirement System (TSERS).
      4. Revision of UNC System Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Policy
        1. UNC System Board of Governors voted to repeal Section 300.8.5 of the UNC Policy Manual which required DEI services and officers for all 17 UNC System institutions.

d.    Committee Structure and Scope

 

  1. Rotating, two-year terms of co-chairs.
    1. One co-chair rotates off, new chair rotates on annually

[Co-chair system is essential to the work of the committee, demanding work, consistent committee presence, one of the chairs is always at Vice Chancellor Representatives (VC Reps), Executive Committee, and full Forum meetings.]

  1. Monthly meetings
    1. Zoom meetings are generally scheduled according to when most committee members are available to attend
    2. Additional meetings may be scheduled as needed
  2. Collaboration and coordination with other groups

[Some topics and issues this committee seeks to address overlap with the

interests of other committees and advisory bodies like the DEI Committee, Staff Advisory Committee to the Chancellor (STACC), and UNC System Staff Assembly, to name a few….]