What's New

• Our supervisors are faced with the every day responsibility of effectively managing their employees.  Managing Performance Expectations - Turning Managerial Challenges into Positive Results is a training program developed by the Department of Administration to train all levels of managers on how to identify and communicate performance expectations to their subordinates and to turn those managerial challenges into positive results.  For more information about this course and how to enroll, click here.
• To view the policy communication that has been issued regarding compensation for employees for Monday, October 29, 2012 and Tuesday, October 30, 2012, click here. For information regarding compensation for Standard employees who worked on October 29, 2012 or October 30, 2012, click here. For information regarding compensation for Non-Standard employees who worked on October 29, 2012 or October 30, 2012, click here. Also, click here to review the clarification memo addressing instances of pre-requested/pre-planned/management pre-approved leave hours scheduled within the hours of the state of emergency.
  
• The current accrual year will end on Saturday, December 29, 2012. Under current labor contracts and personnel policies, employees at the end of the accrual year may carry over to the next year up to two years of previously accrued vacation.  Any vacation accruals over two years are deemed excess; employees must discharge all excess vacation accruals on or before December 29, 2012.  As of that date, any unused excess vacation accruals will be forfeited.  No extension will be granted to discharge unused excess vacation accruals. New calendar year up front days will be credited to employees beginning January 1, 2013. Personal Leave must be discharged on or before December 31, 2012. For those retiring/terminating:  In order to qualify for payment for the “current” vacation leave accrual for calendar year 2012, ending Saturday, December 29, 2012, the employee’s effective date of retirement/termination must be on or before Saturday, December 29, 2012.

Based on your years of service, your allowable carryover is:

Years of Service	35/NS Hr. Work Week	40 Hr. Work Week
0-5 Years	140 Hours	160 Hours
5-10 Years	210 Hours	240 Hours
10-15 Years	252 Hours	288 Hours
15-20 Years	280 Hours	320 Hours
20-25 Years	364 Hours	416 Hours
25+ Years	392 Hours	448 Hours

• New Employees: Your State of Rhode Island 401(a) Defined Contribution Retirement Plan, also know as the Rhode to Retirement program, is managed by TIAA-CREF. Once hired, employees are automatically enrolled in a new TIAA-CREF account and will receive a Welcome Kit. Beginning with your first paycheck, a percentage of your compensation, along with your employer’s contribution, will be contributed to your TIAA-CREF investment account. To review the Rhode to Retirement New Hire Guide, click here.
• The Office of Employee Benefits has announced the 2012-2013 Rewards for Wellness Program, where eligible employees can earn up to $500 in co-share incentive credits for participating in wellness programs and screenings.  For more information, go to their website or click here.
• Please review the document entitled Political Activities - RI State Law and Federal Hatch Act Restrictions which provides guidance and statutory references regarding  parameters for political activity by State employees.
• Effective July 1, 2012, the rate used to reimburse State employees for use of their personally owned vehicles on state business has been increased from $0.51 per mile to $0.555 per mile. Please note that the State reimbursement rate is adjusted according to the rate set by the federal General Services Administration (GSA). The GSA has recently adjusted their rate to the Internal Revenue Service rate of $0.555 per mile. This rate should also be used to reimburse volunteers who use their own vehicles on state business. All in-state reimbursement forms have been revised to reflect the change. Updated reimbursement form »
• Active Employees: You should have received several important mailings from TIAA-CREF including a Transition Guide and Welcome Kit confirming the enrollment in your new Rhode to Retirement defined contribution plan. If you have not received these mailings, it may be because your address with the Retirement System is incorrect or out-of-date. Please contact TIAA-CREF immediately at 1-800-897-1026 to update your address and these important documents will be promptly mailed to your correct address.
• FY 2009 Pay Reduction (PR) Leave - The deadline to discharge or receive cash payment for the FY2009 Pay Reduction leave accrued by State employees in 2009 is fast approaching. The deadline to discharge the PR leave is June 30, 2012. Employees who choose to discharge this leave may do so during any payroll period through June 30, 2012. The exception code for the discharge of this leave to be used on the timesheets is “RT” (Example: "7RT"). This leave may only be discharged as a “FULL” day and may not be discharged in increments. The deadline to request cash payment for this day is June 15, 2012. Employees who choose cash payment for this day must fill out the form entitled “Request for Payment of Pay Reduction “PR” Leave”. This form must be submitted to your Payroll Office by June 15, 2012. No request for payment will be honored after June 15, 2012. PR Leave not discharged or paid by June 30, 2012 will be lost. The FY 2009 Pay Reduction Policy »
• A Policy on Social Networking was recently issued by the Department of Administration Division of Information Technology. This policy establishes guidelines for State agencies, departments, vendors, employees and any individuals with access rights to the State's networks regarding the use of Web 2.0 Social Networking sites, including, but not limited to, Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, YouTube, Linkedln and Blogger.