GUEST COLUMNIST

Linda Faris
Director of
Employee and Management Services

Have you heard that Stanford University is piloting a new background check policy for staff positions? That’s right! Beginning on August 25, 2008, all of Business Affairs, the Stanford Management Company, the Stanford Center for Professional Development and two departments at the School of Medicine have agreed to be a part of the pilot group. Beginning sometime in 2009, the rest of the University will join in the program as well.

Stanford has contracted with HireRight, an independent organization specializing in pre-employment screening, to conduct the background checks for all new hires and current employees who voluntarily accept a promotion or transfer within the pilot group. This includes temporary employees, casual employees and students accepting a staff position within the pilot group.

The reasons behind doing background checks are many, but the main goal is to ensure a safe and secure environment for all Stanford staff, students and faculty. The background check process will support efforts to increase applicant quality while identifying and discouraging applicants with a questionable background. The standard background check includes: Social Security number verification, review of national and state criminal records based on place of residence during the last seven years, verification of the highest degree earned and employment verification for the last seven years. Additional verification checks can be required if critical to the position. These include, but are not limited to, national sex offender registry, credit screening and motor vehicle record check.

Background checks are conducted before an offer is made. Once the department has identified their “final candidate” for an open position, that person will be required to submit an authorization and disclosure form to HireRight to initiate the process. Once the screening has taken place (within two business days), HireRight will notify the HRM or HRA and in turn notify the hiring manager and the candidate of the results.

In addressing privacy issues, Stanford will follow state and federal laws that ensure a candidate’s right to privacy, which prohibits employees and others from using or disclosing personal information except within the scope of their assigned duties. As Stanford’s vendor, HireRight conducts the background check under the direction of Stanford Human Resources. The Office of Staff Employment serves as the central office of record for all background check results and maintains strict confidentiality. Departments do not receive any details of the background check, only a notification of whether the screening has revealed results that do not meet Stanford Policy.

Candidates can request a copy of their background check under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) by requesting a copy at the time they complete the authorization form with HireRight.

 

Benefits Corner

2009 Open Enrollment
Open Enrollment for 2009 benefits is almost here. This year, it starts October 24 and ends November 14. All Stanford employees will receive a newsletter at their mailing address with new rates for 2009, enrollment information, dates of fairs plus other opportunities to learn first-hand about their benefits. Click here for the full list.

To continue their support of Sustainable Stanford, complete enrollment information can be found online at the Stanford Benefits Web site starting Wednesday, October 8. Information will include a guide on enrollment, a summary of benefits, a comparison chart, and full-time and part-time contributions for 2009.

Employees on leave, long-term disability, and those in a union position will receive a package in the mail. Employees with limited computer access, can use the computers in the Stanford Benefits lobby at 320 Panama (Bambi Modular).

Faculty and Staff Help Center
The Help Center offers new workshops and continuing group meetings every month. Attendance is open to all faculty and staff on a first come, first served basis. All meetings are held in the Faculty and Staff Help Center location in Mariposa House.

This month’s noontime workshop is Sex Differences in the Human Brain: A lot or a little? Presented by Dr. Allan Reis on Tuesday, October 7 from noon to 1 p.m.

Ongoing group meeings


Parenting of Teens Group
Topic: Parenting Styles

First Monday of every month
(October 6 )
Noon – 1 p.m.

Substance Abuse Recovery Group

First & Third Tuesdays of every month
(October 7 and 21)
Noon – 1 p.m.

Grief Group
Topic: The Four Tasks of Grief

Second Tuesday of every month (October 14)
5 p.m. – 6 p.m.

Anger Management Group
Topic: Road Rage

Last Thursday of every month (October 30)
5:00 p.m. – 5:50 p.m.

For additional workshop topics and schedules, get on the Help Center email distribution list at workshops-join@lists.stanford.edu or call 723-4577.

Celebrate Work and Family with WorkLife
In recognition of the national Work-Family Initiative passed in 2003, The WorkLife Office is celebrating Work-Family Month in October. A family activities calendar will be available next week in Bambi’s reception area and on their Web site. Those who have signed up on the WorkLife email distribution list will automatically receive an activities calendar.

It’s not too late to get on the WorkLife distribution list. Go to WorkLife_Information-join@lists.stanford.edu

 

Managing@Stanford Conference

Managing@Stanford - Conference 2008After a two-year break, Learning & Development/Human Resources has taken over the planning of the Managing@Stanford Conference, sponsored by Business Affairs. The conference will be held on Monday, November 10, 2008 from 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

This conference is for people who manage staff, projects or programs (and you too)! You know your best managers. You know your most engaged managers. You know who your new managers are who would benefit from attending this conference. Please encourage them to sign up now for a day devoted to developing in their role as a manager, sharing best practices, and networking with colleagues across the Stanford community. Click here for conference details.

Act soon, participation is limited to the first 250 who sign up and less than 100 seats remain! To register, go to STARS and look for course # TOD-6603.

 

News Briefs from SLAC

SLAC Stars on Jeopardy

For those of you who may have missed it, SLAC starred on the network TV show Jeopardy last month. There was an entire category based on work done at SLAC, with that segment of the show filmed in and around SLAC. To read more about it and see a clip of the questions and answers from the show, and see the article “Accelerators for $2000, Alex.”

Lee Lyon says Good-bye!
It is official – Lee Lyon has retired from SLAC, yet he keeps on working until his replacement is found. During Lee’s last months at work, he held dual responsibilities: Director of Human Resources and acting Director of Communications.

On Thursday, August 28, 2008, SLAC honored Lee at a retirement celebration. Mistress of Ceremonies, Carmella Huser introduced several speakers who recalled milestones and humorous stories around Lee’s 20 year career at SLAC. Speakers included Persis Drell, SLAC Director; Jonathan Dorfan, and Burton Richter, Former SLAC Directors; Doug Dupen, Former SLAC HR Director; Joan Minor, Former SLAC HR Assistant; Susan Hoerger, HR Manager, Stanford School of Medicine; Neil Calder, Former SLAC Director of Communications; Al Ashley, Former HR Manager; David Harris, SLAC Communications; and Barry Webb, SLAC Employee Relations.

The SLAC HR Chorus Singers (Elaine Beidatsch, Charlotte Carlson, Carmella Huser, Karen Lawrence, Barbara Mason, and Lisa Mongetta) sang a parody of the song to the tune, The Lion Sleeps Tonight. Many employees commented that it was the best retirement party they had ever attended!

Charlotte Carlson
HR Training & Development, SLAC

 

Serra Complex

From Rubble to New Campus

The day after the last Central HR groups moved out of the Serra Complex, the construction (or, would that be destruction?) crews arrived. Here's the destruction slideshow

Destruction/Construction

Here is the new campus slideshow