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September 17, 2018

New Adobe Courses Available:

Filed under: Advice & Support,Developing Excellence — Tags: , , — Mohammed Alam @ 11:38 am

IT Training is offering three exciting new Adobe courses this term for all members of our University community. Whatever your role, you’ll likely need to use images or digital media to explain concepts. Whislt you don’t necessarily need to be an Adobe power user, understanding how to work with the core tools can both empower you and help you to produce more compelling content.

Photoshop for beginners,  22 & 23 Oct, 3 & 4 Dec

An introduction to this industry-standard image editing software that allows users to manipulate, enhance, crop, resize and correct colour on digital images. You’ll analyse how an image can be improved and then edit it in order to improve it.

InDesign for beginners, 29 & 30 Oct, 10 & 12 Dec

Learn how to create and edit multi-page documents for publication and screen use. You’ll learn how to build a document layout; create documents in various sizes and page lengths; add, import and edit text as well as place and manipulate photographs and graphics.

Create your own marketing materials, 5, 6 & 7 Nov, 7, 8 & 9 Jan

In the first part of this course you will use Photoshop to edit, fix and augment your images to make them look striking and prepare them for web and print. Then you are introduced to Illustrator and vector graphics for logos and infographics. Lastly, you will concentrate on InDesign where you will put together brochures, banners and other materials using the media which you created previously.

For more information and to book these and other digital skills courses, visit the IT Training web page


April 30, 2018

HAN Drop-in session

Filed under: Advice & Support — Tags: — Mohammed Alam @ 11:13 am

The Harassment Advisory Network offers a drop-in session each Tuesday, 1pm-2pm in 4N.6.2. No appointment is necessary, just turn up for a confidential 45minute chat with one of our Harassment Advisers, who will help “signpost” you to routes to solution and support for any harassment or bullying issues you may have.


March 5, 2018

HR Organiser and People Manager are changing

Filed under: Advice & Support — Tags: , , — Mohammed Alam @ 2:20 pm

The current HR Organiser and People Manager are undergoing some changes to improve the user experience and implement some additional features. From 6 March 2018 the new look and feel will be in place. You don’t need to do anything; the changes will be there when you next log in.

HR Organiser:

What’s new?

–       New look and feel

–       You can now view your grade, scale point and salary under the employment tab

HR-Blog-1

Hints and Tips

–       Moving home? You can change your address or add a secondary address

–       Keep an eye out for news, updates and tips on the home page

–       Did you know you can log into HR Organiser from your smart phone?

 

People Manager

What’s new?

–       New look and feel, fewer clicks to navigate

–       Can view an absence/leave calendar for your whole team (click on the “out of office today” box on your homepage)

–       Can see details of maternity/paternity and adoption leave

–       Easier to approve timesheets directly

–       A new summary page where you can see all your employees’ information in one place, including their annual leave balance and sickness history

hr blog 2

Did you know?

– You can redirect your approvals when on leave by selecting “redirect your tasks” on the homepage

– You can check probation and fixed-term end dates under the personal information tab on each employee’s information page

 

If you have any queries please email hrorg@essex.ac.uk who will be able to assist you. If you have any queries on the information held within HR Organiser or People Manager please contact staffing@essex.ac.uk/


January 10, 2018

You told us, we’re listening and making changes!

Filed under: Advice & Support,Developing Excellence,Uncategorized — Tags: , — Mohammed Alam @ 2:04 pm

Banner-3 people

Tanya, Donna and Claire tell us about planned improvements to the way we use People Manager and HR Organiser.

 

Q: Why are improvements needed to HR Organiser?

A: People told us in a recent survey, that although generally they found HR Organiser to be a useful tool, some improvements were needed to make a better experience for users.

 

Q: What are the key areas that people told you needed to be improved?

A: The feedback we received was that people were keen to see some changes in relation to annual leave calculations, user guides and the way we present learning events.

 

Q: What did people like about HR Organiser?

A: The survey respondents told use that generally people felt confident making annual leaving bookings and viewing information such as payslips, P60s and personal data. People also liked that they could access information 24/7 and keep track of annual leave.

 

Q: How will you go about making the changes?

A: The iHR programme board is responsible for overseeing the full implementation of iTrent.   Some of the changes you would like to see to the way HR Organiser and People Manager look and feel are being addressed through a systems upgrade in February 2018.

 

Q: Who is responsible for taking improvements forward?

A: The HR Employee Relations team, Finance Business Systems team and IT Services all have responsibility for the successful implementation and improvement of iTrent and are committed to working together to achieve this.

 

Q: What are the timescales?

A: We’re working on a number of changes including:

  • The way annual leave is calculated and booked
  • Linking Moodle learning events and Essential Training to HR Organiser records
  • Creating lean recruitment processes through iTrent to avoid duplication and reduce time to recruit
  • Improving the look and feel of HR Organiser
  • Reviewing the user guides

 

Changes will be implemented between now and July 2018.

 

Q: How will any changes be communicated?

A: We’ll communicate changes through a variety of mediums, including e-mails to managers, messages on HR Organiser, updates on the HR blog and notices in Essex Weekly.

 

Q: I have further feedback to share regarding People Manager/HR Organiser/iTrent, who can I speak to?

A: You can speak to any of the Programme Board:

  • Marc Albano, Deputy Director of Finance (Business Systems)
  • Donna Scott, Business Systems Manager
  • Susie Morgan, Director of HR
  • Richard Murphy, Director of IT Services
  • Sara Limerick, Assistant Director of HR – Employee Relations and Reward
  • Tanya Clements, Payroll and Reward Manager
  • Nicola East, HR Information Manager
  • Nilufer Demirkan-Jones, Head of Essex Pathways
  • Claire Foster, Resourcing Manager
  • Jo Andrews, Assistant Director of HR – Organisational Development

Q: How can I get involved in the project?

A: We are keen to hear from people who would be interested in undertaking some user testing. If you would like to volunteer to test out potential systems changes before they are made live please send your details to Tanya Clements, Payroll and Reward Manager.


November 8, 2017

International Men’s Day – Free NHS Health Checks

Filed under: Advice & Support,Athena SWAN,Equality and Diversity — Tags: , — Mohammed Alam @ 5:43 pm

In recognition of International Men’s Day, free NHS health checks for men are available at Colchester and Southend campuses on Wednesday 22 November.

Confidential checks will be carried out by a fully trained Health Check worker, and will take approximately 20minutes to complete. Fully explained results will be provided instantly, guidance will also be provided.

To qualify, you must be male aged between 40-74 years, registered with a local GP or living in Essex and not had a check in the last 5 years.

Testing will take place 10am-6pm at Colchester (mobile testing unit parked by the Ivor Crewe Lecture Hall) and 11.30am-2.30pm at Southend (GB.3.54).

To book your free confidential health check, please call 0800 022 4524 (select option 1), please make sure you advise which campus you are at.


October 4, 2017

Harassment Advisory Network Drop In sessions

Filed under: Advice & Support — Tags: , — Mohammed Alam @ 3:45 pm

The Harassment Advisory Network offers a confidential signposting service for staff, students and visitors who experience any kind of bullying or harassment, relating to, for example, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, race, religion, etc.

We are pleased to announce that our weekly Drop-In sessions, will commence on Tuesday 3 October from 1pm to 2pm in the Multi-Faith Chaplaincy, Room MFC 1. No appointment is necessary, just turn up. An adviser will be on duty to help ‘signpost’ you to routes to solutions and support.

Alternatively, you can make an appointment to speak to a Harassment Adviser by contacting the network by phone on 01206 874334 or through email at harass@essex.ac.uk. There is more information about the network on the Harassment page of our Equality and Diversity website.

If you believe that you have been the victim of a Hate Crime you can report that to the Hate Incident Reporting Centre via hirc@essex.ac.uk or directly to the police. Information on how to do this is on the Reporting Hate Crime page of our Equality and Diversity website.


September 5, 2017

English Classes For Dependents of International Students and Staff (ECDIS)

Filed under: Advice & Support — Tags: , , — Mohammed Alam @ 12:00 pm

The ECDIS programme offers adult dependents of University students, staff or visiting fellows the opportunity to improve their English through free classes on campus. ECDIS also gives participants the chance to meet people from other countries and cultures, and helps students develop their language skills while learning about UK society.

The classes are taught at three basic level: Beginner.Elementary, Lower Intermediate/Intermediate and Upper Intermediate/Advanced and the main focus will be listening, speaking, and reading with some limited focus on writing skills. there is also a weekly Social English session open to all ECDIS students, at which participants have the opportunity to practice their English conversation skills and discuss topics relating to life in Britain.

For more information or to register for these classes, contact us on ecdis@essex.ac.uk

 


August 29, 2017

Supporting you to safeguard members of our community

Filed under: Advice & Support — Tags: , — Mohammed Alam @ 10:36 am

The essence of safeguarding:   “This course just reminds us all to care for one another,” captured by a participant at the close of a recent training session.

Whether we are safeguarding a child (anyone under the age of 18) or adult at risk, essentially we are watching out for those who are most vulnerable and at times, guiding them to our services where they can find help and support, such as Student Support, Occupational Health, and Validium,

Safeguarding those who are most vulnerable is the responsibility of all members of our community, which includes all members of staff, student volunteers, those who are participating in a University activity, a contractor or a visitor to one of our campuses.  Regardless of your role, we all have a duty of care towards our children and adults at risk within our community.

But we don’t expect you to do this alone – training and support is available which will help you know when someone is at risk and who you should tell.

  • Safeguarding Essentials – using case studies, this Moodle module will help you understand the many areas of safeguarding and what your responsibilities are.  It will also guide you on how to escalate a concern and what support is available.  This is an e-learning module and you should allow 1 hour for completion.  Please email safeguard@essex.ac.uk for an access code.
  • WRAP (Workshop to raise awareness about Prevent) is a face-to-face training session which captures one specific area of safeguarding.  By using case studies, this session will help you understand why someone may be drawn into terrorism, guide you on how to escalate a concern and help you understand what support is available both within our community and externally.

Current dates: 12 September (Colchester), 14 September (Southend) and 15 November (Colchester).  Places should be booked via HR Organiser.

Our website also gives you more information, including a link to our new Policy on Safeguarding Children and Adults at Risk and a very helpful guidance leaflet which includes some useful, do’s and don’ts.

If you would like more information about safeguarding please email safeguard@essex.ac.uk.


February 15, 2017

UKCEN and The 3 Million

Filed under: Advice & Support — Tags: — Marty Jacobs @ 11:10 am

Following the European Union referendum on 23rd June 2016, a shockwave has been travelling through the communities of non-British EU citizens who have built their lives in this country. The prospective withdraw from the European Union, known as Brexit, is understandably causing a lot of uncertainty and worry, especially for EU citizens who are part of the University’s diverse education and research community. Ritta Husted, Director of Education for International Academy, has found two excellent resources to help EU citizens and their families.

The first is a closed Facebook group called UKCEN (UK Citizenship European Nationals). The group is supported by a number of immigration lawyers who offer individual advice to questions posed by members on topics such as permanent resident applications and the naturalisation process—this service is free and simply invaluable. You can also read a plethora of informative FAQs and fact sheets through the group.

The other is a not-for-profit organisation and support network called The 3 Million, which campaigns to safeguard and guarantee the rights of EU citizens in the UK, and British citizens in Europe, after Brexit. It takes its name from the estimated number of EU citizens who moved from another member state to live and work in the UK. The organisation is working with politicians and the Government to preserve the rights of all EU citizens in the UK, as well as British citizens living in Europe, now and in the future. It also engages with businesses and public sector organisations to support EU workers. As well as their website, The 3 Million also manage a closed group on Facebook.

Both of these organisations are a fantastic source of support and give those affected by Brexit a way to discuss their options and share experiences.


December 15, 2016

New disciplinary procedure: a fair and consistent approach

Filed under: Advice & Support,Developing Knowledge,People Management — Tags: , — Therese Pagel @ 10:08 am

The University has launched a new disciplinary procedure.  This is part of our commitment in the People Supporting Strategy to justice in the workplace, including the right to a fair hearing.

High standards of professional behaviour and conduct are essential for the maintenance of a good working environment and the delivery of the University’s strategic plan.  The aim of the disciplinary procedure is to help and encourage required standards of behaviour, conduct and attendance.

The emphasis of the procedure is on tackling issues as they arise and dealing with matters informally without recourse to formal procedures.  If this has not been possible, then the procedure provides a fair and consistent approach – the individual has the right to see the case against them and to have a hearing where they are able to put forward a response.

The new procedure covers all University staff, supplementing the provisions of Ordinance 41.  The procedure sets timings at each stage to encourage a prompt resolution, to the benefit of all involved.

Link HR teams can provide more advice and support on the procedure.


 

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