Inside Clemson

Inside NOW: Highway 93 improvements; Kowalski: the art of complaining; HR service center

Scroll down to read the following articles:

  1. SC Highway 93 pedestrian safety improvements
  2. Research: Robin Kowalski—The art of complaining
  3. HR Service Center delivers information in a one-stop experience
  4. Clemson participates in Upstate International Month
  5. Parking/Transit—closures, towing events and transit service changes for March 14-22
  6. CCIT professional development to hold leadership summit presentation

1. SC Highway 93 pedestrian safety improvements: Construction continues with the closure of the merge lane on Highway 93 at Williamson Road

Construction continues along Highway 93 adjacent to Riggs soccer field on the project to improve pedestrian safety. The sidewalk along Highway 93 between College Avenue and Williamson Road is closed. Beginning March 18, the merge lane at Williamson Road will be closed and removed. Motorists and pedestrians should stay clear of barricades and temporary fencing; observe construction signage and avoid this area if possible while work is in progress.

A sketch depicting the project can be viewed at http://media.clemson.edu/facilities/pdf/Capital%20Projects/H12-9892-MJ/Tree%20plan.pdf

For questions related to this project, contact Tommi Jones at tommij@clemson.edu.

2. Research: Robin Kowalski—The art of complaining

Nag…nag. Gripe…gripe. We hear it all the time. People complain about the weather. They gripe about their boss or their co-workers. They are dissatisfied with their home and family life. In fact, if you really listen, people complain so much, you wonder if anyone is ever really happy. But are the people who are complaining truly dissatisfied or are they using complaining as a means of obtaining some other outcome? For years, I’ve been interested in answering these very questions.

Years ago, I myself was complaining (or so I am told) to an academic colleague about the fact that I wanted my own research niche. I was growing a bit tired of continuing to exclusively do research that fell within the expertise of my advisors’ in graduate school. As I “apparently” bemoaned the fact that I had yet to find this niche, the individual I was talking to jokingly said “well, you are such a good complainer, maybe that is what you should investigate.” So, I did. The next day I headed to the library only to discover that this behavior that everyone engages in at least occasionally had been examined in psychological research only one time. My niche had been found.

A million questions were immediately raised, many of which have yet to be empirically studied. What is complaining? Why do people complain? Are there any benefits to complaining? What are the consequences of complaining for the complainer and his/her relationship with others?  Clearly complaining is an expression of dissatisfaction but I realized very quickly that people sometimes complain even when they are not dissatisfied because complaining allows you to achieve either intrapersonal or interpersonal goals. What are some of those goals? Complaining is a wonderful ice breaker that can ease otherwise awkward or unscripted social interactions. See how frequently people complain the next time they have to wait in a doctor’s office and can’t think of anything else to say to the person sitting next to them. Complaining also serves a self-presentational function, allowing us to convey to others that we are discriminating in our tastes. We may, for example, complain about the food or wine at a restaurant to convey to others that we have a very …palate. Complaining may also serve as a way of calling others to account for their behavior. When a husband complains to his wife that she is always late getting home from work, he is expecting her to offer an account for her lateness. Of course, and perhaps most obviously, complaining also allows us to just vent….to get our frustrations off of our chest. When you rant and rave at the driver who just cut you off, he or she can’t hear you. So, it’s highly unlikely that you are going to change their driving behavior. However, you will probably feel better after your rant.

Not everyone, however, complains to the same degree. Some people complain rarely whereas others complain far too frequently. At the extreme is a group of people known as help-rejecting complainers. These are people who play Eric Berne’s game “Why Don’t You….Yes But.” For every complaint that they express, you say “Why Don’t You….” Only to be met with “Yes…but..” You are not going to offer these individuals any solution that they have not already thought of. These people are particularly intriguing to me because they sacrifice relationships with their complaining, so it must serve some other purpose for them. Finding that purpose is a goal of future research. For most people, the best approach to complaining is NOT to complain excessively but to complain in moderation and to be selective in choosing an audience to the complaint. Depending on what you are dissatisfied with, some people are more inclined to want to hear about it than others. Some people are better able to offer solutions than others. Awareness seems to be the key to learning to be able to complain selectively and in moderation. This is also something I’m very much interested in researching. What happens over time as people do become more aware of their complaining. Do they initially express shock at how much they complain and immediately reduce the frequency with which they express dissatisfaction? Do they realize that maybe their approach is wrong and change the manner in which they complain?

What about gender differences. Our research suggests that there are gender differences with women expressing dissatisfaction with their relational partners more than men. But, what does that mean? Does that mean that men are more annoying than women? Probably not. Does it mean that women are more likely to express their dissatisfaction than men. Perhaps. Or, maybe, what men view as complaining, women view as confiding. Only more research will tell.

3. HR Service Center delivers information in a one-stop experience

You have questions and HR has answers.

Need information about human resources (HR) or payroll-related issues? Just visit the HR Service Center. Using self-service and interactive components, this online resource offers accurate, reliable and comprehensive information in one area.

“We want to give our customers a one-stop experience in finding the information that they need,” said Michelle Piekutowski, chief human resources officer. “With the HR Service Center, our customers do not have to spend valuable time and resources searching multiple Web pages to get answers to their questions.”

The HR Service Center is comprised of three components: frequently asked questions (FAQs), Ask-HR and HR Toolkits.

FAQs

FAQs are a self-service tool. They are sorted into audience types, such as faculty, staff and supervisors. These documents are constantly updated with questions that come into the HR Service Center. Within each audience type, there are categories and subcategories, which makes navigating and searching for a question quick and easy.

Ask-HR

Can’t find what you need in the FAQs? Just Ask HR! Ask-HR provides an interactive experience where employees can submit questions online.  The questions are fielded by trained HR representatives who are segmented into teams that deal with specific areas such as benefits, recruitment, payroll and many others.

Once a question is submitted, it is assigned a “ticket” and forwarded electronically to an HR team member who will then follow up with the customer directly.

To ensure that submissions are being addressed in a timely manner, Human Resources has implemented dashboard technology, which tracks the ticket from submission to conclusion.

“This system gives me the opportunity to monitor all Ask-HR requests to ensure that our customers are getting the information they need when they need it,” said John Mueller, director of customer service. “It’s an efficient and reliable process.”

HR toolkits

HR toolkits offer consolidated information on a variety of HR topics and functions.  Presented with the same look and feel, each toolkit includes a step-by-step process and features links to relevant HR forms, policies, related documents and a glossary. HR toolkits are continuously being developed for all audience types, similar to those established for FAQs.

“We are developing a comprehensive assortment of HR toolkits in an easy-to-follow format to help our customers in preparing and processing common HR transactions,” explained Mueller.

Next time you need HR information or service, visit the HR Service Center!

Have an idea about a faculty or staff profile, contact Jackie Todd at jtodd3@clemson.edu.

4. Clemson participates in Upstate International Month

Clemson University has joined Michelin North American and the International Center of the Upstate to celebrate Upstate International Month during the month of March.

A number of events on campus will highlight and celebrate the number of international cultures represented among the residents and businesses of Upstate South Carolina. Many of these cultures are represented on the Clemson campus in the student body, as Clemson has more than 1,400 international students from 81 countries currently enrolled.

Events planned at Clemson for the remainder of the month are:

    • Through March 15 –  Lee Hall, Acorn Gallery – New Work by Yuichiro Komatsu Exhibition. Yuichiro Komatsu creates model-like architectural objects and structures of familiar, contemporary, industrial landscapes that explore the fragile nature of our system and infrastructure that is often idealized. The exhibit is free and open to the public.
    • Wednesday, March 13, 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m., Hendrix Student Center – 6th annual Language and International Trade Conference, featuring speakers from international companies such as Disneyland Paris, Dixon Hughes Goodman and Buckeye Technologies. Free and open to the public.
    • Thursday, March 14, 8 p.m., Brooks Center – Concert performance by Danu, one of the world’s leading traditional Irish ensembles. Tickets: $20 for adults/$10 for students.
    • Friday, March 22, 8 p.m., Garrison Arena – Easy Bend IPRA World Championship Rodeo. Tickets for adults are $15 in advance, $20 at the gate. Kids age 13 and under are $5.
    • Wednesday, March 27, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Class of 1941 Studio in Daniel Hall – Italian Summit, featuring world-renowned Italian speaker, Giorgio Calcagnini, who will speak on the topic “Labor productivity and competitiveness in Europe and the U.S.” Free and open to the public.
    • Tuesday, March 26, 6 p.m., Madren Conference Center – Fulbright Academic Symposium, to recognize the academic contributions of the Fulbright community at Clemson University. Current and former Fulbright recipients will discuss the Fulbright experience and the  value of the global exchange of ideas.
    • Thursday, March 28, 7 p.m., Bracket Hall, Room 101 – A Night of Cross-Cultural Education. IREX International Leaders in Education scholars and Clemson faculty will host a panel discussion on the relationship between industry and education and how culture, curriculum, technology, and teacher motivation influence educational outcomes.
    • Sunday, April 7, noon – 4 p.m., Bowman Field – International Festival, a celebration of cultural awareness and sharing at Clemson. During the festival, individual volunteers or clubs and organizations represent their home country or state by preparing food to share with others or by providing entertainment. Thousands of students, faculty, staff, and area residents will come out to enjoy food and entertainment.

    Upstate International Month is also sponsored by OurUpstateSC.Info and The Greenville Journal.

    For more information and a full listing of events around the Upstate, visit http://www.upstateinternational.org/Index.

    5. PARKING/TRANSIT – Parking closures, towing events and transit service changes for March 14-22

    There are a number of events occurring across campus in the upcoming week. Please note that some of these events may impact your parking routine.

    Spring break parking

    Please note that all parking regulations are enforced on campus throughout the break. If you have any questions on where you can park, please consult the permit rules found here http://www.clemson.edu/campus-life/campus-services/parking/parkingpermits/permitTypes.html.

    Parking at Brooks Center: Towing beginning at 6 p.m. on Thursday, March 14

    Thursday, March 14, the white spaces in C-11 will be reserved starting at 6 p.m. for Patron’s Row parking for the performance of Danú. Any vehicles left in these spaces after 6pm will be subject to tow. For more information about the show please visit http://calendar.clemson.edu/event/dan#.UT97FVeqG1w.

    ADA Spaces near Biosystems Research Center closed due to construction

    Beginning Sunday, March 17 at 6 p.m., the ADA spaces located adjacent to the Biosystems Research Complex (BRC Building) will be closed due to construction which will address the water problem that occurs when it rains. The spaces will reopen at 9 a.m. on Thursday, March 21.

    To view where other ADA spaces may be available, please consult the online parking map at http://www.clemson.edu/campus-life/campus-services/parking/multimedia/pdf/ParkingMap.pdf.

    Holiday Transit Service Schedules

    CAT begins holiday service schedule on the Red Route Saturday, March 16

    CAT will run its Holiday Service Schedule on the Red Route starting on Saturday, March 16. Regular service will resume at 2 p.m. Sunday, March 24. For more information, please visit the Clemson Area Transit Web site at www.catbus.com.

    No on-campus CAT service March 18 – 22

    No on-campus CAT bus services (Orange, Purple, Blue, and Green Routes) will be offered the week of spring break, March 18 – 22. Regular service will resume Monday, March 25 at 7:30 a.m. For more information, please visit the Clemson Area Transit Web site at www.catbus.com.

    Abbreviated Research Park Shuttle Hours March 18 – 21 / No Service on March 22

    Clemson University Parking and Transportation will be operating abbreviated shuttle hours during spring break between the Hendrix Student Center and the Clemson Research Park in Anderson. The shuttle pick-up times are as follows:

    -Hendrix Student Center:    8 a.m., 9 a.m., 10 a.m., 5 p.m., 6 p.m., 7 p.m.

    -Research Park:    8:30 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 5:30 p.m., 6:30 p.m., 7:30 p.m.

    6. CCIT professional development to hold leadership summit presentation

    When:  Wednesday, March 20, 2013 at 2:00 p.m.

    Where:  BellSouth Auditorium, Madren Center

    Clemson CCIT is paving the path for leadership and professional development. With Jim Bottum’s support, this group has organized a program to help employee recognition, self-awareness and a unique team building experience. Each program has a project assignment to put their thinking and coaching skills into practice. Effective internal communications is vital to an organization’s health, and its challenges are a continuing topic across Clemson. This team will be presenting their advice about how to best communicate with Clemson audiences.

    Upcoming events