Author: callara

February 2025 TABLE OF CONTENTS

• President’s Report
• Ombuds Report: Job Crafting
• News You Can Use
  • News from the Office of Human Resources
  • MBA: 864 Coffee Chats
  • Upcoming Events at the Brooks Center

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President’s Report

President’s Report: February 2025

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Ombuds Report

Ombuds Report: Job Crafting

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News You Can Use

February News from the Office of Human Resources

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MBA: 864 Coffee Chats

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Upcoming Events at the Brooks Center

Collage Dance Collective

Thursday, February 13, 2025 at 7:30 p.m.

Brooks Theatre

FREE, ticket required

Working to inspire the growth and diversity of ballet, Collage Dance Collective showcases a repertoire of relevant choreography and world-class dancers representative of the communities they serve. The professional company has presented thirteen full-length seasons in Memphis, plus national and international touring, presenting a diverse range of classical and contemporary choreography. Collage Dance Collective will perform Their Eyes Were Watching God, a neoclassical ballet based on the book by Zora Neale Hurston, and Rise, set to the iconic “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop” speech given by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in 1968.

This performance is funded in part by a grant from South Arts in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts. Additional support comes from the City of Clemson, Clemson Area African American Museum, Clemson University Global Black Studies, Clemson University Harvey and Lucinda Gantt Multicultural Center of the Division of Community, Engagement, Belonging, and Access, Clemson University Libraries, College of Arts and Humanities, Clemson University Humanities Hub, and the Office of the Provost.

Clemson University Orchestras: Silent Film Concert

Sunday, February 16, 2025 at 3 p.m.

Walhalla High School Auditorium

$5 Adults/Students FREE

Get ready for a cinematic experience like no other at the 2nd Annual Silent Film Concert presented by Clemson University Orchestras. A side-by-side concert experience with local high school musicians.

Into the Woods, presented by the Clemson Players

Saturday, March 1, 2025 at 7:30 p.m. and

Sunday, March 2, 2025 at 3 p.m.

Brooks Theatre

$15 Adults, $10 Students

Music & Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, Book by James Lapine
Directed by Kerrie Seymour
Musical Direction by Luke Browder
Conducted by Kim Souther

Fairy tales and real life collide in Sondheim and Lapine’s Into The Woods. Full of the late Stephen Sondheim’s signature sounds – both beautiful and incongruous – Into The Woods explores and explodes the idea of “happily ever after.”

Jazz at Lincoln Center present New Orleans Songbook: The Spirit of Mardi Gras

Tuesday, March 4, 2025 at 7:30 p.m.

Brooks Theatre

$45 Adults, $20 Students

Revel in the soul of New Orleans and the spirit of Mardi Gras with the latest JAZZ AT LINCOLN CENTER PRESENTS concert touring the nation in 2025 celebrating the New Orleans Songbook. Led by acclaimed pianist Luther S. Allison, featuring the soulful vocals of Quiana Lynell and Milton Suggs and backed by an equally brilliant band, this concert celebrates the legendary composers and timeless songs that define the Crescent City – best known as the historic epicenter of jazz. From the pioneering sounds of Jelly Roll Morton and Louis Armstrong to the distinctive stylings of Ellis Marsalis and James Black, this celebratory evening of amazing is not to be missed by fans of jazz, New Orleans and great music.

At times, things are difficult at work, and there’s nothing we can do about it.  We might have a colleague we have asked to include us in meetings, and still they ignore and exclude us.  We might have a supervisor we have brought concerns to, and they don’t do anything in response.  Maybe we just have a job that is boring or isn’t exactly what we want to be doing, but this is the job we have.  There is so much at work that is stressful that is out of our control.  But what about what is in our control?

I mentioned in a recent Staff Senate meeting that I am taking a class in the Industrial and Organizational Psychology program, and this semester, I am in Survey to Occupational Health with Dr. Robert Sinclair.  Learning about the different theories and strategies for occupational health has been incredibly relevant and helpful in the work that I do.  In class, we have been talking a lot lately about the different models of work stress.  One of these models, created by A. B. Bakker and E. Demerouti (2007), is called the Job-Demands-Resources model, or JDR.  JDR says that our collective job demands create stress and strain, which can eventually lead to physical and mental health problems and negative outcomes for the organization.  For example, if we have to lift heavy things daily, we might experience muscle strain that could eventually become an injury.  On the mental health side, if we feel demeaned and bullied by a supervisor, we might experience daily shame, fear, and anger, which can lead to increased depression and anxiety.  Either of these could lead to turnover, absenteeism, and a less well workforce. 

At the same time, the JDR model says that our collective job resources motivate us, which can lead to positive organizational outcomes, such as productivity, profitability, and employee engagement.  Job resources include autonomy, feedback, support, and even tangibles such as adequate annual leave.  When we have sufficient resources, we feel more motivated to do the work we need to do, and the organization benefits.  These two, interconnected processes are detailed below. 

Many of our job demands and job resources are just parts of the gig.  We can bring up our concerns, and we can (and should) advocate for ourselves.  However, even if change occurs, it will come slowly.  In the meantime, the idea of job crafting lets us take action now by enhancing our job resources on our own.  Job crafting essentially says if we cannot get what we need from our jobs, can we find that resource elsewhere?  If we are not getting the support we need from our supervisor, maybe we can find a mentoring relationship elsewhere and seek support outside of the formal hierarchy.  If we do not have the autonomy we want, maybe we can take on a separate project or join a staff development program like CU Grow that allows us to direct some of our own work.  Job crafting begins by taking stock of what we have and what we don’t have and then brainstorming ways to get what we need.  Here are some ideas:

• Apply for a development program like CU Grow, Extension Emerging Leadership Institute, or CCIT’s Leadership Development Program.
• Run for Staff Senate, or if you already have, run for a leadership position.
• Find external trainings that could enhance your skills and knowledge.
• Find colleagues and mentors who are willing to share feedback with you.
• Connect with colleagues on a personal level.  Maybe go to lunch or after-hours events.
• Look for gaps in what your department does, and present a plan for how you could take on responsibilities to fill that gap.
• Volunteer to do something you haven’t done before, such as present in front of the whole division or author a report.

At some point, you might decide that the job you have is ultimately not the job you want.  But changing jobs is also not simple or quick.  While you have the job you have, take some time to craft it into what you want it to be.  In addition to strengthening your skills and engagement, job crafting increases your job satisfaction and overall happiness.  Craft away!

Bakker, A.B. and Demerouti, E. (2007), “The Job Demands‐Resources model: state of the art”, Journal of Managerial Psychology, Vol. 22 No. 3, pp. 309-328. https://doi.org/10.1108/02683940710733115

Getting your MBA has never been so easy – live where you want, learn how you want, and let Clemson help cover the cost with Employee Tuition Assistance! Learn more during our upcoming virtual info sessions or Coffee Chats! Can’t make it? No problem! Please email us to set up a call with our team: mbaprogram@clemson.edu

Register for our upcoming Coffee Chats & info sessions here!

Dear Fellow Staff,

Greetings; I’m Stacey Miller, your Vice President for Staff Senate.

A new year is a time for renewal. Taking care of yourself is the greatest gift that you can give yourself. I recently had the opportunity to complete a workshop called “Struggle Well/Learning to Thrive.” This workshop was hosted by Dr. Anna Courie (Clemson’s Chief Well-being Officer) and Clemson’s Well-being Council. One takeaway from this training is that we all struggle, but it’s about struggling well. Did you know…One of Staff Senate’s missions is to advocate for your well-being in the workplace. My wish for you this new year is for you to invest in yourself, take a walk, breathe, or catch up with a co-worker over coffee.

We hope you can attend our next meeting scheduled for Thursday, February 13, 2025, 2:30-4:00 PM, Riggs, room 305. Reminder: If you would like to ask a question, please request to speak during the open comment period by contacting our office or relaying your questions to your senators.  

Giving back is the greatest gift that you can give yourself and others. There are a few opportunities to give back this month.

The battle of the Senate 2.0 will be held February 3-15, 2025. Please consider donating; all proceeds go to the Employee Emergency Fund, which supports your co-workers who may need additional kindness through financial assistance.

Staff Senate Blood Drive, scheduled for February 21, 2025.

Take care of yourself, Tigers; you matter to us!

Go Tigers!

Stacey Miller
Vice President 2024-2025

Ready to retire? Human Resources offers in-person “Navigating Your Retirement” course for those approaching retirement

Navigating Your Retirement is a group educational session designed to help employees identify where to begin the retirement process, understand their roles and responsibilities, and maximize the benefits offered by the State of South Carolina. These sessions will be most beneficial to those planning to retire within three months to a year. Sessions will be held monthly in the training room of the Administrative Services Building and registration online via Tiger Training is required.

Heart Health during Heart Month!

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for in the United States – but with the State Health Plan, you can take steps to prioritize heart health! Hello Heart is an easy-to-use program that helps you track, understand and manage your heart health from the privacy of your own phone. The Hello Heart program is offered at no cost to eligible State Health Plan primary members ages 18 and older. Participants will receive a free blood pressure monitor that connects to an app on their smartphone to help monitor and understand their heart health.

W-2s available online; paper forms mailed Jan. 31

Electronic W-2s are now available online for all active Clemson employees. W-2s can be accessed through Employee Self-Service under the Payroll and Compensation tile.

Payroll mailed paper W-2s to employees who did not consent to receive their form electronically on January 31.

Accessing Your W-2 Online

1. Navigate to the Payroll and Compensation tile in Employee Self-Service.
2. Click on the View W-2/W-2c Forms tab on the left-hand side.
3. Select View Form to generate a secure PDF of your W-2. You may experience a slight delay while your W-2 loads.

If you have trouble accessing your W-2 online, make sure your browser allows pop-ups. For further assistance, contact the CCIT Support Center.

Individuals who separated from Clemson University will no longer have access to the online system. W-2s will be mailed to employees who have separated from the University and those who did not consent to receive their form electronically.

For more information about W-2s, please visit the W-2 Information page on the Payroll website.

1095-C Forms will be prepared and available in Employee Self-Service no later than March 1. Paper copies will be mailed to individuals who did not consent to receive their documents electronically.

Questions? Ask-HR.

We’re all quick to remember our mistakes, losses, and miscommunications.  I want to remind us to stop and celebrate our wins.  I’m covering this topic for two reasons.  First, I recently did a training about resilience, and at the end I asked participants what they were taking away from the training.  Multiple people mentioned this concept of celebrating wins and how they needed the reminder to reflect not only on their shortcomings but also on their daily wins.  Second, I rewatched the Disney movie Soul with my son.  Soul came out during the pandemic, and when I first saw it, I was less impressed by it than I was by its creative and plot-heavy cousin Onward, also released during the pandemic.  This second time, though, I think I better understood its point:  While life can be full of huge ups and downs, dreams dashed and dreams realized, in between life is full of small, beautiful moments that we might miss if we are not careful. 

To me, these are related.  I would hope that anyone celebrates big accomplishments like a promotion, a raise, a graduation, and acceptance into a new program.  But what about these?  You finish a difficult conversation with your supervisor, and you share with them everything you intended to.  Or you set boundaries with a friend and then stick to those boundaries, even when they push back.  Or you hear the same passive-aggressive comment from a colleague, and this time you keep your cool.  These are all wins that might get unnoticed, especially if you are instead focusing on what you forgot to say in those conversations or what you wish you hadn’t said.  Celebrating wins does not mean you deny your mistakes.  It means that while you acknowledge the times you messed up, you acknowledge the times when you got it right. 

I will admit, celebrating everyday wins does not come naturally to me.  I was really struggling with a colleague recently; every interaction we had filled me with self-doubt and stayed in my mind as I tried to fall asleep at night.  Then we had an unpleasant interaction, and for that day, I was able to let it go.  When I told my husband about the interaction and how I didn’t really care, he congratulated me and (sort of) forced me to stop and reflect on what a big deal that was.  I can’t control what this colleague thinks of me or how they respond to me, but I can control how much I let it consume my time and energy. 

Here are a few ideas for celebrating everyday wins:

• Journal at the end of each day or each week to document the wins
• Make a plan with a friend or colleague to check in on each other’s wins
• Create a celebration jar where you document wins as they happen
• Commemorate wins on a calendar, so you can go back and look at your progress
• Treat yourself regularly

We are quick to hold on to our loses.  Let’s start to hold on to the wins. 

As 2024 comes to a close, take advantage of these tips from the Office of Human Resources to make the most of your employee benefits before the year ends.

1. Donate unused annual leave and sick leave

Eligible employees can carry over a maximum of 45 days of annual leave and 180 days of sick leave from one calendar year to the next. If you have annual leave and/or sick leave accruals over these limits that you anticipate will be forfeited, take a minute to donate them to the Leave Transfer Program by December 31. Please keep in mind that annual and sick leave donations cannot exceed half of what you accrue in a year. Donations can be made to the general leave pool or to an individual faculty or staff member currently in an approved leave status such as FMLA or Extended Leave and eligible to participate.

2. Use State Vision Plan allowances

Employees enrolled in the State Vision Plan have access to a $150 annual allowance for glasses frames or a $130 allowance for contact lenses (in lieu of frames) each calendar year. Contact EyeMed (877-735-9314) to learn more or to find an in-network eye doctor. The state vision plan utilizes the “Select” network.

3. Sign up for an electronic W-2 and 1095-C

To make tax preparation easier and avoid the waste and cost of paper documents, active employees can elect to receive their W-2 and 1095-C forms electronically instead of by mail. Sign up or change your preference through Employee Self-Service by selecting “Tax Documents.” 

4. Review options for your Dependent Care Spending Account (DCSA) funds

If you have remaining funds in your Dependent Care Spending Account (DCSA), submit claims for eligible expenses incurred from January 1, 2024, through March 15, 2025. Participating employees will forfeit any funds left in their account after the reimbursement deadline. Claims can be submitted through ASIFlex online or by using a claim form. The deadline to submit reimbursement claims is March 31, 2025.

5. Review options for your Medical Spending Account (MSA) funds  

If you have remaining funds in your MSA, you can submit claims for eligible expenses incurred in 2024 through ASIFlex online or by using a claim form. The deadline to submit your claim for your 2024 expenses is March 31, 2025.

You can carry over up to $640 of unused funds from your account into 2025. Any funds left over in your account after the reimbursement deadline will be forfeited.

For additional information on your DCSA or MSA Funds, log into your account or visit PEBA’s MoneyPlus webpage for more information.

6. Revisit the 2025 Holiday Calendar

The 2025 Holiday Calendar is a helpful resource when planning for the year ahead.

7. Update your Emergency Contact Information

Review and update your emergency contact information on your personal details page in Employee Self Service.

Questions?

Contact the Benefits team or Ask-HR. 

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A happy (and stress-free) holiday season with ComPsych

The holidays can be a joyous time, but they can also cause lots of stress. Ensure your holidays are a happy and stress-free season with several tips in the ComPsych Holiday Resource Toolkit.
https://media.clemson.edu/humanres/EAP/2024_holiday_resource_guide.pdf

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving and are ready for the much-deserved rest and relaxation of the Holiday Season.  As we move toward the break and the time for reconnecting with the people we care about, (whether in person, over the phone, or video call) we may encounter some relationships that need mending.  In the past few years did you have an argument with a co-worker, a disagreement with a family member, or have you lost a friend for any number of reasons?  Perhaps you feel it is time to reconcile these relationships, but you are not sure how.  I hope to share a few thoughts with you that might just help.

Just as with any difficult conversation, preparation is the key!  You should prepare yourself and allow the other participant time to prepare themselves for the conversation.  Preparation will allow you both the space to discover not only what you value in your relationship but examine what exactly about the conflict caused the harm to your relationship.  Making that call, or sending that text might be hard, but the first step to reconciling a conflict is both parties agreeing that the conversation is worth the time and effort. 

Once you have the initial conversation, find a neutral place to talk where you will both feel comfortable expressing your feelings in a safe environment (Judgement-Free Zone!).  Allow the time to talk and to feel without distractions.  The annual Holiday Party is probably not a great choice! 

Now you are ready to meet! When you finally have the opportunity to talk, set the ground rules.  “We will each have time to speak, without argument or interruption; we will listen to what one another has to say; we will allow one another the freedom to be vulnerable, we will go into this with an open mind only to listen to one another, no expectations!”

When you finally meet, remind one another of your rules then just listen and share.  Acknowledge that what you have both been through has been tough enough to create this conflict.  Honor and respect the fact that opening up to be honest and vulnerable is also hard, acknowledge this fact for one another.  If you feel so inclined to provide an apology for your part of the conflict, do so but do not expect one in return…this should come naturally, if at all.  Sometimes simply honoring one another’s dignity is as beneficial as an apology. 

Finally, establish a time to speak again.  You should be able to see that this relationship is valuable to both of you so don’t neglect it!  Share some fruitcake and eggnog this holiday season.  Find time to rest and reconcile and come back to Clemson ready for 2025!

Clemson Rural Health is hosting multiple opportunities for Clemson employees to receive their flu shots – at no cost.

See the upcoming dates for pop-up clinics below or stop by the Sullivan Center. 

• 10/18 from 0700-1100 – Drive through style at CU Fire and EMS (1521 Perimeter Rd.)

• 10/22 from 0800-1100 at Human Resources

• 10/25 from 0700-1100 outside at Edwards Hall

• 11/1 -Drive through style at CU Fire and EMS (1521 Perimeter Rd.)