Recently Updated Policies

Postdoctoral Appointments
April 18, 2018	Comprehensive Review, Minor Revision. The revised Postdoctoral Appointments policy provides a fringe benefit, parental leave for postdoctoral fellows, which was not previously provided to this appointment classification.

Parental Leave for Employees
April 18, 2018	The new Parental Leave for Employees policy provides both parents, who meet eligibility requirements, with six weeks paid leave; expands coverage to include gestational surrogacy; removes the nine-month employee eligibility requirement; and replaces the current policy: Parental Leave for Academic Employees.

Accounts Payable: Paying Non-Payroll Expenses
April 10, 2018	Comprehensive Review, Minor Revisions. Policy and procedure changes include: Updated owners, contacts and terminology to reflect the current version of the enterprise financial system (EFS 9.2 vs. EFS 8.9) Replacement of the word “should” with “must” when appropriate to provide more direction Added definitions where applicable Included language to better define existing processes Updated payment methods to include new payment processes

Reporting Workers' Compensation Related Injuries
April 10, 2018	Comprehensive Review, Minor Revisions. Minor language changes to reflect current Minnesota reporting guidelines. Updates to Contacts section. The language changes are based on guidance from the University's outside legal counsel and in accordance with MN Workers Compensation statutes and court decisions.

Employee Absences for Religious Holidays
March 1, 2018	Comprehensive Review, Minor Revision. Incorporates a standard active voice to the policy language.

Processing Accounting Transactions
February 7, 2018	Comprehensive Review. Policy and procedure changes include: Updated owners, contacts and terminology to reflect EFS 9.2 vs. EFS 8.9, Replacement of the word “should” with “must” when appropriate to provide more direction, Added definitions where applicable, Included language to require support documentation for financial transactions to be retained,Added examples to better illustrate the correct accounting for transactions

Background Checks and Verifications
January 26, 2018	Comprehensive Review, Major Revision: 1. Expands requirements for background checks to include individuals who are not employees but are contracted by the University to perform security-sensitive work. 2. Establishes that the background checks and verifications must be completed before the first day of work. 3. Eliminates the separate cover sheet for senior leaders to simplify the process.

Relocating Employees
January 25, 2018	The Tax Cuts and Job Act eliminates deduction for qualified (non-taxable) relocation expense effective January 1, 2018. All relocation expenses, whether previously deductible or not, are now taxable to the employees if reimbursed or paid on their behalf.