Email response to rumors from Ann Lemon
| Subject: | Rumors About a University Personnel System |
| Date: | Tue, 20 Feb 2007 16:20:40 -0500 |
| From: | Ann Lemmon <awlemmon@northcarolina.edu> |
Thank you for sharing a copy of your recent letter to Erskine concerning a PACE recommendation that the University create a personnel system separate from the State personnel system. As we have discussed before, President Bowles has asked us to begin defining what that would require, in terms of HR programs, systems requirements, staffing needs, etc., before he decides whether or not to pursue this recommendation. Part of this preliminary process includes collecting employee feedback about what employees see as the potential benefits of a separate UNC HR system, as well as their concerns about a separate HR system.
We continue to welcome your feedback on these topics. We know that there are numerous rumors and misstatements circulating about what a separate UNC HR system would look like, and we are seeking your help in addressing them. While the details of the necessary components of a HR system are still being developed, I can assure you that at no time has there been any discussion of making current SPA employees "at will" or allowing termination of permanent employees for arbitrary or capricious reasons. Assuring that there is a fair and accessible employee discipline and relations process is critical to the success of any HR system, particularly a university HR system. Nor has there been any discussion of eliminating employee benefits. We see continued participation in the existing State health and retirement plans as critical to retaining employees' unless, of course, we are able at some point down the road to implement plans that would be more generous to our employees.
I would appreciate your sharing this information with the employees of the UNC-Chapel Hill Employee Forum, so that we can set the record straight and end these rumors and the unfounded anxiety they are creating among our employees.
We will continue to work via the UNC Staff Assembly to keep employees informed, and gain employee feedback, as this process continues.
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Ann W. Lemmon
Associate Vice President for Human Resources
The University of North Carolina
919-962-4555
