The ASC Special Interest Committee reviews staff suggestions and questions that are submitted through a feedback form. We recently met with Executive Director of Human Resources Maureen De Armond to discuss some of the following questions.  

Why are some open positions approved to be filled and others are not?  
Some open positions are approved to be filled due to outside funding, such as grant-funded positions. Other positions are approved due to the nature of the work performed being essential to the basic functioning of the University. These positions are excluded from the current hiring freeze. All requests for job postings are now being reviewed by HR and must be approved by the President.  

Fair Labor Standards Act – Salary Threshold  
At this time, there is no update on the proposed increase to salary thresholds. The comment period closed on November 7. The US Dept. of Labor chose not to extend the comment period. They now have 33,000 submissions to review. We have no insight at this time whether the proposed new salary threshold will be revised, due to the comments. It sounds like the absolute earliest that a new salary threshold could take effect (whatever it ends up being) would be June 2024. HR will continue to monitor the progress.   

Leave Policy Updates  
HR plans to review leave policies in the next couple months. If you have ideas or suggestions relating to the tuition waiver policy or the staff leave policies (primarily: sick, vacation, and bereavement), please let Maureen De Armond know your thoughts.   

Can all regular full-time employees be eligible to receive a day off with pay for their birthday? The day off would be issued as a floating holiday that must be taken within the same calendar month as the birthday.   
It is important to remember that not all people (or cultures) celebrate birthdays. Each year, employees are given two personal days. Having personal days allows individuals to decide what days are important for them (for some, it may be an anniversary or a child’s birthday, not their own).  

Can we bring back a monthly meeting-free day like what we had during the pandemic?  
This is a great idea. It is likely best decided at the department level.  Directors have the discretionary authority to make this decision for their unit—no department meetings, project meetings, 1:1’s on a certain day of the week or “First Fridays” regarding meeting-free days. Every unit has different operational needs—so this may not be feasible for some units and for others it may be very easy to implement. Maureen will share this idea with managers and encourage them to consider designating meeting free days. If you think this would work for your department, you are also encouraged to talk to your director and make it happen.   

— Erica McGowan, On Behalf of All Staff Council

Have you used your Community Service Leave benefit for this fiscal year? 

On average, eligible Drake employees used less than one hour of community service leave per person during the last fiscal year. Let’s make the most of this benefit, which strengthens ourselves and our communities! 

What is Community Service Leave? 

Drake University recognizes the importance of community involvement and encourages employees to participate in volunteer and service activities. Community Service Leave (policy) allows staff the opportunity to participate in community service activities that occur during regularly scheduled work hours, without using vacation or personal time. Full-time, regular employees can request paid leave for up to 8 hours per fiscal year to spend time supporting your favorite not-for-profit. 

Community service leave is a paid time off benefit and can be used for: 

• Volunteer or service work for non-profit community service organizations 
• Volunteer work at a school, including the school your children or grandchildren attend (including field trips, events and school-related projects) 
• Participation in a Drake-sponsored community service activity 
• Blood, bone marrow, and organ donation 
• Disaster relief and emergency volunteer activities 

Why volunteer? 

Volunteering offers vital help to people in need, worthwhile causes, and the community, but the benefits can be even greater for the volunteer.  The right match can help you find friends, connect with the community, learn new skills, and even advance your career. You do not need to make a long-term commitment or take a huge amount of time out of your busy day to reap the benefits of volunteering. Giving in even simple ways can: 

• Improve physical and mental health – research shows that volunteering leads to lower rates of depression and anxiety, reduces stress and increases positive, relaxed feelings by releasing dopamine. 
• Connect you to others – volunteering allows you to connect with your community and make it a better place. 
• Teach valuable skills – the training and hands-on experience you gain while volunteering can help you learn new skills, as well as build upon ones you already have. 
• Boost your resume – potential employers are often impressed by applicants who have taken the time to volunteer as it shows that you’re dedicated and have a strong work ethic. 
• Expands your perspective – whether local or abroad, when you volunteer, you work with different age groups, ethnicities, and socioeconomic backgrounds. 

Where can I find volunteer opportunities? 

Drake’s online community engagement platform, DUgood, connects students, faculty, and staff across campus with partners in Des Moines and beyond. Use the DUgood platform to find opportunities to get involved in our community, track your impact, and explore what your fellow Bulldogs are doing to make a difference. 

— Elissa Johnson, On behalf of ASC Events & Community Service Committee