General Employee Information

All new Whitworth employees are encouraged to take part in the New Employee Orientation (NEO) programming delivered by human resources. On the first working day of each month, NEO 101: Becoming a Pirate is designed to prepare the new hire for their work at the university. This event will go over benefits and ensure other new-hire task have been completed. During the course of the first year, additional Becoming a Pirate events will take place to integrate new employees to the overall campus community. Individual invitations will be sent out to employees for these events.  

Position and department-specific training will be overseen by the supervisor and additional faculty orientation will be provided by academic affairs.    

All employees receive a picture identification card issued upon hire by Whitworth University and in subsequent years on a regular basis. Identification cards allow use of the library, aquatic center, fitness center and/or other program facilities, as well as identify the individual as a current employee to campus security officers and other officials. A Whitworth identification card must be shown in order to access campus dining facilities. Replacement of a lost card is subject to a fee and is the responsibility of the employee.

Physical keys to offices, buildings and/or other appropriate work areas are issued to the new employee by facilities services upon authorization by their supervisor. All current employees are given standard building card access assigned to their employee ID card. For additional access to buildings on campus, a System Access Request is needed with supervisor approval. The provost/area vice president and director of facilities services must approve issuance of exterior building keys or ID card access as appropriate.

Whitworth employees who drive to work are required to register each vehicle they park in campus parking lots. There is no charge for employees who park their registered vehicles. Registration stickers and more information about Whitworth’s vehicle policy can be found at www.whitworth.edu/parking. Employees are required to follow all on-campus parking regulations. Failure to do so may result in parking citations, fines or vehicles being towed, depending on the circumstances. Fines and towing fees will be the responsibility of the employee.

The Whitworth community – students, faculty, staff and administration – are invited to gather for regular worship each week of the academic year. This provides the opportunity for employees to bear witness to the theme of Whitworth carved in the paving brick at the center of the chapel walkway: Jesus Christ: Lord, Friend, Servant, King. Worship is led by members of the community and invited guests. Worship is the regular occasion when students and employees pause in the midst of busy schedules to listen to God's word, to praise God in prayer and song, and to reflect upon a shared Christian commitment.

Payroll is issued on the 15th and the last day of the month for non-exempt (hourly) employees and the last day of the month for exempt (salaried) employees and includes payment for hours worked in the previous reporting period. (If the pay date falls on a weekend or holiday, payday will be changed to the last workday immediately before the scheduled pay date).
 
Salary payments are handled through direct deposit. Direct deposit forms are available at the time of hire or from payroll services. Payroll advice forms/earnings statements are available through Pirate Port Self-Service every payday. The payroll advice form will detail information regarding hours worked, contracts paid for faculty and deductions for each pay period, as well as year-to-date information on gross and net pay, taxes and federal wages. Supplementary information about year-to-date deductions for federal income tax, social security, health plans, Whitworth donations, United Way and other optional deductions is also included. Please review your pay advice each pay period and notify payroll services if there is a discrepancy.
 
Note: It is the employee's responsibility to notify payroll services when closing or changing bank accounts to ensure continuity of payroll service and to avoid delayed payments. Payroll services must be notified 10 days in advance of a pay date in order to make the change.

Paid Family & Medical Leave
Washington state employers and employees invest in a statewide program which will provide paid leave for workers to give or receive care. The Paid Family & Medical Leave benefit program begins Jan. 1, 2020.
www.paidleave.wa.gov

Washington Cares Fund Tax
Washington state employees contribute 0.58% of their paycheck into this fund to have access to long-term care upon meeting the requirements. There are exemption types which require providing a letter to human resources before payroll processing begins.
wacaresfund.wa.gov

Various volunteer opportunities arise throughout the year for different campus activities. A non-exempt hourly employee may contribute their services for volunteer activities, provided the volunteer activities have no relation to the regular job duties of their position. Should the volunteer opportunity have similar responsibilities to that of the employee's regular position at the institution, then the employee must be paid for this volunteer time by recording these volunteer hours on the timecard and submitting them with their regular work hours for compensation. If the volunteer time puts the employee over a 40-hour work week, then they are to be compensated at time-and-one-half. The department seeking volunteers is responsible for this expense.

Commute Trip Reduction 

Whitworth participates in the Commute Trip Reduction (CTR) program through Spokane County. This program helps reduce road congestion and keep our air clean. 

History of CTR: 

The Commute Trip Reduction Law, enacted by the Washington State Legislature in 1991, aims to improve air quality, reduce traffic congestion, and decrease fuel consumption. The law mandates that certain employers develop programs to encourage alternatives to solo driving. 

How to Use the Program: 

1. Choose a commute option: Vary your commute; even occasional alternatives help. 

2. Create a profile: Visit www.CommuteSmartNW.org (company code ALLT). 

3. Log your commutes: Enter your commute days on the website to participate in campaigns and win prizes. Update your calendar weekly.

4. Win prizes: When you log five or more alternative trips per month, you are entered into monthly drawings for prizes.

5. Enjoy the benefits: Save money, reduce traffic and improve air quality. 

The Whitworth Office of Institutional Advancement wishes to help and encourage all of those who seek to raise funds through the sharing of ideas, support of special programs and by helping to streamline operations. In this process, it is important to coordinate fundraising efforts so as not to impact the same individuals, companies and corporations with several appeals throughout the year. Therefore, to maximize effort and to create continuity and cooperation, the following policy applies:

1. The vice president for institutional advancement must approve all fundraising activities of the university.

2. Proposals must be submitted in writing to the vice president for institutional advancement. Proposals should include:

• Name and description of project
• Purpose for which funds will be used
• Desired amount to be raised
• Plans to raise the needed funds
• Names of individuals, foundations, corporations, businesses, etc., identified as prospects to be contacted

3. Submit plans for projects four weeks prior to implementation. The vice president for institutional advancement/designee will notify the department of receipt of the proposal and of approval or rejection of the submitted plan.