Return to Main Menu

MUSC Rumor Mill separates fact from fiction Vendor badges Rumor: A contracted employee who works for an MUSC department went to Public Safety to get a badge. His information had been entered into NetID, but when he got to Public Safety, the clerk wanted his Social Security number. The contractor said he did not want to give that out since he said he had not given that information to HR. Instead of trying to look him up by his name, the clerk refused to give him a badge unless he gave her his Social Security number. I hear that this is not true, and that we are trying to do away from using this number on campus for identification purposes. What is the procedure for a contracted vendor to get a badge? Truth: As a normal course of business, Department of Public Safety staff attempts to locate the record of an individual in its ID badge system through its name search feature. When an individual’s name is not unique, staff must resort to a secondary method of identifying the individual. Since the current interface between NetID and the Public Safety ID badge system downloads Social Security numbers and not the new MUSC ID number, then Social Security numbers must be used for the secondary method of identification. Given the new policy that has been established on campus to limit the use of Social Security numbers, a programming change has been requested to convert this download process to the new ID numbers. We anticipate that programming change will occur this summer. When completed, the need for social security numbers for this verification purpose will be eliminated. Retirement Rumor: I heard that  the state was planning to change the current retirement years from 28 years to 30 years starting in July. Is this true? Truth: Senate Bill 238 was proposed during this legislative session to change the service requirement for normal retirement from 28 years to 30 years. The Senate Finance Committee was referred to the bill, but did not take it up for consideration. Thus, there will be no change in the service requirement for retirement this year. TERI Program Rumor: Is it true that the senate is trying to close the Teacher and Employee Retention Incentive  (TERI) Program to new participants effective July 1, 2007 and repeal the establishment of the program effective July 1, 2010. Truth: Senate Bill 239 was proposed during this legislative session to repeal the TERI program. The Senate Finance Committee was referred to the bill, but did not take it up for consideration. Thus, the TERI Program will remain unchanged for the coming year. COLA Rumor: I heard through the grapevine that MUSC employees (state employees) will be getting a 6.5 percent COLA (cost of living allowance) with up to an additional 2 percent raise atop the COLA for purposes of merit. I also hear that the $100 deductible for MUSC Options prescriptions may change. Facts, please. Truth: The current version of the fiscal year 2007-2008 General Appropriation Bill as passed by both the House and the Senate authorizes funds for base pay increases for classified employees and unclassified employees. Effective on the first pay date  that occurs on or after July 1, the compensation of all classified employees shall be increased by 3 percent. Agencies also are  authorized to award annual pay increases to faculty employees ranging from 0 percent to 6 percent. For information, contact Rhonda Richardson, HR compensation manager. Insurance briefings are held each year during open or annual enrollment so that employees can make informed decisions about their insurance coverage. The insurance rates at MUSC are negotiated at the state level and coordinated through the Employee Insurance Program (EIP). Additional questions or more specific issues concerning benefits and insurance coverage may be forwarded to Dee Crawford, the benefits coordinator. Job posting Rumor: I heard there are job postings already up for the new Ashley River Tower. Truth: Positions for the Ashley River Tower (ART) facility are being posted in the Human Resources application system. The positions for ART may be identified by the posting, i.e., Medical Technologist-Ashley River Tower. Employees are encouraged to visit http://www.muscjobs.com to view current listing. Questions regarding job postings may be directed to the Human Resources office  at 792-0819. Uniforms Rumor: I heard that the T-shirt worn under specific role colors should be the primary color for each level group; except registered nurses have a little  more leeway to wear print tops with white background, as well as print tops with royal background. Is this true?  Also, why can't other roles be allowed to wear these prints as long as the color roles are in it? Truth: Refer to Policy A 04 in the Administrative Policy Manual http://www.musc.edu/medcenter/cgi-bin/policy.cgi?manual=admin&sort_order=manual,%20policy_ number. Employees may wear a scrub top and/or a lab jacket with prints with the background color being the primary color as designated for each role. Number 11 states, “T-shirts, turtleneck tops and ‘dickies’ (of designated color or white) may be worn under the scrub top and not in place of the scrub top.” Reproduced from http://www.musc.edu/rumor/.     Friday, July 6, 2007 Catalyst Online is published weekly, updated as needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to Catalyst Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Island Publications at 849-1778, ext. 201.