AskHR - Get All Your HR Questions Answered

Q: How do I access my paystub? 
A: Active employees can access their pay statements online through HR Direct at any time. 

 Q: I have received my first payment from UMass, am actively employed and set up my authenticator and  cleared my browser cache, but I'm still getting a “secure access error”, what should I do? 
A: There are a number of steps to troubleshooting:
     a) Refer to the Administration & Finance IT log-in help site for directions
     b) if AFIT is unable to assist, please contact IT for assistance

Q: How do I update my bank account in HR Direct?
A: Employees can update their banking information online in HR Direct at any time.

Q: Where can I get my W-2?
A: Employees can update their banking information online in HR Direct.

Q: How do I get an employment and/or income verification?
A: The University of Massachusetts System uses The Work Number to respond to requests for employment and income verification. Please have your verifier (eg, bank or housing rental agency) contact The Work Number directly.

Q: How do I schedule a new, benefited employee into? What dates do you have? 
A: HR Colleagues can schedule a new benefited employee into orientation online.

Q: Where is your office? What are your hours? Do I need an appointment? 
A: The Human Resources Employee Service Center team is eager to assist, no appointment needed! Please check our location & hours of public operation online here.

Q: How do I update my name for payroll and insurance purposes? 
A: An employee's legal name is used for payroll (tax) and insurance purposes. The HR Name Change webpage provides instructions.

Q: Am I eligible for tuition waivers? How much money do I receive off the tuition? Where do I send it in? Where is the form? 
A: The Tuition Waivers webpage can help!

Q: I submitted a completed Tuition Waiver form but it wasn’t applied to my bill, who do I reach out to?
A: If you've submitted a completed tuition waiver/remission form to the Bursar's Office where courses are being taken, contact that Bursar's Office to ascertain the status of their processing.

Q: Where do I find the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) form?
A: The PSLF form and process are administered by the US federal - please reference StudentAid.gov for information. 

Q: How do I get the employer portion of the PSLF form completed by UMass Amherst?
A: If submitting your PSLF form via DocuSign, please have the form e-mailed to AskHR@umass.edu. This will create your ticket in the AskHR system, allowing us to respond!

If you seek a hard-copy PSLF form, please submit the completed PSLF form Section 1 online via AskHR. We will complete the employer portion of the form and return it to you for submission to the federal government.

Q: How much paid time off do I get? How fast does it accrue? Where do I see this? 
A: Paid time off differs by bargaining unit --information is available on the Paid Time Off & Holidays webpage.

Q: I need to take time off due to my own illness, that of a family member, for parental leave or due to a family member being called to US military service.
A: The Leaves of Absence website provides information about leave entitlements, how to request a leave and options to secure income while on leave.

Q:You may have named beneficiaries for multiple university-related benefits, including:
A:MA State Employees’ Retirement System (MSERS/pension plan)

MA Optional Retirement Program
ORP life insurance beneficiaries: complete and submit a new ORP Insurance Enrollment and Beneficiary Change form to UMass Amherst Human Resources

457(b) OBRA and/or voluntary SMART plan 

Voluntary 403(b) plan invested with TIAA or Fidelity 

MA Group Insurance Commission life insurance – you can update your beneficiary/ies online via the MyGIC Portal  or by completing and submitting a Beneficary Change form at the HR Employee Service Center.

Q: How do I apply for income from the Sick Leave Bank?

A: The Sick Leave Bank forms and application instructions are available on the HR website.

Q: I am leaving employment. What are the steps I need to take? 
A: Information for benefited employees leaving employment is provided on the HR website.

Q: How to obtain a projection of my pension from the MA State Employees’ Retirement System/MSERS?
A: The Massachusetts State Retirement Board website provides both an online pension estimator and a form MSERS members can submit to the Board in order to request a written pension estimate.

Q: How do I withdraw or roll my MSERS contributions after leaving employment?
A: To request a refund or rollover of your MSERS contributions in preparation for, or after, leaving employment complete the MSERS Request for Return of Accumulated Deductions form. Submit that original form with wet/ink signature  to UMass Amherst Human Resources. UMass Human Resources will complete the employer portion of the form and submit your request to the MA State Retirement Board's Refund unit for processing.

Q: How do I purchase service toward MSERS retirement? 
A: There are very specific types of service that are eligible for purchase as MSERS Creditable Service. The MA State Retirement Board's website provides information about what type of service is eligible to purchase and corresponding forms.

Q: I want to retire from MSERS – what do I do?
A: Please review the resources and information provided on the UMass Thinking About Retirement webpage.

Q: How do I withdraw my OBRA retirement funds after employment ends?
A: Empower Retirement is the Commonwealth of Massachusetts OBRA & SMART plan administrator. Please contact Empower Retirement for assistance by telephone, 877-457-1900, or web .

Q: I just had a baby how do I enroll the newborn on my health insurance?
A: The UMass Human Resources webpage on birth, adoption & placement of a child in foster care provides this information and more! 

Q: What is my dental insurance coverage?
A: Dental insurance differs based on an employee's bargaining unit. Please reference the dental information webpage for specifics.

Q: What is the cost of MA Group Insurance Commission (GIC) health insurance?
A: The GIC State Employee Benefit Decision Guide provide health, life & long-term disability plan and premium information for benefited UMass employees. 

Q: What is my vision insurance coverage?
A: Benefited employees have some vision coverage through their MA Group Insurance Commission (GIC) health insurance plan. Employees covered under the AFSCME Unit A and PSU/MTA collective bargaining agreements are eligible for vision insurance through MA Public Employees' Fund. Employees in USA/MTA, MSP/MTA and benefited non-unit employees are eligible for a vision discount administered by their dental insurance administrator. 

Q: I’m a benefited employee with GIC health insurance coverage and I (or my covered dependent) is turning 65 years of age. Do I need to enroll in Medicare?
A: The GIC's webpage  provides the most comprehensive information.

Q: How do I file a Workers' Compensation Notice of Injury?
A: The UMass Workers' Compensation webpage provides instructions on filing a Workers' Compensation claim and related information:.

CORI Acknowledgement Form

Q: I got an email from Truescreen, is it legitimate?
A: Truescreen is the contracted background check vendor for the University of Massachusetts. Emails are sent after you have accepted an offer and are initiated by the Talent Acquisition office. If you have not recently accepted an offer from UMass Amherst and have received an email from CSI requesting your personal information, please submit a ticket with AskHR and ignore the email until you have received a response from a UMass Amherst representative.

Q: How long does it take for my background check to process?
A: This can vary for each candidate due to a number of factors (i.e. education, criminal, employment checks, etc.). On average, we expect background checks to clear within 7-10 business days.

Q: How can I get my CORI verified?
A: You can visit the The Human Resources Employee Service Center to have your CORI form verified by a UMass Amherst HR representative. Hours and address can be found using the provided link. CORI forms can also be signed and witnessed by a Notary Public.

**Along with the form, you will have to bring a VALID, ORIGINAL government-issued identification** (expired or photocopied identification will not be accepted)

Examples of acceptable government-issued identification:

• State-issued driver's license
• State-issued identification card with photograph
• Passport
• Permanent resident ID card
• Military identification card

Q: How do I upload my completed and verified CORI form?
A: Upload to AskHR.

1. Check off the "I am a job applicant or guest" option
2. Complete the First Name, Last Name, and Email boxes
3. Select "My topic is not listed here" from the drop down menu
4. Select "Talent Acquisition" from the "Choose a topic" menu
5. Select "CORI Forms" from the "Choose more detail" menu
6. Click on "Choose file" and attach the document
7. Click "Submit

Q: How can I check the status of my application?
A: Applications are managed at the departmental and college level and our Central HR Office does not have specific information regarding the status of specific applications. Departments will reach out to you directly once your application has been reviewed. For specific information regarding the hiring department your application is with, please submit a Salesforce case and we can provide the information.

Q: How can I update my application or application materials?
A: Visit our careers page at http://careers.umass.edu/amherst/en-us/listing/. In the menu on the left-hand side, you will see a sub-menu with the header 'Returning Applicant' and a 'Login' button, click the 'Login' button and enter your username and password. Then click on 'Update Your Application' beside the relevant job title. You must click the 'Submit' button once you have made your updates.