A detailed review of McMaster’s Human Resources functions highlighted opportunities for improvement in the areas of payroll, recruitment, structure, and processes. Significant progress has been made this year to address some of the key issues that impact employee experience at the university.

The HR project team has been working closely with faculties and departments to tackle the feedback received through a multi-year transformation of HR services and functions.

Some highlights of the HR Review progress in 2020:

• Position Management data cleanup – cleanup of all (100%) records, expected to significantly reduce payroll errors and adjustments. This project was key to building a strong foundation for all future improvements to HR processes in 2021, including more self-serve functions for employees and managers.
• Leave of Absence process improvements – These changes make it easier for employees to continue making benefit, pension, or RRSP contributions while on leave – no more post-dated cheques.
• Faculty recruitment and onboarding – new systems functionality, reporting and training implemented in line with new policy provisions to help increase the diversity of applicant pools and improve the hiring process
• Improvements to tuition bursary and assistance processes.
• Approval of a new HR organizational framework that will guide future structural decisions.
• Introduction of the HR Network to connect HR practitioners within faculties and departments to key information and development opportunities.
• Regular project updates as well as an interim report have been provided to PVP and the HR Review Steering Committee.

“I’m pleased with the progress we’re making in these critical areas across HR,” says Roger Couldrey, vice president administration, who thanked all the teams that have played a critical role in the progress so far, including the HR service centre team, Faculty of Health Sciences HR team, Faculty administration, Finance and UTS staff.

“This work will ensure McMaster has the programs, policies, and resources to facilitate the university’s strategic direction, and help the people across our organization succeed.”

What’s coming in 2021?

Paper forms and time-consuming approvals will soon be a thing of the past. With a focus on the employee life cycle, HR at the university will soon include integrated tools, processes, and support for employees from the time they apply to work at McMaster, until the day they retire. From onboarding to pensions and everything in between, the HR Review projects  will continue to focus on continuous improvement across all HR services and functions.

The HR Review project work is expected to continue through 2021.

Visit the HR Review implementation site for more information and regular project updates.