To register time off (vacation days, sick days, personal days, etc), go to https://www.reachingourpeople.com and look for the "Time Entry+" on the far right side-bar, underneath the "Everyday Tools" section. You will have to scroll the window to see this. Note that this is different than your weekly Oracle timecard. For time off, you have to fill in both!! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thomson bought Delphion on December 13, 2002, but my Thomson start|hire date is when I got hired at Delphion, which is November 11, 2000. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- On 1-20-2006, Dan Frankel said our "Cost Center" is 2612. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thomson's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-156-91-17 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For PMAT stuff, go to http://www.pmatonline.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thomson Web Sites Include TheLink, aka Safe http://link ThePoint https://www.reachingourpeople.com http://my.thomson.com Both use your Thomson Employee Number (0040282) as the login userid and are password protected. Passwords must change every 4 months or so. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The 2006 Holiday schedule is New Year's Day Monday, January 2 Martin Luther King Day Monday, January 16 President's Day Monday, February 20 Memorial Day Monday, May 29 Independence Day Monday, July 3 Tuesday, July 4 Labor Day Monday, September 4 Columbus Day Monday, October 9 Thanksgiving Thursday, November 23 Friday, November 24 Christmas Monday, December 25 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Typical Dates What | Dates ================================+====================== Thomson's Earning announcements | 2/10/2005 2/09/2006 (Hopefully Annual) Bonus Check | 3/12/2004 (Hopefully Annual) Pay Increase | 4/03/2004 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Benefits Express Phone Line for Thomson (1-877-246-4233) http://resources.hewitt.com/thomsonbenefits Both use your Social Security Number and a password to authenticate. On the phone, the password is spelled out with the phone pad keys. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- To see this info, go to https://www.reachingourpeople.com, authenticate using your serial number and current password, then follow the "Balancing Work & Personal Life" link in the middle of the page, and the "Time Off" link in the pop-up menu you get. On the left hand side of that page you get, you'll find a bunch of links you can follow, i.e. "Vacation", with subtopics of "Amount of Vacation Time" "Unused/Carry Over Vacation Days" "Personal Days" "Holidays" "Sick Time/Salary Continuation" Vacation: ========= Prior to 2005, for 3-7 years of service, one accrues 9.5 hours per month, up to a maximum of 150 hours. My "Service Anniversary" is November 11, 2000, so November, 2003 contains my third service anniversary and is the first month I start accruing at the 9.5 Hours/Month rate. Starting in 2005 though, they changed all this. The changes include 1) The vacation schedule has changed to Service Anniversary Monthly Accruals Annualized Accrual =================== ==================== ==================== 0- 4 Years 9.375 Hours/Month 112.5 hours (15 days) 5-14 Years 12.50 Hours/Month 150 hours (20 days) 15+ Years 15.625 Hours/Month 187.5 hours (25 days) This used to be Service Anniversary Vacation Accruals Maximum Accruals =================== ======================================= ====================== 0-2 Years 6.25 Hours/Month or 9 Days, 6 Hours 112.5 Hours or 15 Days 3-7 Years 9.50 Hours/Month or 15 Days, 1.5 Hours 150 Hours or 20 Days 8+ Years 12.50 Hours/Month or 20 Days 187.5 Hours or 25 Days 2) California employees start accruing vacation at the higher rate in January of the year of your service anniversary. Prior to this, one had to wait 'till the month of your "Threshold Date" (November, 2005 for me) before you start accruing at the higher rate. What this means to me is I should start getting 12.5 hours per month (instead of 9.5 or 9.375) starting now (this being January, 2005). The differences are many. - New employees earn 3 weeks of vacation per year instead of 2. - Employees with 3-4 years of service, earn less vacation by 1.5 hours/year - Employees (me) with 5-7 years of service, earn an extra week per year (Yay!) (20 days instead of 15) - Employees with 15 years of service and beyond, get an extra week. (25 days instead of 20) - The maximum accrual is higher than it used to be for new employees (20 days instead of 15), but lower for employees with 8+ years of service (20 days instead of 25). - California employees no longer have to wait 'till their "Threshold Date" to start accruing at the higher rate. So for me, Jan-Oct will be at the higher 12.5 Hours/Month rate instead of the old 9.375 (formerly 9.5 Hours/Month). -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Personal Days: In addition to the 11 designated holidays per year, you are also entitled to 2 "Personal Days", which cannot be carried over from year to year. Sick Days: You are entitled to 6 sick days per year, which prior to 2005, could be carried over into a "Sick Bank" up to a maximum of 30 days. Beginning with the 2005/2006 transition though, unused Sick Days can no longer be carried over. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- On 5-23-2003, I checked my Time Off accruals using Thomson's timecard server at http://time (time.delphion.com is defined in loon's DNS as 198.62.99.31). To login, you need your Thomson's serial number and standard Internet password (the default, initial password is your serial number -- I've changed it). In the middle of the top row of buttons, is "Accruals", which said I had =================================================================================== = = = ID Description Current Balance Future Balance Units = = == =========================== =============== ============== ===== = = NA Vacation Time -12:-30 -12:-30 Hours = = PD Personal Days 0:00 0:00 Hours = = SB Sick Bank 0:00 0:00 Hours = = SP Sick Pay ResearchSoft 0:00 0:00 Hours = = ST Sick Time 45:00 45:00 Hours = = VL Vacation Leave ResearchSoft 0:00 0:00 Hours = = = =================================================================================== Now how does that relate to what I THINK I should have? And what do those minus signs mean? The "Sick Time" looks ok. 45 Hours = 6 days, but Jeff Flinn marked my first two days I took off in 2003 (January 2-3) as sick days according to my paycheck, so my balance should be 30 Hours, not 45. And presumably, that "Sick Bank" is unused "Sick Time" hours from previous years. Come January 1, 2004, my unused "Sick Time" hours will probably roll into that "Sick Bank" and a new 45 hours will appear in "Sick Time". (True. Checked 2-13-2004) And the Vacation time. Hmmmm. I seem to be accruing vacation at only the rate for 1-2 years of service, 6.25 Hours per month, instead of what we were promised(*), the 3-7 years of service rate of 9.5 Hours per month. This accrual gets added at the END of each month, so since this is mid-May, the May accrual has not been added in yet. 4 Months @ 6.25 Hours per Month is 25.0 Hours Accrued so far minus 5 days of vacation taken, or -37.5 Hours Taken ===== leaving a negative balance of -12.5 Hours, which is what's shown. That means that I only have 12 months/2003 * 6.25 hours accrued/month = 75 hours accrued/2003 = 2 weeks of vacation in 2003, not 3+. So I only have 5 more days of vacation to take this year, not 10+. That also means the Vacation cap is only 112.5 hours (3 weeks), not 150 (4 weeks). (*) Actually, we were never promised 3 weeks of vacation. What we were promised is that our "Hire Date" (see below) would be our Delphion Hire Date, which it is. Now whether that means 2 or 3 weeks of vacation, depends on how this works. I thought (as did everybody else) that since my third service anniversary (11-15-2003) fell within the 2003 calendar year, that I would be getting 3 weeks of vacation this year. But that's not how it works, at least for Californians. How it works is we accrue vacation on a monthly basis at whatever rate we are entitled to. From 1-35 months, that is the lower rate. Starting with the 36th month (that's November, 2003 for me), we get the higher rate. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - I called Mary Ellen Cannon at 1-800-523-1850, x1577, who explained some terms to me. She confirmed that my "Hire Date" is indeed 11-15-2000, which is correct, and that I am indeed accruing vacation at the lower rate of 6.25 Hours per Month. They (Thomson Personnel) have what they call a "Threshold Date", which is the date when I will start accruing vacation at the higher rate (whatever that might be). For me, that date is 11-15-2003, so it sounds like for the first 10 months of 2003, I'll be only getting 6.25 hours per month, but for the last two, I'll get 9.5 hours per month. 10 * 6.25 = 62.5 Hours 2 * 9.5 = 19.0 Hours ==== 81.5 Hours / 7.5 Hours Per Day = 10 Days, 6.5 Hours, or just over 2 Weeks. For the early Delphion people (e.g. Carol & Tom), their hire date was July 1st, 2000, so they should get 6 * 6.25 = 37.5 Hours 6 * 9.5 = 57.0 Hours ==== 94.5 Hours / 7.5 Hours Per Day = 12 Days, 4.5 Hours, or about 2.5 Weeks. Next year, we'll all get the full 12 * 9.5 = 114 Hours = 15 Days, 1.5 Hours (3 Weeks). -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- To see Thomson's vacation policies and your vacation/Sick Bank/Personal Days balances, * Login to https://www.reachingourpeople Note: When reading the Vacation policy pages, be keenly aware of non-California versus California. Nearly everything is different for us Californians. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To see the Vacation Accrual & Maximum Accrual policies, from the main page * Hover over "Balancing Work & Personal Life" in the middle of the page * Select "Time Off" Then from that page, * Select "> Vacation" on the left-hand side, Then from that page, * Select "Amount of Vacation Time" on the left-hand side. This page used to tell us that "California based full-time employees will receive increases in monthly accruals ..." according to this schedule: Service Anniversary Vacation Accruals Maximum Accruals =================== ======================================= ====================== 1-2 Years 6.25 Hours/Month or 9 Days, 6 Hours 112.5 Hours or 15 Days 3-7 Years 9.50 Hours/Month or 15 Days, 1.5 Hours 150 Hours or 20 Days 8+ Years 12.50 Hours/Month or 20 Days 187.5 Hours or 25 Days *** On 1-4-2005, the "Maximum Accruals" column was removed from this table. *** It's nowhere to be found now, but a note from Brian Richards says the *** maximum is now a flat 150 Hours (20 Days). It no longer depends on *** your years of service or your current vacation accrual rate. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To see the Vacation Carry-Over policy, from the main page * Hover over "Balancing Work & Personal Life" in the middle of the page * Select "Time Off" Then from that page, * Select "> Vacation" on the left-hand side, Then from that page, * Select "Unused/Carry Over Vacation Days" Again, be careful you read the parts pertaining to California employees. Their sentence that says "... employees may carryover a maximum of 37.5 hours from one calendar year to the next", applies to non-California employees only!! All they say for California employees, is "California based employees can not exceed their maximum accrual limits ...". So? That's always true and has nothing to do with year-end stuff or carry-overs. The bottom line is, there is no carryover limits for California employees like there are for the rest of the country. My understanding of California law says earned vacation is like money. It's something the company owes you and once they owe it to you, they can't willy-nilly take it away. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Timecard Accruals (remember, 1 day = 7.5 hours and accruals are added at month-end) Available To Take (that is, accrued minus taken) As Of Time Off Type Hours = Days,Hours Used in 2004 ===== ================ ===== = ==== ===== ================================ 2/13 Vacation Hours 23.5 = 3 1 None Yet 5/11 Vacation Hours 37 = 4 7 Feb 19-20 Personal Days 15 = 2 Feb 17-18 Sick Bank 45 = 6 Sick Time 45 = 6 6/09 Vacation Hours 46.5 = 6 1.5 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Forecasted Vacation Status (2004 Accrual Rate = 9.5 Hours/Month = 15 Days, 1.5 Hours/Year) (2005 Accrual Rate = 12.5 Hours/Month = 20 Days /Year) Available To Take (that is, accrued minus taken) As Of Time Off Type Hours = Days,Hours Used in 2004 ===== ================ ===== = ==== ====== ================================ 2/14 Vacation Hours 95.51 = 12 5.51 As of February 14, 2005 Change as needed, Rick-> - 0 = 0 Vacation Taken Feb 14 - ??? ------ ----------- 95.51 = 12 5.51 25 = 3 2.5 Accrued 2/14/2005 to 4/1/2005 ------ ----------- (2*new 12.5 Hours/Month rate) 120.51 = 16 0.51 Estimated Vacation 4/1/2005 For the 16 days vacation, March 19-April 11, 2005 1 day will be a 2005 Personal Day ('cause I took 2/4/2005 as my other Personal day) leaving 15 days vacation (112.5 hours) that I'll need to take, which will leave me with 120.51 = 16 0.51 Estimated Vacation 4/1/2005 -112.5 = 15 Less 15 vacation days ------ ----------- 8.01 = 1 0.51 Estimated Vacation 4/15/2005 9.5 = 1 2 Accrued end of April, 2005 ------ ----------- 17.51 = 2 2.51 Predicted Balance on 5/1/2005 So, let's see how close I was ... 5/4/2005 65.51 = 8 5.51 Actual Vacation balance as of May 4, 2005 - 17.51 = 2 2.51 What I thought it should be ------ ----------- 48 = 6 3 Extra hours in my vacation bank. Why? I have much more vacation than I thought I would/should have. I wonder what happened, not that I'm going to rock the boat and change anything. 5/4/2005 65.51 = 8 5.51 As of May 4, 2005 100 = 13 2.5 Accrued 5/1/2005 to 1/1/2006 ------ ----------- (8*new 12.5 Hours/Month rate) 165.51 = 22 0.51 Balance on 1/1/2006 June 14, 2005: Planned Vacation for the Rest of 2005 1 Day, Tuesday, June 21 5 Days Monday, July 25 - Friday, July 29 3 Days Wednesday, November 9 - Friday, November 11 Leaving 5 unplanned days 8/12/2005 95.51 = 12 5.51 As of August 12, 2005 62.5 = 8 2.5 Accrued 8/1/2005 to 1/1/2006 ------ ----------- (5*12.5 Hours/Month rate) 158.01 = 21 0.51 Projected Balance on 1/1/2006 9/19/2005 108.01 = 14 3.01 As of September 19, 2005 50.0 = 6 5 Accrued 9/1/2005 to 1/1/2006 ------ ----------- (4*12.5 Hours/Month rate) 158.01 = 21 0.51 Projected Balance on 1/1/2006 which is still over my maximum accrual limit, so I'll need to take some vacation before the end of the year. That shouldn't be a problem. 9/19/2005 108.01 = 14 3.01 As of September 19, 2005 12.5 = 1 5 12.5 Hours Accrued in September ------ ----------- 10/01/2005 120.51 = 16 0.51 12.5 = 1 5 12.5 Hours Accrued in October ------ ----------- 11/01/2005 133.01 = 17 5.51 11/10-11/2005 15 = 2 2 Vacation Days Taken ------ ----------- 11/17/2005 118.01 = 15 5.51 Checked on November 17, 2005 11/21-23 Vacation Taken -22.5 = 3 3 Days Before Thanksgiving ------ ----------- 11/30/2005 95.51 = 12 5.51 12.5 = 1 5 12.5 Hours Accrued in November ------ ----------- 12/01/2005 108.01 = 14 3.01 12.5 = 1 5 12.5 Hours Accrued in December ------ ----------- 01/01/2006 120.51 = 16 0.51 12.5 = 1 5 12.5 Hours Accrued in January ------ ----------- 02/15/2006 133.01 = 17 5.51 +12.5 = 1 5 12.5 Hours Accrued in February ------ ----------- 03/01/2006 145.51 = 19 3.01 Verified 3/6 02/23-24/2006 -15 -2 Note this Mexican vacation days ------ ----------- (1 Holiday +2 Personal Days +2 Vacation) 03/27/2006 130.51 = 17 3.01 were not deducted 'til 3/4 since that's when the next "Period Ending" was. +12.5 = 1 5 12.5 Hours Accrued in March ------ ----------- 04/01/2006 143.01 = 19 0.51 04/18-21/2006 -30 -4 Washington D.C. ------ ----------- 04/22/2006 113.01 = 15 0.01 +12.5 = 1 5 12.5 Hours Accrued in April ------ ----------- 05/01/2006 145.51 = 16 5.51 Predicted - Under limit by 4.49 hours +12.5 = 1 5 12.5 Hours Accrued in May ------ ----------- 06/01/2006 158.01 = 18 3.51 Predicted - Over Limit by 1+ day I won't go over my maximum accrual limit until June. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- To see your vacation/Sick Bank/Personal Days balances, * Go to https://www.reachingourpeople.com and authenticate. * On the main page, hover over "My Profile..." on the left-hand side, * Select "Leave Balances" If your "Personal Days" balance is zero, that line won't show up.