The Reporter: February 1996, Vol.7, No.1
Personnel News

Open-Enrollment Month

Although the specific date is yet to be announced, the annual benefits fair in April will give officers and non-union support staff the chance to learn more about their benefits. Employees can make changes in their medical insurance coverage and Universit y spending account benefits during the month of April.

Hotel Discounts

Employees and their relatives are eligible to take advantage of an agreement Columbia has extended with the Milburn Hotel in Manhattan. Columbia has negotiated special rates with the hotel: $81 per night for a studio and $120 per night for a two-room suit e (based upon room and suite availability). These rates are guaranteed through June 30.

The Milburn Hotel is located at 242 W. 76th St. The discounted rates are available through one of the following procedures:

1) Call Travel One at (800) 872-8528.

2) Call the Milburn Hotel at (212) 362-1006 and request Columbia's discount rates. You also must present the hotel with a letter on University stationery citing the guest's eligibility. The department making the reservation must present the letter to the hotel before check-in time, either by mail or fax (212) 721-5476.

3) Present a valid Columbia University identification card at check in.

More information on the program is available from the Office of Adminis-tration Services at 854-2463.

Q&A:

Q: How were employees compensated for the snow emergency day Jan. 8?

A: When inclement weather prohibits employees from traveling to work, they can designate the day as vacation or personal time. Because the weather caused the University to close officially Jan. 8, employees who are paid by salary were paid for a regular day and hourly employees were paid for seven straight hours. If you are an hourly worker and were called into work on that day, you were paid in accordance with holiday pay practices, that is, time and a half.