Required Action: Read 2016-17 Staff Handbook & Sign Read Receipt; Disclose to HR If You Are Related to Agency or District Staff

You received an email last week with a request to read the updated Staff Handbook. This article serves as a reminder and highlights changes in this year’s version of the Handbook.

The Heartland AEA Staff Handbook has been updated as of July 1, 2016 and is available for all staff to read and become familiar with. 


Changes to the 2016-17 Handbook to be aware of include the following:
•    Flexible Schedule (Section 3:2)
•    Flexible Workweek (Section 3:3)
•    Equal Employment Opportunity & Diversity (Section 4:5)
•    Religion & Request for Accommodations (Section 4:6)
•    Dress & Conduct (Section 10:4)
•    Social Media Guidelines (Section 14:2)

All previous versions of the Staff Handbook should be discarded or archived. The Handbook also contains a Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Privacy Notice for staff to read. 



After you understand where to find the Staff Handbook and are able to review it along with the HIPAA notice, you are required to complete a web-based read receipt form that confirms you have reviewed both of these documents. Please DO NOT print and send this form to Human Resources. 



Once you click on the link to the web form, you will need to enter the username and password that you use to login to the Employee Dashboard. You will then be prompted to complete the read receipt form. If you do not fill out the form in a timely manner, you will receive a friendly email reminder to do so. 



Please note: In addition, all staff are being asked to certify that they are not currently related to any employee or board member within Heartland AEA or anyone within their district assignment. If such a relationship exists, please disclose the relationship to Human Resources before you sign the certification.



Note that the handbook is in PDF form and contains links directly in the document that allow you to navigate through the chapters and headings. By clicking on an entry title in the index, you’ll be taken directly to that entry. Adobe Reader will provide additional features such as the ability to highlight and keep comment notes in the document should you choose to save it locally to your computer. 



For future reference, the Staff Handbook is archived on the Intranet > Human Resources > Staff Handbook.