Dora Lee Rosendorf, a Department of Treasury representative, has graciously agreed to chair the T&A User group for the next year.

We looked at the Current Issues addressed in the January meeting and decided to review them and reach a consensus in the group.

1)      Implementation of the Leave bank/Leave Transfer/Emergency Leave Bank Requirement  – Dora Lee mentioned that there was a 2” binder containing the NFC payroll/personnel system requirement for an automated leave transfer/leave bank/emergency leave bank.  The group is looking for a Status.  We are not sure if the implementation was delayed because of a database change or postponed due to Office of Personnel Management (OPM) legislative requirements.  We were never provided the status of this requirement; Randy Speed, NFC, will determine if the leave elements are included in the NFC data base change.  Randy will be sent, via e-mail, an action item, to follow up on this request.  

2)      Home Leave/Automation of Accrual – The request is for the NFC Payroll/Personnel system to automate accruals of Home Leave.  This was on the ‘nice to have’ list submitted by the TAUG (T&A Users Group); however, more data elements may be required for implementation of this enhancement.  The TAUG advised that the specific requirements document is straightforward. Lynn Isbell, NFC, will check on the status of this enhancement with Jo Bonner, NFC.  

3)      Time Error Messages – TAUG is looking for a copy of the document created by the group to give guidance to new NFC technicians when dealing with time error messages.  Once found, we would like to circulate it among the users for approval and then have it implemented at NFC.  Lynn will check with Jo Bonner to see if she has a copy.  

4)      STAR (System for Time and Attendance Reporting) 5.0 Workload/Work Flow Captures.  Will Activity Reporting go against the NFC Payroll/Personnel system?  This feature will not impact the NFC Payroll/Personnel system. T&As will be able to do activity-reporting system to workload and A123 will require this type of activity reporting system.  FSA (Farm Service Agency) reps will flush this out for future reporting.  

5)      FIFO (first in first out) for Compensatory Time Absent – TINQ (Time Inquiry System) Pay Period and Year.  When compensatory time that has expired is paid out, the NFC payroll/ personnel system currently uses the employee’s current hourly rate and not the rate the employee was entitled to when the compensatory time was worked; this is not correct and costs the agency more money.  Currently there is no Federal government limitation for compensatory time; however, NFC limits it to two years. NFC does not maintain compensatory time records for those agencies whose have a different time limitation.  OPM is in the process of standardizing regulations so that all Federal employees have the same time limitation for using their compensatory time. TAUG needs to find the OPM contact for this issue.  

6)      TINQ (Time Inquiry System)  – Currently does not provide PP records for compensatory time religious and compensatory time travel.  This is on HOLD until the NFC payroll/personnel system database change.  An attendee requested that TINQ maintain rates for six years. Treasury changed its compensatory time limitations from twelve pay periods to one year.  NFC determined that this modification (which includes a data base change) would be quite expensive.  In TINQ regular compensatory time needs to be separated from compensatory time travel and religious compensatory time.  Sheila Fleishell, Department of Commerce, advised that in Pay Period 2, 2007, the NFC Payroll/Personnel system generated 1,000 Compensatory Time for travel errors for their employees. It was suggested that a message be sent to the Community for Payroll and Personnel Users (CAPPS) representatives, Database 06, and across the board to identify each pay period this issue has affected employees.   GAO advised they have not experienced this issue.  Sheila advised the 361 errors resulted in Compensatory Time for travel balances being affected for their employees.  Department of Commerce will follow through to make sure they do not see any errors.  

7)      Military Time – Prior year/carry over –Department of Justice requested that NFC issue a bulletin on Military time (hours).  The TAUG is not sure but thinks this is a TINQ issue.  Lynn will check with Jo Bonner.  

8)      Clock Time – Minute-to-Minute – 16-Minute Increments (Interfacing with Clock). This is a STAR issue that will be addressed in the STAR group.  Washington, DC and other jurisdictions do not allow employers to use time clocks to verify the hours their employees arrived and departed from the work site.  

New Issues:  

1)      CULPRPT P0013  – It appears Time and Attendance Validation System (TIME) is processing inconsistently at NFC.  Is there anything that can be done?  Run time depends on the completion of other jobs scheduled at NFC.  However, it is run nightly and during the early afternoon of pay week. 

2)      STAR T&A Released Status – It was asked what if any action is to be taken when T&As are remaining in “Released Status” in STAR, for a continuous time period.  Ashlie Horton noted that T&As should not be in “Release Status” for more than a couple of hours, and if they are, then the T&As should be retransmitted to NFC.  

3)      Leave Accrual Projection Report – An agency representative asked if NFC is issuing this report since her agency is no longer receiving it. The report displays when an employee’s annual leave category is changing from 4 hours to 6 hours to 8 hours.   

4)      A question was brought up regarding leave accrual for PT (part time) and FT (full time) employees separating from the agency.  A FT employee receives leave providing they completed their scheduled tour of duty.  A PT employee receives leave based on the number of hours worked.  

5)      Due to the fact that the TAUG makes decisions that affect all agencies serviced by NFC, an appeal will go out at the CAPPS meeting to have each agency send a representative to the meeting.  Prior to any decision being implemented, the TAUG will notify agencies via a Customer Notification sent by the Client Management Branch at NFC to all CAPPS members in an effort to not make decisions that may adversely affect an agency not represented.  

Meeting adjourned.