HR Services Overview for Commonwealth Employees

 

What is the HR Service Center?

The HR Service Center is a central location for handling routine human resource (HR) processes, questions, and services to meet your HR needs.

 

Why do you need to know?

Certain HR services traditionally provided by agency HR offices are provided by the HR Service Center.

 

Benefits for You

·   Ensures consistent, timely responses to your HR concerns

·   Standardizes processes for high-quality services

·   Reduces HR and payroll errors

·   Allows your agency HR staff to dedicate more time to strategic activities, such as workforce planning and employee/labor relations

 

What We’ll Be Covering

·   Where to go for specific HR services

·   What to expect when calling the new HR Service Center

 

Where to Go for HR Services

The commonwealth provides three resources for employee HR services:

·   HR Service Center

·   Employee self service (ESS)

·   Your agency HR office

 

HR Service Center

Contact the HR Service Center to:

·   Ask HR questions

·   Update personal data

        -name

        -marital status

        -dependents

·   Change payroll options

        -tax exemptions

        -deferred compensation

·   Manage benefits

        -health, vision, dental, prescription drug plans for dependents

        -military leave program

        -family care account program

        -optional life, long-term disability, home, auto insurance

        -state employee combined appeal (SECA)

·   Request technical support

        -online orientation for new employees

        -employee self service (ESS)

        -learning solution (LSO)

        -financial disclosure website

 

HR Service Center Contact Information

P.O. Box 824

Harrisburg, PA 17108-0824

Monday – Friday 7:00 am – 5:00 pm

Please call 866.377.2672

Important! If you’re unsure where to go for an HR issue, you are welcome to call the HR Service Center.  They’re happy to either provide the service you need or point you in the right direction.  

 

Employee Self Service (ESS) at www.MyWorkplace.state.pa.us

ESS is an important resource for your HR needs.  For those who do not have ESS access, HR information is available online at www.myHRonline.state.pa.us.

Use ESS to:

·   Update personal data

        -address changes

        -emergency contact information

·   Change payroll options

        -federal withholding

        -direct deposit/bank information

        -union m

        -savings bonds

        -tax exemptions

·   Manage benefits

        -health, vision, dental, prescription drug plans for yourself

        -enroll in LSO training courses

        -submit travel plans and reimbursements

·   Supervisor self service

        -update position descriptions -time management

        -employee contact information

        -employee training

·   Find online HR resources

        -PA 529 college savings

        -benefit plans, contact info and forms

        -ESS pay and time resources

Important! Having trouble with ESS? No ESS access?  Call the HR Service Center. They’re pleased to help you with ESS or to provide any forms necessary to complete your transactions.

 

Your Agency HR Office

Your agency HR office will continue to be an important resource for HR needs, such as:

·   Leave and time issues

·   Performance evaluations

·   Training and development

·   Workplace support

        -accommodations

        -safety

        -EEO

        -SEAP

·   Promotions and new opportunities

·   Classification

·   Work rules

·   Union matters

·   Supplemental employment

·   Workers compensation and unemployment issues

 

Agency HR Phone List as of July 2013

Aging ............................................................................................     783-5166 or 705-2928

Agriculture ........................................................................................................   787-1065

Attorney General ...............................................................................................   787-5175

Banking & Securities............................................................................................   787-4129

Civil Service Commission .....................................................................................   787-7447

Community and Economic Development & State Tax Equalization Board .............................   787-6856

Conservation and Natural Resources  .....................................................................   787-8737

Corrections  ......................................................................................................   728-2009

Department of Drug & Alcohol Programs ................................................................   783-5446

E-Health Partnership Authority ..............................................................................   783-5446

Education  ........................................................................................................   787-4417

Emergency Management Agency ...........................................................................   651-2018

Environmental Protection & Environmental Hearing Board  ...............................................   783-6220

Ethics Commission ..............................................................................................   783-5446

Executive Offices ...............................................................................................   783-5446

Fish and Boat Commission ...................................................................................   705-7820

Game Commission  ............................................................................................   787-7836

Gaming Control Board .........................................................................................   346-8344

General Services  ...............................................................................................   787-6846

Governor’s Office  .............................................................................................   787-5330

Health  .............................................................................................................   787-6002

Health Care Cost Containment Council.....................................................................   783-5446

Historical and Museum Commission  .......................................................................   783-5446

Human Relations Commission ...............................................................................   783-5446

Infrastructure Investment....................................................................................   783-5446

Insurance  ........................................................................................................   705-4194

Labor and Industry .................................................................................. main.....   787-6374

............................................................................................... time, attendance.....    787-9055

Lieutenant Governor’s Office ................................................................................   783-5446

Liquor Control Board  ..........................................................................................   783-1080

Military and Veterans’ Affairs  ..............................................................................   861-6993

Milk Marketing Board ..........................................................................................   783-5446

Municipal Retirement Board ..................................................................................   787-2065

Philadelphia Regional Port Authority ................................................................ (215) 426-2600

Pittsburg Port Authority .......................................................................................   783-5446

Probation and Parole ............................................................................   787-5699 (option 3)

Public School Employees’ Retirement System  .........................................................   720-4738

Public Utility Commission  .....................................................................................   787-8714

Public Welfare  ........................................................................................ main.....    525-5477

............................................................................................... time, attendance.....    772-0326

Revenue ...........................................................................................................   787-2709

State Employees’ Retirement System .......................................................... main.....   783-8085

............................................................................................... recruitment, EEO.....   237-0264 ........................................................................... classification, labor relations.....   237-0242

State Department & Patient Safety Authority ................................................................   787-6604

State Police .......................................................................................................   783-5533

Transportation ...................................................................................................   787-3803

........ PennDOT employees can also contact their district HR offices for assistance

 

What to Expect When Calling the HR Service Center

After listening to the automated welcome message, the caller will be transferred to an HR professional who will ask for the following information for verification purposes:

·   Name

·   Relationship to the employee (if it is not the employee calling)

·   Employee number

·   Home address

·   Home phone number

·   Date of birth

·   Last four digits of the social security number

 

Example of a call to the HR Service Center:

Welcome Message

Welcome to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's HR Service Center. To better serve you, please have your employee number available. Also, please be aware that all calls are recorded for quality assurance, monitoring, and record keeping purposes. By continuing this call, you are consenting to the recording, retention, and use of this call.

 

Dave, HR Professional: Hello, HR Service Center, this is Dave, how may assist you today?

Douglas, Commonwealth Employee: I just tried to get a prescription filled and the pharmacy told me it is not a valid card.

Dave: I would be more than happy to help you. Please verify the following information:

        Name

        Employee number

        Address

        Phone number

        Date of birth

        Last four digits of your SS number

Thank you. Did you by chance present your Medco prescription card?

Doug: I think I gave them my Health America Card.

Dave: You should have a total of 4 cards. One for health benefits, one for prescription drugs, one for vision and one for dental.

Douglas: I am looking through my cards now and I don’t see a prescription drug card. I have all of the other cards. How can I get a prescription drug card?

Dave: If you need to get a new prescription drug card, simply call the PEBTF Benefit Services Department. I have a few phone numbers I can give you. There's a local number, which is (717)561-4750.  There's also a toll free in state number which is (800)522-7279, and a toll free out of state, which is (800)628-0174.

Douglas: In the meantime what should I do? If I have to pay out of pocket for the prescription can I get reimbursed?

Dave: Tell your pharmacist that you are a commonwealth employee.  Most pharmacies can run a check on the computer with your SS#. If the pharmacist is unwilling to fill the prescription without the card, you can pay out of pocket and then file a reimbursement form which you can download from PEBTF’s website which is www.pebtf.org. Click the Resource tab. The form is located under Claim forms and it's called the Prescription Drug Direct Claim/COB Form.

Douglas: Thank you for all of your help. Have a great day.

Dave: Is there anything else I can help you with today?

Douglas: No, I think you've covered everything.

Dave: Thank you for calling and have a great day as well.

 

Summary

·         The commonwealth provides three resources for employee HR services:

                        - HR Service Center at 866.377.2672

                        - employee self service (ESS) at www.myWorkplace.state.pa.us

                        - your agency HR office

·         Certain services traditionally handled by your agency HR office are completed by staff of the HR Service Center.  In the future, you may receive some correspondence from the HR Service Center instead of your agency.

·         You are welcome to call the HR Service Center with any HR question. They’re happy to either provide the service you need or point you in the right direction.

·         Even though certain tasks can be completed through ESS, you are welcome to call the HR Service Center if you have questions or need help. They’re pleased to help you with ESS or to provide any forms necessary to complete your transactions.

 

This version of the course is intended for individuals who require an accommodation for a disability. Once you have fully reviewed the information in this training, contact your Human Resources Office to request credit for completing this course.

You will not receive credit for completing this course until you do so.