FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS LIST

Please click on any of the questions to get the information you require. [Updated 15 April 2008]

1. Where is the Department of Human Resources?
2. Where can I find the Staff Handbook?
3. How do I get a staff ID card?
4. What are the administrative office hours?
5. What documentation is required by the Payroll Office?
6. How do I contact the tax office?
7. What is UCC’s Registered Number?
8. When do I get paid?
9. When might my salary be increased?
10. Where can I find the salary scales?
11. Where can I get advice regarding pension?
12. Where can I find information about administrative grading?
13. Who do I contact to amend information on my personnel file, eg name, address, marital status?
14. How do I find out about employment opportunities?
15. What parking facilities are available on campus?
16. What do I need to do if I am absent on sick leave?
17. Does UCC have an Employee Assistance Programme?
18. How do I join the Mardyke Arena?
19. What Unions are recognised by UCC?
20. Where can I find information on training and development opportunities?
21. Do I have to pay to attend training and development sessions?
22. Which courses are compulsory?
23. Are there restrictions on the number of participants on each course?
24. Can I talk to someone about my training and development needs?
25. Where do I find information on the Performance and Development Review System?
26. Are concessions available for staff wishing to pursue evening degree/diploma courses?
27. Where do I find details on Health and Safety training?
28. What are VDU (Visual Display Units) Eyesight Screening Tests?
29. What is the University's smoking policy?
30. Are there opportunities to enhance my computer skills?
31. Who do I contact to purchase a computer and/or software?
32. How do I get set up on email?
33. How do I access my staff email account?
34. How do I find the University's Equal Opportunities policy?
35. Does the University have disciplinary procedures?
36. Does the University have grievance procedures?
37. Is there a policy on bullying and harassment?

1 . Where is the Department of Human Resources?

The Department of Human Resources is located in the Ground Floor, Block E of the Food Science Building.

2 . Where can I find the Staff Handbook?

The staff handbook is available HERE

3 . How do I get a staff ID card and what do I require?

You will need to know your staff number, [displayed on your payslip or available from the Department of Human Resources].

ID cards are issued by Gillian Aughney in the Department of Human Resources. Gillian can be contacted at ext. 3603 / email g.aughney@ucc.ie to arrange an appointment.

Your ID card will be required if you wish to join the Boole Library, Mardyke Arena and to avail of the UCC Advantage Scheme (discount scheme)  There is a replacement charge of €5 for all cards lost or stolen.

4 . What are the administrative office hours?

Administrative offices are open from 9.15 am to 1.00 pm and 2.10 pm to 5.00 pm, Monday to Friday.

5 . What documentation is required by the Payroll Office?

All new members of staff who have had previous employment should submit Form P45 to the Payroll Office as soon as employment commences.

If you have not previously worked in Ireland or do not have a Form P45, you should contact the Tax Office for a Certificate of Tax Credits and Standard Rate Cut-Off Point, which should be submitted to the Payroll Office.

6 . How do I contact the tax office?

Correspondence with the Tax Office should be addressed to: Income Tax Office, Revenue House, Assumption Rd, Blackpool, Cork . Phone: 1890 222 425

7 . What is UCC’s Registered Number?

UCC’s Employer Registered Number is 0006286E.

8 . When do I get paid?
Salaried staff are paid electronically on the last working day of the month.

Staff who are paid on a weekly basis are paid on Thursday.

9 . When might my salary be increased?

For staff members whose salary is tied to a College salary scale, there are a number of incremental points within each salary scale. Staff members normally move to the next point on the scale on the anniversary of their appointment to the University until the top point of the scale is reached.

10 . Where can I find the salary scales?

Salary scales are published on the HR website.

11 . Where can I get advice regarding pension?

The Pensions Office, Block E, Food Science Building, UCC. Tel (021) 4903449

12 . Where can I find information about administrative grading?

The University provides a Job Grading Scheme for the evaluation of administrative posts. The Scheme applies to the duties assigned to a post rather than to the individual holding that post and applies to all administrative posts which are graded on the administrative salary scales of Executive Assistant (Grade 2) to Admin I (Grade 7). Full details are available here.

13 . Who do I contact to amend information on my personnel file, eg name, address, civil status?

To amend information on file, please send an email to hrqueries@ucc.ie or send written notification to the Department of Human Resources, detailing the necessary changes.

14 . How do I find out about employment opportunities?

Vacancies are advertised under Employment Opportunities on the HR website. Full details of each post, including further particulars are available for download. Application forms may be completed online.

• Form for academic posts
• Form for administrative, technical and services posts

You may also download the application form and e-mail this form to recruitment@per.ucc.ie as an attachment in MS Word format. Further information concerning current appointments can be obtained from Briona Ryng, tel. (021) 490 2364. Some vacancies are also advertised in the national and local press or in appropriate journals. 

15 . What parking facilities are available on campus?

UCC cannot provide car parking for all staff.  Swipe keys which permit vehicle entry at any of the barriers to main campus are currently restricted to the following categories of staff:

• Permanent full time UCC staff
• Disabled staff
• Temporary staff with a minimum of three years service.

Pay (Visitor’s) car parks are located at Perrott's Avenue (P1) and Perrott's Inch (P2) [view map]. In addition, Park & Ride facilities are available free of charge at Dennehy’s Cross and Pouladuff.

The University has also introduced a Commuter Plan, which enables staff to purchase bus and rail tickets.

16 . What do I need to do if I am absent on sick leave?

On the first day of absence, you must notify your Supervisor/Head of Department by telephone of your illness by 10 a.m. at the very latest. If you cannot contact your department, you should contact the HR Department (tel. 490 3603) who will pass the details on.  You should keep your manager/supervisor informed of your situation during periods of absence and give an indication of your likely date of return to allow cover to be arranged.

The Supervisor/Head of Department or his/her nominee will complete an SL1 form. On your return, you must complete an SL2 form and attach medical certificate(s), if available. You are required to provide a Medical Certificate for any absence of more than three days duration.

17 . Does UCC have an Employee Assistance Programme?

Yes. Positive People Company (PPC) have been contracted by UCC to provide a fully independent and confidential support service to staff and members of their family household. PPC provide expert advice through a team of information, financial and legal advisors on life events such as moving house, returning faulty goods, getting married, retiring, returning to work, career progression, managing change, role change, staying healthy, moving location, starting a new job, managing money, childcare, post natal depression etc

PPC can also help in dealing with life’s less predictable crises such as a bereavement, ill health, sleep deprivation, unexpected pregnancy, divorce, anxiety, bullying and harassment, depression, car accidents, addiction, terminal illness, drug and alcohol abuse etc through their team of telephone and face-to-face counsellors. All UCC staff and members of their household are entitled to 8 face-to-face counselling sessions per issue and to be convenient to staff, all face-to-face counsellors are based within a 30 mile radius of the University.

If English is not your native tongue, PPC can provide telephone based interpretation within 30 seconds of making your phone call and they also provide Minicom access for those with speech or hearing difficulties. Even more, PPC can provide their service to family household members studying in a third-level institution abroad.

All of the above is offered totally free of charge to staff and members of their family household.

To access the service:

• Call (free phone number) – 1800 409 476 or
• Online at www.ppconline.info, user name: ucc & password: eap

More detailed information is available on the Welfare site.

18 . How do I join the Mardyke Arena?

Discounted membership rates of the Mardyke Arena are available for individual staff members or staff family members for the Mardyke Arena Gym and/or Swimming Pool. You will be required to bring your staff ID card when making initial application. Please contact 021 4904751 with any queries.

19 . What Unions are recognised by UCC?

There are a number of Unions recognised by UCC. They are SIPTU, IFUT, UCATT, TWEU, AMICUS, IMO, IHCA, INO and IDA

20 . Where can I find information on training and development opportunities?

Information on staff training and development opportunities as well as information on all aspects of staff development is available on the Training & Development Unit web page.  Additional training and development opportunities are coordinated by a range of Committees, Centres and Units, including:

• Academic Staff Development & Enhancement Sub-Committee
• Equality Committee
• Quality Promotion Unit
• Health & Safety Office
• Computer Training Centre
• Learning Technologies Unit
• Oifig na Gaeilge Labhartha
• Language Centre

21 . Do I have to pay to attend training and development sessions?

There is no charge to staff for courses provided in-house. The majority of the courses on offer are open to all staff, but some courses are targeted at specific staff categories.  For further information, please contact the Staff Training and Development Unit.

22 . Which courses are compulsory?

All new staff are required to attend the Induction/Orientation programme relevant to them.  An Online Induction is also available providing a useful reference point for both new and existing staff.  For further information, please contact the Staff Training & Development Unit.

23 . Are there restrictions on the number of participants on each course?

Yes, places are allocated on a “first come, first served” basis. Where courses are over-subscribed, a waiting list is put in place and, in the event of a cancellation, places will be offered to those on the waiting list.

24 . Can I talk to someone about my training and development needs?

Yes - staff in the Training and Development Unit are happy to advise on personal training needs, but your first conversation should be with your Supervisor or Head of Department. He or she will have an overview of departmental aims and objectives and will be able to advise on training priorities to support you in your current role.

25 . Where do I find information on the Performance and Development Review System?

The Performance and Development Review System will be introduced across the University during the academic year 2005/2006. The review system will provide staff members with an opportunity for self-assessment within a supportive environment. Full training will be provided for both reviewers and reviewees in line with a rollout plan.

26 . Are concessions available for staff wishing to pursue evening degree/diploma courses?

The University provides a Fee Concession Scheme (currently under review) for staff wishing to undertake academic study at degree/diploma level, provided that the eligibility requirements are met.

27 . Where do I find details on Health and Safety training?

Click here for a full list of courses offered by the Health and Safety Office. 

28 . What are VDU (Visual Display Units) Eyesight Screening Tests?

All staff operating VDUs may avail of the University’s screening test, which is PC based. Referrals to the College’s designated optometrist and provision of special corrective appliances (at the employer’s cost) may apply in certain circumstances. Further details are available from the Health & Safety Office web page.

29 . What is the University's smoking policy?

In compliance with legislation, smoking is prohibited in all University buildings and workplaces, including University vehicles.

30 . Are there opportunities to enhance my computer skills?

The Computer Training Centre co-ordinates and provides IT training to UCC staff and students. The Centre offers a wide range of courses, including ECDL and Advanced ECDL.

31 . Who do I contact to purchase a computer and/or software?

It is recommended that new PCs should be purchased through the Computer Centre. Orders should be placed with Denis O’Sullivan (ext 2502).

Copies of Microsoft products and other software is available free of charge for College computers.

Anti-Virus Software is available through http://sundance.ucc.ie or the UCC Helpdesk and should be kept up to date.

32 . How do I get set up on email?

To have an email account set up, contact Denis O' Sullivan (ext. 2502) with a letter from your Head of Department. Once your account is set up, you will be informed of the email address, username and password. You should contact the help desk (ext. 2120) to have Outlook set up on your PC.

33 . How do I access my staff email account?

There are 2 ways:

1. Via the web [staff.ucc.ie]
2. Via outlook on your desktop

34 . How do I find the University's Equal Opportunities policy?

It is available under HR Policies and Procedures.

35 . Does the University have disciplinary procedures?

Yes - information is available under HR Policies and Procedures.

36 . Does the University have grievance procedures?

Yes - information is available under HR Policies and Procedures.

37 . Is there a policy on bullying and harassment?

Yes - the procedures to deal with bullying and harassment are dealt with under the Duty of Respect and Right to Dignity policy.