Ascentis HR News - Q1 2009

		Ascentis Company News	Ascentis HR News
		- Client Services Improved	- HR Workshops in 2009 - HR Product News - Compliance Changes in 2009 - Better Carrier Connect Service - HR Training News - Tips & Tricks: Employee Finder

Join us for Ascentis HR workshops in 2009! - Click here to see the agenda

Have you been wanting to "dive deep" into Ascentis HR but aren't sure how to get started? Join us at Ascentis HR Workshops that will be hosted in New Orleans right before SHRM (June 24-26), and in Seattle (Oct. 26-28). Workshops feature three days of intensive training as we cover the ENTIRE Ascentis HR product. The curriculum is designed for both Ascentis HR administrators and the HR generalist - this is an ideal training opportunity for new employees! You'll also get to network with other Ascentis HR users in a friendly, relaxed setting. To review the workshop agenda, click here. Call your partner manager today and register for one of these very valuable sessions. 

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HR product news

In the last quarter of 2008, Ascentis HR released several new features and enhancements, including:

• Up-to-date COBRA management in the light of the new American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009. Signed into law Feb. 17, the ARRA includes temporary, but significant changes to employer's COBRA responsibilities. To find out how to accommodate those changes using Ascenits HR, click here.
• Increased accuracy in tracking benefits information of employees whose salary is based mostly on commissions, bonuses and/or a variable number of hours worked each week.
• Significantly improved performance in the Pending tab within Employee Manager.
• Approve enrollment changes made in Self-Service at any time with the point-in-time effective dating feature. All Self Service enrollment changes are given an effective date that is under your control.

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Keep your Ascentis HR Support Agreement current so you're in compliance

There are two HR compliance changes in 2009 that will necessitate an update to the latest build of Ascentis HR (v7.6.1).

Pre-tax 401K Catch-Up Limits
401K plans can allow for participants age 50 or over to make additional catch-up contributions during the calendar year. The limit of this catch-up contribution has changed from $5,000 in 2008 to $5,500 in 2009. Ascentis HR has been updated to reflect this new amount so that employees are allowed to contribute based on current limits.

New VETS-100A Report
Companies with federal contracts of $100,000 or more entered on or after Dec. 1, 2003, are now required to file the VETS-100A form. The first annual reports are due by Sep. 30, 2009. Ascentis HR offers a new section to track VETS-100A data as well as a new VETS-100A report, which calculates all the information you need to complete the VETS-100A form.

If you have any questions about compliance updates in Ascentis HR, contact Ascentis support at 800.229.2713 x8 or send an e-mail to support@ascentis.com.

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Enhanced Carrier Connect Service is better than ever

We have many customers who use the Ascentis Carrier Connect Service, and we are committed to providing them service and support excellence. To that end, we are excited to announce that it has been restructured and enhanced.

• The Carrier Connect Service has been absorbed into the Ascentis Professional Services team. This will mean improved communications and a better understanding of the terms of service, features and project scope.
• Online Carrier Connect Kick-off Sessions will now be held with our client contact person. This is an online orientation session that will provide our clients all the information they will need to understand the Carrier Connect process. Every Carrier Connect project involves our customers, their carriers and the Ascentis Clearinghouse Team. These kick-off sessions will help our customers understand the roles and responsibilities of each party involved.
• We will now provide progress reports on all Carrier Connect projects. The amount of time it takes to move a connection from the initial order through completion will vary depending on the responsiveness and schedules of the companies involved. At the start of a project, Ascentis will provide a projected end date, and the Ascentis Client Services team will provide regular progress reports during development.
• Once the project is completed and the connection becomes "live," the daily monitoring of file transmissions, and error resolution support will be managed by the Ascentis HR Technical Support team. Each incident will be documented and tracked as an Ascentis HR product support issue.

If you have any questions about the new and improved Ascentis Carrier Connect Service, contact Pat Kaluna at 800.229.2713 x177 or send an e-mail to pat.kaluna@ascentis.com

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Training is the key to greater productivity!

Click on a class title:
HR Workshops
HR Administrator Training
Employee Self-Service

Ascentis HR Workshops - $995 - See the agenda
Take a "deep dive" into Ascentis HR and get optimal performance from the software and your staff. Workshops offer three days of intensive training that cover the entire Ascentis HR product. Ideal for both Ascentis HR administrators and HR generalists. To register for a workshop, contact your partner manager. 

2009 Ascentis HR Workshops:

New Orleans (before SHRM): June 24-26

Seattle: Oct. 26-28

 

HR Administrator Training: 2 hours - $350 - See the agenda
HR Administrator Training covers the setup and configuration of Ascentis HR, for both new implementation and ongoing maintenance. “Set Up Manager” is covered extensively, including how to  create benefit plans, users/roles and attendance policies. You will learn how use the Quickstart Data Import utility and create Custom Tabs. There is also a quick overview of the Report Wizard and Employee Self Service Administration provided. All HR Administrator classes are held from 8:30-10:30 a.m., PST. To register for a class, contact your Ascentis partner manager. 

HR Administrator Training dates in Q1:

March 19

 

Employee Self-Service Training: 2 hours - $350 - See the agenda
Employee Self Service training walks through the Setup Wizard step by step enabling all of the applications, including the My Time Off and My Team tabs. Learn how to define approval policies and security. We will also discuss Open enrollment setup and administration in detail. All Employee Self-Service classes are held from 8:30-10:30 a.m., PST. To register for a class, contact your Ascentis partner manager. 

Employee Self-Service Training dates in Q1:

March 26

 

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