Q: What if I have to leave and come back in the middle of my shift? How do I account for my time?
A: For Classified Salaried Non-exempt and Classified Hourly employees that receive an automatic meal, how you account for your time when you have to leave and come back in the middle of your shift depends on how the leave time falls around your meal break. If you leave and return before or after your meal break (or you do not work enough hours to generate the automatic meal):
Q: What if I will be out of the office when timesheets are due? Can I submit my timesheet early?
A: Yes.  If you will be out of the office when timesheets are due, you can submit your timesheet on your last day worked of the pay period.  You can also access EmpCenter from any computer with internet access and submit your timesheet when it is due. 
Q: What if my employee forgets to submit their timesheet or is out sick during payroll processing? Will I still be able to approve their timesheet?
A: Yes.  You will be able to access your employee's timesheet, make any changes if needed, and approve the timesheet.  You follow the same process to approve an unsubmitted timesheet as outlined in this FAQ. Please note, it is your responsibility as the supervisor to approve timesheets before payroll processing to certify that the hours worked and being paid are correct.
Q: What if the holiday is on my normal day off?
A: If the holiday falls on your normal day off, you must remove the holiday and request Comp Time.  The process is the same for all policy profiles in EmpCenter. 1. On your timesheet, change the Holiday pay code to Holiday Override using the Pay Code drop down list: Note: do not change the hours listed, just change the pay code.
Q: What is an observed holiday and an actual holiday?
A: Holidays that fall on a Saturday or Sunday are observed by the university on the preceding Friday or following Monday.  For example, New Year's Day 2023 (1/1/2023) is a Sunday; the university will be closed to observe the holiday on Monday, January 2nd.  For more details on observed holidays at the university, see the Holiday Schedule posted by the Office of Human Resources.
Q: What is EmpCenter?
A: EmpCenter is the online time and attendance system used by the university.  It allows you to record hours worked and leave taken.  EmpCenter is designed to accurately calculate your pay based on the complex rules, regulations, and policies that govern OSU pay.  In addition, EmpCenter allows for the application for and tracking of protected leave (e.g., FMLA, OFLA). 
Q: What is Grad Medical/Family Leave?
A: Grad Medical/Family Leave is a new leave bank as of 10/1/2020 for grad students with an approved medical or family leave case. How do I request Grad Medical/Family Leave? Grad Medical/Family Leave will be added to your bank when you have a qualifying event and an approved leave case. See the Grad Assistants FML page for more information about leave.
Q: What is happening with Closure Leave?
A: Per the new SEIU contract, Closure Leave banks will clear on June 30, 2022 and a new balance will load on July 1, 2022.  The new balance will be available to use through June 30, 2024. In EmpCenter, when a bank clears, the amount left at the end of the clearing period will show as "Taken":
Q: What is Hardship Leave?
A: Hardship Leave is the bank in EmpCenter for leave that is donated to you from other employees.  Hardship leave can be used with an approved protected leave case.  For more details on Hardship Leave qualifications, see the Family and Medical Leave page. How do I request Hardship Leave?
Q: What is my Supervisor Dashboard?
A: The home screen in EmpCenter is called the Dashboard. From the Dashboard you can access timesheet approval, reports, time off requests, and delegation: Main Navigation links: At the top of the Dashboard are several links; you will see these same links throughout EmpCenter:
Q: What is Paid Medical/Family Leave?
A: Paid Medical/Family Leave is a new leave bank as of 9/16/2020 for unclassified employees (Unclassified Exempt, Unclassified Non-exempt, and Unclassified Hourly policy profiles) with an approved medical or family leave case.
Q: What is the "Results" tab?
A: The Results tab lists the calculated results for all time entered on the timesheet, including overtime (for non-exempt), exchange time earned (for exempt), and shift differentials. Note: for employees that only record exception time (i.e., vacation or sick), if you do not use any leave time in the month it is possible the results tab will be blank.  
Q: What is the "Schedule" tab?
A: The Schedule tab displays any assigned schedule; even if you do not have an assigned schedule, you will still see the Schedule tab.  Employees cannot edit the schedule, only supervisors can assign or change schedules. Note: if you do have a schedule, observed holidays will not show on the schedule tab, they will be displayed on the timesheet only:
Q: What is the benefit of clocking?
A: Hourly employees are eligible for overtime while classified salaried non-exempt and classified hourly employees are eligible for overtime and several differentials.  Clocking in and out is the best way to ensure the time worked is captured to appropriately calculate any overtime or differential pay due to the employee.
Q: What is the employee dashboard?
A: The home screen in EmpCenter is called the Dashboard.  Classified Hourly, Classified Salaried Non-Exempt, and Students/Temps Dashboard Classified Exempt, Grad Students, Unclassified Exempt, Unclassified Hourly, and Unclassified Non-exempt Dashboard
Q: What is “clocking”?
A: Clocking is a function of EmpCenter that uses a web-based or physical time clock to record the time an employee begins and ends his or her work schedule.
Q: When an employee has multiple jobs, how is overtime calculated?
A: The system will automatically calculate overtime for any work that occurs after the 40th hour in a week.   The overtime charges to the job(s) being worked when the overtime occurs.
Q: When is it acceptable to adjust clocked time?
A: Valid reasons for adjusting clock time include: Computer issues preventing use of web clock at the start or end of shift. Assisting students and/or customers at start of shift and unable to clock. Missed in or out punch. Malfunctioning clock. Starting/ending shift in a location where you cannot access a timeclock. Running late, making coffee, or being out of the office are not valid reasons for adjusting clock time.  Please note, any changes to clocked time are recorded in EmpCenter .
Q: When will I be paid overtime if I am salaried?
A: Salaried employees who earn overtime in the current month will have the overtime paid on the following month’s pay check.  For example, if you earn overtime in December, you’ll receive the overtime pay on the January 31st paycheck.
Q: Who can make changes to my timesheet?
A: Besides the employee, the employee's supervisor and approved Business Center employees can access and make changes to a timesheet.  EmpCenter does record all changes made, and you can view the changes - and who made the change - using the Timesheet Audit Report.

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