HR Quarterly Newsletter - Spring 2026

HR Quarterly - Spring 2026

HR Updates

Benefits & Payroll
Row of flowers
Student Employment
Arched greenhouse tunnel with rows of tall tomato plants growing on both sides of a narrow central path, lined with bright orange and yellow marigold flowers under soft, diffused daylight.
HR Operations
Sunflower
Employee & Labor Relations
Row of cherry blossom trees in full bloom forming a canopy of pale pink flowers over a paved walkway, with neatly trimmed green grass, hedges, and a modern building in the background on a bright, clear day.
Leaves/Disability
Low stone wall with a circular opening set in a grassy area, partially obscured by out-of-focus leafy branches in the foreground, with tall dense trees forming a shaded forest in the background.
Upcoming Events & Trainings
Close up of a pink flower with a bumble bee in the center of the flower

Spring Happenings!

Butterfly on metal coils

Sonja spotted a Pipevine Swallowtail land on an art piece in her yard. 

Red merle toy australian shephard dog rolled on his back on a deck soaking up the sun
Haley and husband Shane in a strawberry field with a bucket full of strawberries
Sunset view over the Boulevard Park boardwalk from the Chrysalis Inn
Lisa wearing a green sweater with a sequin four leaf clover on it, holding up the peace sign with her fingers

Lisa, Leave & Medical Accommodations Administrator, was lucky enough to see a corpse flower bloom in the Geiser Conservatory at Manito Park, Spokane in early March. They bloom every 3-7 years and only last a few days!

Image of a corpse flower bloom behind a green metal railing in Manito Park, Spokane
white curly dog with a gray halter and blue bandana looking excited with a rocky shore and the ocean in the background
A person sitting in a small boat on a calm lake, surrounded by forested hills under a clear blue sky.
Bow and his partner taking a selfie in reflected mirrored room
Smiling Bow and friends walking on a sidewalk in New York

"I got to take a spring getaway with my partner to New York City for the first time and stay with some friends in Brooklyn. It was pretty rad getting to experience so many public transportation options, museums with epic art installations, and, most importantly, all the good food. Now I’m happy to be back home and spending as much time in the garden as possible. One can never grow enough flowers…..and who knows….maybe this year I’ll even get a tan." - Bow Jerns, Compensation Strategy Manager

Bow standing in a big field with a bright blue sky and clouds with one foot propped up on a garden tool
Tara smiling and in sunglasses taking a selfie with a rocky shore and the ocean sparkling in the sun
Yellow headed black bird perched on feeder eating bird food
Orange cat in a soft sided animal carrier with trees and water in the background
A wide canyon landscape with rocky cliffs, a winding river below, and distant hills under a lightly clouded blue sky.
A large outdoor concert crowd faces a stage with a performer on a big screen, set against rolling hills at sunset.
Black and white curly dog with their mouth open rolling on their back on the grass
Dallas in a white dress holding the hands of her husband Dylan, wearing a tux with a red shirt, and their wedding

Congratulations to Dallas Owen, Payroll Coordinator, who married Dylan Gibson, Program Coordinator in the Languages Department, on March 21st! We love Western love! 

Small golden colored dog with long crimped ear hair wearing a neon yellow life jacket standing on the grass.
A small blonde dog with curly ears and a big stick in its mouth, harnessed by a pink leash
Merle cat with a white chest and green eyes in a purple donut bed
Buffi and her son Kian celebrating his 22nd birthday
White cat standing on a windowsill wearing blue tinted sunglasses.
Kaylan smiling while sitting on concrete stairs with her and her heeler dog Stein.
A heeler dog in a red harness with his front paws on a stump with blue skies and the mountain in the distance

Shoutouts

Way to go Payroll team!


In 2025, Payroll Processed: 

215 Change Payroll Approver Requests

815 Timesheet Adjustment Requests 

85 Overpayments

172 Emergency Check Requests

80 Reissue Requests

90 Off Cycle Payments or Refunds

And 24 university wide payroll runs, approximately 385 hours!

Meet HR's New Staff