Project Thomas generating excitement as employee orientation begins New automated HR and payroll system designed to make life easier for staff   Friday May 21, 2010 -- Lisa Bailey All aboard the change train! That’s the call to Leisureworld employees learning about the transformation of the company’s human resource (HR) and payroll systems. Called Project Thomas, the initiative will move the manual, paper-laden processes at Leisureworld Caregiving Centres and Preferred Health Care Services to a more automated, online system. Vivien Cheng, who has led a team dedicated to the project since January 2009, says a vendor has been secured and the team is currently in the building stage, redesigning processes and learning about the different modules that come with the system. In conjunction with that, a webinar presentation has been made to the homes’ directors of administration on the system and its processes. The administrators, in turn, are planning in-services with team members over the next two months. To foster interest and excitement in this major change, as well as have some fun with it, white conductor hats embossed with a red train are on the way to administrators to wear during the orientation sessions. “It will have an impact on every single employee,” Cheng says. She notes there are three components to the integrated service model. One is employee and manager self-service. Using a computer kiosk created in each home, team members can log on through user identification and a password to view work-related information they commonly seek such as paystubs, make changes to such things as addresses or banking information, or make requests for vacation or other time off. All of these things are now done manually, requiring paperwork, time and steps to complete. Cheng notes staff will also be able to access this online system anytime on their home computer or “anywhere where there is a computer and the Internet.” Team members with questions, complaints or problems using the system will be able to call a toll-free number connecting them with an employee service centre set up at Leisureworld’s head office in Markham. Staff there will “have information at their fingertips to be able to help employees,” Cheng says. The third component is consulting and advisory staff that are dedicated to providing specific consultative support to homes on such matters as policy development. Cheng anticipates the new system will launch in the first quarter of 2011 and roll out in phases, beginning with core HR payroll modules. She says anticipation is growing as awareness of the new system and its benefits spreads. “Everyone is really excited and they wanted it yesterday,” she says, noting the project will meet a company goal of supporting its employees. “This is to make life easier and make life better for our employees, our most valued resource,” she says. If you have feedback on this article, please contact the newsroom at 800-294-0051, ext. 25, or e-mail lisa(at)axiomnews.ca.