Courtesy of ESO

ESO is currently working on the second phase of this University of Houston System project, Time Reporting and Absence Management (TRAM), which is tentatively scheduled to be launched by May 31, 2013. TRAM will take electronic time reporting to the next level by implementing an on-line leave request process for benefits-eligible faculty and staff and automating timesheets for all bi-weekly employees. These processes will eliminate the current paper leave request form and paper bi-weekly timesheet.

Once TRAM is implemented, exempt employees will request leave through Absence Management, which will be located in PASS. Once an employee submits a leave request and it is approved by the manager, the approved leave will feed directly to the electronic timesheet. This means that monthly employees will no longer have to complete an electronic timesheet to report exception time. The electronic leave request will update their electronic timesheet automatically. Also, since the Absence Management Request Form is located in PASS, an employee can submit a request for leave twenty-four (24) hours a day from any computer with internet access.

Employees who are paid bi-weekly will also be required to request leave through the on-line Absence Management Request Form, and just as with monthly employees the approved leave will feed to their electronic timesheet.

TRAM provides many advantages to the current payroll processing system. Some of these are:

• Decreased paper flow;
• Elimination of paper timesheets;
• Automated calculation of hours for pay;
• On-line validation of leave;
• Decreased chances of time reporting errors, and;
• Decreased chances of data entry errors.

A TRAM Fair is currently scheduled for Monday, April 8, 2013 in the Special Events Center. ESO will be holding presentations on the hour, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. to introduce the new system, and share information regarding the roll out and timelines.

If you have questions or need additional information, feel free to contact Betty Powell at x-8072 or PowellB@uhd.edu.