BCPSS Self-Service Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is Human Resources Self-Service?

Human Resources (HR) Self-Service is a powerful tool that provides all Baltimore City Public School System employees with the ability to quickly and easily self-administer selected personal data online via the Baltimore City Public School System's Intranet or the Internet.

2. What is Benefits Self-Service?

Benefits Self-Service is a robust tool that provides all Baltimore City Public School System employees with online access to their benefits data via the Baltimore City Public School System's Intranet or through the Internet with a unique employee authorized log-on. This tool will help the Baltimore City Public School System achieve its goal of ensuring that accurate and current employee information is available in the Human Resources Management System (HRMS).

3. What is Employee Self-Service?

Employee Self-Service (ESS) is a web-based application that empowers Baltimore City Public School System (BCPSS) employees to take complete ownership of their personal data and provides BCPSS employees with anytime, anywhere access to information related to their employment with the school district.
Employee Self-Service allows each BCPSS employee to view his/her personal information, view and update his/her personal email address, view and update his/her phone numbers, view his/her job/work information, and view his/her special information.

4. During which hours daily can I access Employee Self-Service?

Employee Self-Service will be available for your use Sunday through Saturday from 7:00 AM through 10:30 PM.

5. Who should I contact if I need help using Employee Self-Service?

If you need assistance using ESS, please either call the Department of Human Resources at 443.984.1142/1143 or send an email to HR@bcps.k12.md.us. 
If you are experiencing technical problems using ESS, please either call the ITD Help Desk at 410.396.8182 or send an email to helpdesk@bcps.k12.md.us. The ITD Help Desk is available Monday through Friday from 7:30 AM - 5:00 PM to answer your questions regarding any technology deployed within the school district.

6. What if I forget my password for Employee Self-Service?

Please contact the ITD Help Desk at 410.396.8182. The ITD Help Desk is available Monday through Friday from 7:30 AM - 5:00 PM to answer your questions regarding any technology deployed within the school district. For security purposes, please be prepared to verify demographic information about yourself. The ITD Help Desk Analyst will reset your password to a generic password. When you access ESS, you will automatically be prompted to change this generic password to a personal password that must be at least 8 characters in length and contain at least one upper-case letter and one number.

7. Does my password for Employee Self-Service ever expire?

Yes. Your password will expire every 90 days and you will automatically be prompted every 90 days to update your personal password. For security purposes, please do not write down or share your password with others.

8. Can I change my password for Employee Self-Service to the same value each time that it expires?

No. You can change your personal password to a similar value, but not to the same value as a previously used personal password to access Employee Self-Service.

9. Can I access Employee Self-Service from any computer?

Yes. Employee Self-Service offers web-based access--anytime, anywhere to all BCPSS employees. This means that from any computer (e.g., located in the school, office, BCPSS Headquarters, your home or local library, etc.) that has Internet access BCPSS employees will have the ability to view and update their personal information using ESS.

10. Can I access Employee Self-Service from home?

Yes. You may access Employee Self-Service though the Internet browser on your home computer.

11. What Internet browser can I use to access Employee Self-Service through Windows applications?

The recommended Internet browser is Internet Explorer 6.X.

12. Why does the Employee Self-Service time me out?

For security purposes, your Employee Self-Service session will automatically time out after 15 minutes of inactivity. In order to continue using Employee Self-Service, you must log back into the system. If you have not saved your changes in Employee Self-Service prior to the time out, you must re-do your benefit or personnel transaction(s) in Employee Self-Service.

13. How many tries do I get to log-in to Employee Self-Service if I am not certain of my password?

Employee Self-Service will automatically lock your user account after 4 unsuccessful login attempts.

14. If my user account has been locked, how do I get it unlocked?

Please contact the ITD Help Desk at 410.396.8182. The ITD Help Desk is available Monday through Friday from 7:30 AM - 5:00 PM to answer your questions regarding any technology deployed within the school district. For security purposes, please be prepared to verify demographic information about yourself. The ITD Help Desk Analyst will reset your password to a generic password. When you access ESS, you will automatically be prompted to change this generic password to a personal password that must be at least 8 characters in length and contain at least one upper-case letter and one number. The ITD Help Desk will assist BCPSS employees with any technical problems using Employee Self-Service including locked accounts, password resets, and any other security assistance.

15. What if I do not have access to a computer with Internet access?

The Department of Human Resources and the Information Technology Department have setup several self-service kiosks in various strategic locations across the school district. Each self-service kiosk provides BCPSS employees with access to a computer and printer to use Employee Self-Service to access their employment information. These self-service kiosks will streamline personnel transactions and enhance customer service by allowing BCPSS employees to quickly and easily access their employment information in ESS.
For security purposes, each BCPSS employee must their Personalized Enrollment Guide with them to the self-service kiosk to access Employee Self-Service to view their employment information and to update only their personal email address and phone numbers using Employee Self-Service. If a BCPSS employee does not have his\her Personalized Enrollment Guide, he\she will not be able to utilize the self-service kiosk to access their employment information using Employee Self-Service.  Finally, the sole purpose of these self-service kiosks is to provide every BCPSS employee with access to the technology required to use Employee Self-Service.

The following table identifies the self-service kiosk locations and addresses:

16. Can anyone else access my personal information through Employee Self-Service?

No. Each BCPSS employee has access only to his/her own personal information in ESS.

17. Is my access and information secure in Employee Self-Service?

Yes. By using your unique user ID and personal password to access ESS, you gain access to view and update your personal information. Your personal information is available to you only through a secure connection. The Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) is a commonly used protocol for managing the security of message transmission on the Internet. No one will be able to see your personal information except you. Only you can access your personal data using your personal password. Passwords used for ESS are required to be adequately complex, making them difficult for others to guess. You will also be prompted every 90 days to update your personal password. For security purposes, please do not write down or share your password with others.

18. How long does it take for my personal information to be updated in Employee Self-Service?

Whenever you make any changes to your personal information in ESS, the information will be updated in real-time in ESS.

19. What is Open Enrollment and when does it occur?

Open Enrollment occurs once every year and allows BCPSS employees the opportunity to review their current benefits, coverage levels, and make changes for the next plan year. The 2008 Benefits Open Enrollment will be held from October 22, 2007 through November 9, 2007.

20. Do all BCPSS employees have to enroll in the BCPSS Employee Self-Service system for open enrollment this year?

You must go online only if you wish to add or remove a dependent, change benefit plans, cancel coverage, or enroll for the first time. However, if there are no changes being made you can still review your benefits and print a confirmation statement for 2008.

21. If I make changes to my benefits, when will they go into effect?

All changes you make during open enrollment are effective January 1, 2008.

22. Will I receive new ID cards for 2008?

You will receive a new medical, prescription drug, and dental ID card if you enroll in these plans for the first time or make a change in your health plans or your coverage level. Otherwise, if you do not make changes to these plans, you will not receive a new ID card.

23. Since there is a new vision care provider, will I receive a vision ID card?

If you area currently enrolled in the vision plan or enroll for the first time for 2008, you will receive a vision ID card.

24. Do I need to obtain a voucher to visit a vision care provider?

No, you do not need to obtain a voucher in order to use your vision care benefits. You can locate a vision care provider by visiting www.e-nva.com or by calling 1-800-672-7723. Once you have located a vision care provider, show your vision ID card to obtain coverage of vision services.

25. Do I still need to provide a student certification if my child is between the ages of 19-25?

No, you do not need to provide a student certification for 2008. As a result of a change in state law, your eligible unmarried dependent children may continue their health coverage under BCPSS until the end of the calendar year in which they turn the age of 25, regardless of student status.

26. If I must provide documentation for any dependent or benefit plan added for 2008, when is this documentation due?

All documentation for added dependents or benefit plans is due to the Office of Benefits Management by November 9, 2007.

27. Who do I contact if I have questions regarding Open Enrollment?

If you have questions regarding Open Enrollment or the BCPSS Employee Self-Service system, you can contact the Office of Benefits Management by calling 410.396.1629 Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM or sending an email to benefits@bcps.k12.md.us.

28. Will I receive a letter confirming my enrollment elections for calendar year 2008?

No, you will not receive a confirmation letter in the mail. If you would like to have a document confirming your enrollment for 2008, you must print the confirmation statement provided in the Benefits Self-Service system.

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