Welcome to Harris!
Below you will find information on integration, a list of frequently asked questions with generalized responses and contact details if your questions remain unanswered.
As you become part of the Harris family, we expect you to have questions about this transitional experience. Most of our team members have experienced a similar transition joining Harris through an acquisition. Acquire, Build and Manage is the core of our business model; we are confident in our process adopting new environments into the Harris family of businesses.
For this reason, we have collaborated to identify a list of frequently asked questions with generalized responses to help our team members through most integration plans. It’s important to note, the responses support the majority but are not all inclusive. We do our best to minimize disruption by reviewing each environment to apply effective solutions. In addition to this standard format, the integration team will continue to hold periodic communications migrating through the integration journey.
If you need further information or if your questions remain unanswered after reviewing the FAQ, please click below to contact your Harris transition team.
General FAQ | Canadian Employees | US Employees | Française
FAQ for Canadian Employees
Pay and Benefits
What will happen to my paycheck?
If there are any changes in your pay, they will be communicated to you by your management team within the first week of transition. In many cases, your existing payment provider will be retained to process your payroll for a while. If this is not the case, your transition team will notify you with an urgent request to enter your direct deposit and tax information into the Harris payment processing system as soon as possible. Entering your data into the Harris payment processing system as soon as you are notified will avoid delays in payroll processing.
Will the Pay Period change?
Harris pays salaried employees on a semi-monthly basis on the 15th day and the last day of the month. You will receive 24 payments each year.
Hourly employees are paid bi-weekly (every two weeks).You will receive 26 payments each year.
If a regularly scheduled pay date lies on the weekend or recognized Harris holiday, payment occurs on the business day before the pay date.
What will happen to my benefits?
If you have any employment benefits with your organization, they will be deactivated. Harris provides a comprehensive set of benefits based on your country. These can include but are not limited to Health, Vision, Dental, Retirement, Life and Disability Insurance, and other perks. High-level information about employee benefits in your specific geography is described later in this FAQ. Your transition team will provide information in the first week or so of the transition. If you have a question that has not been addressed, please reach out to your transition team using the "Ask a Question" area below.
What will happen to my employment contract?
In many cases, your employment contract is taken over by Harris without any impact on you. If this is not the case, and if you are legally required to sign a new employment contract with Harris, a member of the Harris transition team will get in touch with you within the first week of acquisition to provide you with a new contract.
What will happen to the vacation time that I have accrued?
In most cases, your vacation balance will be transferred in full into an “Acquisition Bucket.”Your transition team will advise you on the rules for using this time.
Starting the day you join Harris, you will accrue new vacation hours based on your years of service.The longer your tenure, the more hours you accrue per year.Your service date is the date you joined your organization.These hours are tracked separately from the hours in your Acquisition Bucket.
Harris has a “use it or lose it” policy that applies to most employees, which means your Harris vacation hours cannot be carried over to the following year. Laws in specific geographies take precedence over this Harris policy.For example, under California law, employees do not have to use all vacation time accrued during a year within the same year. However, California employees are subject to a vacation balance cap. When your vacation accrual balance reaches the cap, you will not accrue more vacation until you take time off and the balance falls below the cap.
I have time off booked. Do I need to cancel it?
No need to cancel. Enjoy your time off!
About Harris
Who is Harris?
Founded in 1976 and headquartered in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, Harris provides mission-critical software and services solutions to key vertical markets. These solutions have been developed by businesses such as yours. Harris is constantly growing existing business units organically by requiring them to experiment with new ideas and by acquiring companies. You can find out more about Harris by visiting the main page here. Harris is a fully owned subsidiary of Constellation Software Inc. and publicly traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSE :CSU).
In which markets does Harris operate?
Harris is a vertical market software company focused on providing a combination of enterprise as well as point solutions that empower people who serve their communities. We currently do this across many verticals including utilities sector, local government, schools, public safety, health care, retail as well as small and medium-sized businesses. Chances are, you have had an interaction with a Harris software solution without realizing it. Our solutions include the analysis of utility infrastructure and billing, payment processing for your neighborhood coffee shop, AI-driven health-care analytics, customer contact operational services for at-risk social groups, workflow automation for court systems, information management systems for detention agencies, and much more.
Is this the first Harris acquisition?
Harris has acquired more than 160 companies in North America, Europe, the Middle East, Australia, and South America.
What does Harris do to companies after it acquires them?
At Harris, we have a long-term time horizon... forever. We acquire, manage, and build businesses, and we never sell them.All acquired companies have a home for life within the Harris family.
Our approach begins with learning about the business and sharing our processes and best practices to make it run successfully. We then focus on developing the business through organic and acquired growth.
In which markets does Harris operate?
Harris is a vertical market software (VMS) company focused on providing a combination of enterprise and point solutions that empower people who serve their communities. We currently do this across many verticals, including utilities sector, local government, schools, public safety, health care, retail, and small and medium-sized businesses. Chances are, you have had an interaction with a Harris software solution without realizing it. Our solutions include the analysis of utility infrastructure and billing, payment processing for your neighborhood coffee shop, AI-driven health-care analytics, customer contact operational services for at-risk social groups, workflow automation for court systems, information management systems for detention agencies, and much more.
Does Harris have a social media presence?
Harris is active on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. Follow us and share your experiences with us on social media!
My relationship with Harris
What are my career options at Harris?
One of the Harris core values is Dream Realization.
We want to know about your career aspirations and help you achieve them. If you wish to grow in your current role, take on a different role within your department, work in a different department, or even move to another business unit in a new market, there are numerous opportunities at Harris. Your manager will reach out to you to discuss your expectations and help set up a development plan for your professional success.
Another Harris core value is Sharing Knowledge. To promote this value, we hold a variety of programs and summits. Your manager will determine which summit will best support your career plan.
Please contact your transition team to get more information.
Why is the Harris acquisition good for me?
There are many reasons why you should be excited about this acquisition, including:
- Personal and professional growth opportunities that stem from the breadth and focus of Harris.
- Harris fosters and develops businesses; its employees and clients now have a stable, permanent home.
- The size and scale of Harris and its parent Constellation Software Inc. provide a solid foundation for future expansion and growth of your business.
What company name do I use when I answer the phone now?
Unless you are told otherwise by your management or transition team, please continue to answer your phones as you do today. Harris typically does not change company names as part of an acquisition.
Can I buy shares in Harris?
Since Harris is a Constellation Software (CSI) subsidiary, you cannot purchase shares in Harris directly. However, CSI is a publicly-traded company on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSE :CSU). Employees in Canada and the US can purchase CSI shares through the Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). After you've been with Harris for six months, you are eligible to enroll in the ESOP. The amount you designate will be deducted directly from your check each pay period. On top of the convenience of automatic deductions, CSI contributes an additional 15%.
How do Harris employees communicate?
Continued communication is essential! If there are tools and processes you are using to communicate with each other, please continue to utilize them for the time being. Harris and the Corporate IT team invest significant resources in the Microsoft Office 365 infrastructure to enable constant communication. This includes Outlook for emails, and Teams for chats and team-based collaboration and communication. Once the Corporate IT team develops the transition plan to migrate your current tools and processes to this infrastructure, you will receive notifications. These notifications will explain the timelines, expectations, and steps you need to take to migrate successfully to the Harris infrastructure.
Upcoming changes
Will the business be disrupted during the transition?
Our goal is to cause as few disruptions as possible during the integration process. We will be open and transparent about all upcoming changes and communicate them as soon as possible.
The transition team works from a schedule that addresses tasks in a logical sequence based on priority. Less urgent tasks are scheduled to happen later to keep change information flowing at a manageable pace. You also play an essential role in minimizing disruptions. Instead of dropping everything whenever you are asked to perform transition-related tasks, balance them with ongoing business needs. We ask that you pay close attention to any deadline communicated to you and manage your usual business workload and your transition-related duties accordingly. Harris core values "Empower" you to make your own choices and also ask that you "Communicate Bad News" at the earliest possible occasion. If you have any questions, feel overwhelmed, or are unclear about what is expected of you, be sure to contact the transition team directly. If this is not possible, use the link below to inform them of your situation.
Who is on the transition team and what do they do?
The transition team is made up of one or more employees from the business unit, an integration manager, and staff from the Harris Finance, Human Resources, Payroll, and the Corporate IT departments. The team works with the employees, vendors, and partners of the newly acquired company to transition many things into the Harris environment as quickly and efficiently as possible for everyone involved. Helping you through the transition is a top priority for the team, so please let them know when you have questions!
The transition team is highly active in the first few days and weeks after the business is acquired. In the months following, the team's involvement gradually diminishes until the transition period ends, anywhere between 4 and 12 months after the acquisition is complete. At the end of the transition period, some team members will continue working with you in the ordinary course of business while other members move on to other responsibilities.
What is Onboarding?
Onboarding is the process of transitioning you into the Harris world. There are some steps that you will have to undertake. Typically this includes entering your personal information into the Harris HR systems, viewing self-guided videos that provide information about Harris, attending presentations scheduled by your transition team, and helping migrate the current infrastructure to Harris corporate systems where applicable. Many onboarding actions are completed within the first two weeks of the acquisition, with some low priority items completed in the following months. Ongoing assistance will be provided to you during the transition. A personalized schedule providing you with the deadlines for particular actions will also be emailed to you shortly. For more specific information, please contact your transition team.
Will I have to relocate?
You will not have to relocate. Harris has over 200 offices across the globe and many employees who work from their homes. Harris is structured around a decentralized management model and operates businesses located anywhere!
I work remotely, do I need to come to an office now?
That is up to the leaders of your business. If they feel remote work is appropriate, you can continue doing so. Harris is structured to manage in-office and remote employees.
Do I have to get a new computer?
Harris upgrades employee computers regularly to ensure each employee is appropriately equipped to do their job. The timing for getting a new computer depends on the age and condition of your current computer. When you need a new computer, you will be notified and provided with the necessary tools to migrate information from your current computer to your new one.
If your computer does not need replacement in the short term, software and configuration changes will be deployed to your existing computer so that it can seamlessly interact with the Harris infrastructure. Instructions will be provided to you, and time will be scheduled to deploy the Harris configuration. When formal dates are established, the transition team will communicate them to you.
Is my email address changing?
Please continue using your existing email address. A new email address in the format (first initial)(last name)@harriscomputer.com will be created for you. Every effort will be made to ensure that all @harriscomputer.com emails and your current emails are available to you through Outlook on your computer and mobile phone. This will ensure that your current email will continue working. If we are unable to migrate your existing emails into the Harris infrastructure or need to shut down your email access temporarily to ensure both email addresses can continue receiving emails, your transition team will notify you in advance. At this time, you will also receive instructions to back up your data to avoid data loss.
Is my phone number changing?
When possible, your existing phone numbers are migrated into Harris and associated with your Harris accounts. You can then use your computer to make and receive phone calls with your current phone numbers. Access to your phones may have to be temporarily disabled to make the required configuration. If access to your phone numbers needs to be temporarily disabled, or if your phone numbers are going to change, your Harris transition team will provide you with information on the next steps. In the interim, please continue using your phones and your phone number.
Travel and Expenses
I have work-related travel booked, should I cancel it?
No, if you have any travel plans related to your work already booked and expensed, please do continue with them.
I need to travel for work, what do I do?
Harris uses a travel system that allows employees to book the most optimal travel at a reasonable cost. You will be provided access to the system as part of the onboarding process and receive training on effectively using the system. If you anticipate having to travel within the first two months of acquisition, please notify your transition team immediately so that system access can be fast-tracked.
How are my expenses approved and reimbursed?
Harris will approve expenses incurred by employees while performing their assigned duties. Reimbursable expenses are more fully described in the employee handbook, which will be provided to you as part of your onboarding.
All expenses must be entered and approved using the Harris expense management system. Access to the system is typically provided within eight weeks of acquisition. Training material to learn the new system and processes will be provided to you.
If you anticipate incurring business expenses within the first two months of acquisition, please notify your transition team. They will either instruct you to continue using the current expense reimbursement process or prioritize providing access to the Harris expense management to expedite your payment processing.
Once approved, expenses are reimbursed through our payroll system.
Other Q&A
Can I inform people outside of the organization about the change?
Please do not discuss the change until you are notified that the information can be made public. A plan has been developed for communicating the change to customers, vendors, partners, and the public at large. It may include press releases, FAQ documents, emails, letters, or blog posts. You will be informed shortly about the communication rollout and timing, and be given more details about when you may discuss the change.
Important! - Please do not make any updates to your social media profiles about the change just yet. Once you have been notified that you can discuss the change, feel free to update your profiles.
If any specific customer, vendor, or partner concerns come up before or after the change has been widely announced, please notify your transition team so that they can assist you.
How do I get access to Harris credentials?
Shortly after the acquisition, you will receive an email that will direct you to a secure site to receive your Harris credentials. You will log into the Harris portal and change your temporary password. From the portal, you can access various Harris systems. Your transition team will provide more information on this task.
FAQ for Canadian Employees
What will happen to my health benefits?
Disclaimer: Please note, the following is not a comprehensive list of benefits.
If you have any employment benefits with your organization, they will be deactivated after the transition. Once your existing benefits have been deactivated, you will be covered under the Harris benefit plan. The exact date of transition will be communicated to you by your transition team. If you did not have any health coverage previously, you will be covered under the Harris plan from the day of the transition. The following benefits will apply to you:
- 80% coverage for prescription drugs
- 80% coverage for most basic dental and paramedical services
- 50% coverage for major dental services
- Short Term disability plan if you are absent for up to 17 weeks
- Long Term disability plan if you are absent for over 17 weeks
- Life and accidental death coverage
- Annual Lifestyle reward of 325 CAD to use towards products, services, and activities that enhance your life, such as gym memberships, electronics, home improvement items, and more.
Your Harris transition team will provide you with the complete coverage summary and access instructions shortly. If you have not yet received the Harris benefit packages and would like to receive it now, please contact your transition team
Are there any Retirement Benefits?
Yes. Harris makes it possible for you to contribute to an RRSP through paycheck deductions. You can choose RRSP products with different types of funds and make regular contributions to your RRSP account. Harris will match 50% of your contributions (subject to an annual cap). More details about leveraging this benefit and annual limits will be provided to you by your transition team. You can also utilize the "Ask a Question" area below for more information.
FAQ for US Employees
What will happen to my health benefits?
If you have any health benefits with your organization, they will be deactivated as soon as the Harris benefits are activated for you. Dates for deactivation will be communicated to you by your transition team. Harris provides employees the ability to pick a range of benefits that support their health and wellbeing, including:
- Medical Plan Coverage: You will have the ability to choose between three medical plans. Each option provides coverage for a broad set of health care services. You can shop for a combination of benefits and cost that work best for you. Prescription coverage is included in all plans.
- Dental and Vision Coverage: You will have the ability to shop for dental and vision coverage that works best for your needs at a price you prefer to pay. There are three dental plans and two vision plans you can select.
- Well-being Program: This is a voluntary program that helps you understand and improve your health. The program allows you to participate in various wellbeing activities to earn funds that can be used to offset any out-of-pocket medical expenses.
- USD 325 annually towards a Lifestyle reward for things that enhance your lifestyle, such as gym memberships, electronics, home improvement items, and more.
Your Harris transition team will provide you with the complete coverage summary and access instructions shortly. If you have not yet received the Harris benefit packages and would like to receive them now, please contact your transition team.
What is the cost of the benefits?
When you log into the Harris benefits portal, pricing will be made available to you. Pricing is impacted by a few reasons such as:
- The plan you pick. There are a variety of options.
- The number of dependents.
- Your geographical location: state, city, population health
- Your healthiness and wellness: Do you have health issues? Are you on medication? Do you smoke/drink? etc.
Are there any Retirement Benefits?
Harris offers a traditional 401(k) plan and a 401(k) Roth plan. If you participate in either, deductions are taken from your paycheck and deposited into your 401(k) accounts with funds that you pick. Harris matches 50% of your contributions (subject to a cap) annually. More details about this benefit will be provided to you by your transition team.
Will I have to start tracking my time?
There is a possibility that you will start having to track your time and enter it on a Harris time entry system. Harris evaluates all job titles and ensures employees in those roles are being compensated properly according to Federal and State rules. Employees eligible for overtime must record their time so Harris Payroll can determine how much they are due on each paycheck.
Ask a Question
If you require more information, please click below to get in touch with your transition team.