News for Employees
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Partners in Giving Campaign Invites Gifts of All Sizes
Through Partners in Giving, UW–Madison employees can donate to the local, national, and international charities of their choice. Online donations can be made through payroll deduction or by credit card at giving.wi.gov. Or, submit a paper pledge form and make a gift through payroll deduction, cash, or check. Even a small gift of $1, $5 or $10 per pay period can have a positive impact in our community and around the world. The “Give Hope” campaign runs through Nov. 29, although contributions will be welcomed through May 15, 2020.
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Road Closures and Detours Update
Construction projects continue to affect traffic patterns on campus. Due to weather delays, a section of Observatory Drive near the Natatorium will be closed to traffic through Friday, Dec. 9. East-west traffic is detoured to Linden Drive and some Madison Metro Transit bus routes are affected, including campus bus routes 80 and 84. In addition, Mills Street between University Avenue and Johnson Street is closed to two-way traffic until mid-to-late 2020. Traffic should detour via Brooks, Charter, or Park Street. For updates on campus road closures and detours, visit transportation.wisc.edu.
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Workshop Explores What Matters at Work
A three-part workshop on “What Matters at Work” is scheduled for Jan. 16, Jan. 30, and Feb. 13, 2020, 9–10:30 a.m. at 21 North Park Street. Participants will explore how those things we value most can be aligned with our work priorities and our organization’s work processes. Sessions will be highly participatory. The $95 registration fee includes a copy of a book that will serve as a resource for continued learning. Registrants should plan on attending all three sessions and should expect to complete about one hour of work weekly outside of class over the six-week period. The registration deadline is Dec. 17, 2019, and space is limited.
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UWPD Offers WiscGuardian Mobile Safety App
The UW–Madison Police Department (UWPD) invites all faculty, staff, and students to download WiscGuardian, a free mobile safety app that turns any mobile phone into a personal safety device. WiscGuardian is personalized for the UW–Madison campus. The app allows you to invite friends and family to join your network as your “Guardians.” A Guardian is someone you can ask to walk with you virtually on or off campus. Guardians will have access to your phone location on a map. The app also allows for easy communication with the UWPD Dispatch Center in a non-emergency situation, as well as communication with 9-1-1 in an emergency.
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Free Parking in Surface Lots Day after Thanksgiving
Some campus parking restrictions will be relaxed on Friday, Nov. 29, making it easier for employees who take the bus to travel to campus. The City of Madison’s Metro Transit will be offering a modified service schedule on November 29. Surface parking lots on campus will be treated as if the day were a UW legal holiday. No UW permit will be required to park in the surface lots. Parking ramps and garages will operate on a typical weekday schedule, and will require a valid UW parking permit or pulling a ticket and paying upon exit. For details, visit the Transportation Services website at transportation.wisc.edu.
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University Staff Must Use Personal Holiday and Vacation Carryover Hours by December 31
For University Staff, all personal holiday hours from calendar year 2019 and vacation carryover hours from calendar year 2018 expire on December 31. You will need to use those hours by the end of the year on December 31, 2019, or you will lose them. Employees who are eligible may elect to bank set amounts of vacation carryover and/or elect to receive a cash payout. If you have used sick leave in calendar year 2019, you may be able to change the type of leave you had used and instead use personal holiday or vacation carryover hours. This would prevent the loss of personal holiday or vacation carryover hours and restore sick leave to your balance. Any requests to swap one type of leave for another must be received before December 31, 2019. If you need assistance, please speak with your supervisor or your local human resources contact.
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Blend@UW Offers Course Design Sessions
Instructors can now apply for a one-week Blend@UW course design session in January. Blend@UW helps instructors design blended and technology-enabled courses that foster deeper, more active learning for students. Participants include instructors at all stages of their teaching careers. Sessions will be held January 6–10 and January 13–17, 2020. Applications are due December 13 for the January sessions.
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You Can Contribute to a Drug-Free Workplace
All faculty and staff are strongly encouraged to help make UW–Madison a drug-free workplace. You can do this by learning the facts about substance abuse, encouraging others to avoid substance abuse, and knowing where to go for help with a drug or alcohol problem—either for yourself or someone else. Please familiarize yourself with the laws and expectations regarding substance abuse, which apply to all members of the UW–Madison campus community. Visit go.wisc.edu/j15c7c for more information.
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UW to Increase Minimum Wage to $15 Per Hour
UW–Madison will increase the minimum wage for the university’s hourly employees to $15 per hour, effective in the spring of 2020. The higher minimum wage strengthens UW–Madison’s commitment to paying a fair wage for all employees. It will also enable the university to compete more effectively in tight labor markets. The increase in the minimum wage will primarily affect workers in custodial, animal care and food-service positions. It will not affect temporary or student employees. The timing of the increase will align with the rollout of the Title and Total Compensation (TTC) Project. In this redesign of title and compensation structures, UW positions are being compared to similar positions at other public and private sector employers in order to create a market-based pay structure.
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UW–Madison Launches Standard Job Description Library
UW–Madison has launched the Title & Standard Job Description (SJD) Library, featuring new market-matched job titles and job descriptions. The library will continue to evolve as changes are made based on feedback from employees and managers, as well as updated market information. The library and other resources are available on the TTC Project website. Visit go.wisc.edu/ttcproject.