News for Employees
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Annual Benefits Enrollment Period Begins Next Week
The Annual Benefits Enrollment period is September 30–October 25, 2019. This is the only time you can make changes to certain benefits without having an eligible life event (for example, marriage, birth, or divorce) or qualifying employment changes during the year. Certain benefits require re-enrollment each year. Learn about your benefits options for 2020 at upcoming seminars on October 2, 3, 7 and 8. Also, mark your calendar for the Employee Benefits and Resource Fair on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. at Union South. At the fair, you can attend a benefits seminar, meet with benefits representatives, and get help enrolling in benefits. Advance registration is not required to attend these events, and no leave needs to be taken. Review your current benefits elections in MyUW. Visit benefits.wisc.edu/2020 for more information.
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Leadership Conference Invites Session Proposals
The Leadership and Management Development Conference is designed to help faculty, staff, and community members develop the skills they need to lead and manage more effectively, whether they are in formal positions of leadership or not. Those who wish to present at the conference are invited to submit session proposals by Friday, Oct. 4. Registration is also open for the conference, which is scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 13, 8:30 a.m.–4:15 p.m. at Union South. The $125 attendance fee includes workshops, the keynote session, and lunch. Presenters who are selected will receive free registration for the conference.
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Free Breakfast Marks Homecoming Week
All UW–Madison faculty and staff are invited to a free Homecoming Week breakfast on Tuesday, Oct. 8 from 7:30 to 9 a.m. at the Wisconsin Alumni Association, 650 N. Lake Street. A complimentary hot breakfast will be served. This is a drop-in event and no registration is required. The breakfast is hosted by the Wisconsin Alumni Association.
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Event Celebrates Shared Governance
A reception to celebrate shared governance on campus will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 16, 3–4:30 p.m., in the Great Hall at Memorial Union. All UW–Madison faculty, academic staff, and university staff are welcome to attend. This event marks the significant role of shared governance in decisions regarding academics, research, campus climate, diversity, human resources, and more. Attendees will learn about the roles and responsibilities of shared governance and opportunities to get involved. Refreshments will be served.
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Vendor Change Announced for FSA and HSA Accounts
Connect Your Care (CYC) will be the new third-party administrator for the Flexible Spending Account (FSA) and Health Savings Accounts (HSA) beginning January 1, 2020. Specific accounts affected include Health Care FSA, Limited Purpose Health Care FSA, Dependent Day Care Account, Health Savings Account, and any existing Parking & Transit Accounts with remaining balances. TASC will no longer be the third-party administrator after December 31, 2019. The last day to submit FSA expenses for the 2019 plan year to TASC will be March 31, 2020. Employees may roll over their HSA balances from TASC to CYC between September 30 and December 31, 2019. UW–Madison employees with active accounts have already received direct communications about this change. Employees who wish to enroll or re-enroll in an FSA or HSA account should do so during Annual Benefits Enrollment, September 30–October 25, 2019.
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Wellness Symposium Cultivates Well-Being at Work
Registration is now open for the UW–Madison Wellness Symposium, scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 23, 8 a.m.–2:30 p.m. at Union South. The symposium offers breakout sessions and other resources to support UW–Madison employees in being their best selves at work. The keynote speaker will be Stacey Flowers, a popular TEDx Talk speaker and entrepreneur. Flowers will speak about the power of happiness to create new opportunities, cultivate more energy, manage stress, and build confidence and connection. Details on breakout sessions will be available soon at hr.wisc.edu/wellness-symposium. The cost to attend is $35, including lunch, for UW faculty and staff. Registration is due October 11.
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Academic Staff Professional Grants Available
Applications are now being accepted for the Fall 2019 Academic Staff Professional Development Grant program. The program is offered to academic staff members who meet the eligibility requirements and hold at least a 50 percent appointment. Grants are for activities beginning between January 1, 2020, and June 30, 2020. Informational sessions on “Writing a Successful Professional Development Grant” will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 24, noon–1 p.m. at Union South and on Wednesday, Oct. 2, noon-1 p.m. at the Health Sciences Learning Center, room 1345. The deadline to apply is October 25, 2019. Please contact Jake Smith at 263-2985 or pdrc@soas.wisc.edu with any questions.
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Save the Date for Employee Benefits and Resource Fair
All UW–Madison employees are encouraged to attend the Employee Benefits and Resource Fair on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. at Union South. The event is designed to help employees prepare for the Annual Benefits Enrollment period, which is September 30–October 25, 2019. At the fair, you can attend a benefits seminar, meet with benefits representatives, and get help enrolling in benefits. The fair will also feature information about campus resources and sessions on personal finance and retirement topics. For more information about Annual Benefits Enrollment, go to hr.wisc.edu/benefits/2020.
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EAO Expands Services to Provide Statewide, 24/7 Support
UW–Madison’s Employee Assistance Office (EAO) provides employees and their dependent household members with free, confidential assistance with personal and work-related concerns. EAO is now partnering with LifeMatters to provide support statewide and at all hours of the day or night. LifeMatters counselors are available anytime by phone or text messaging. Appointments can be scheduled to meet in person or by video conferencing. LifeMatters also provides legal and financial resources and will locate experts to assist with adoption, child or elder care resources, travel planning, and more. All services are free, voluntary and confidential. Visit the website at mylifematters.com and sign in with the password “Bucky1.” Call 800-634-6433 to speak with a LifeMatters counselor. For details, go to hr.wisc.edu/employee-assistance-office.
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Employee Flu Shots on Campus
University Health Services is offering employee flu shot clinics at various locations on campus in September and October. No appointment is needed. Bring your health insurance card. Many healthcare plans allow for direct processing of payments by your health insurance provider. Otherwise, there will be a $35 fee for the shot (payable by cash, check, Visa or MasterCard). The employee flu shot clinics are not open to spouses, partners, or children of employees.