News for Employees
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Order Harvest Sale Dinner items by Nov. 22
University Housing is holding a Harvest Dinner Sale, offering homemade holiday meal items. The selection includes a variety of pies, made from scratch using local ingredients, as well as whole turkeys smoked in-house. All orders will need to be picked up curbside at Dejope Residence Hall at 640 Elm Drive (Lot 37) on either Nov. 26 or 27 from 9 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Orders will be accepted online through this Friday, Nov. 22, at noon.
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University Staff must use specific leave balances by Dec. 31
The deadline for University Staff employees to use vacation carryover balances, personal holiday hours, and floating legal holidays granted for 2024 is Dec. 31, 2024. If this leave is not used by Dec. 31, 2024, it will be lost. Carried-over vacation hours that were granted in calendar year 2023 must be used or banked (if eligible) by Dec. 31. Leave balances can be found under “Time and Absence” in MyUW at my.wisc.edu. Employees who wish to verify their leave balances and the corresponding deadlines should contact their local human resources department.
As previously announced, starting Jan. 1, 2025, University Staff employees will begin the transition to receive vacation and personal holiday hours on a new leave schedule that starts on July 1 and ends on July 30. Additional information is available on the University Staff Leave Schedule Change website at go.wisc.edu/rb4ebg.
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New Federal Rule on Digital Accessibility
Universities must make digital resources accessible by April 24, 2026, under a new rule from the Justice Department. UW–Madison is already preparing for compliance. The Digital Accessibility University Coordination Committee is tasked with identifying barriers and resources needed for compliance. More updates will be provided in the coming months.
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Registration open for Information & Technology Leadership Conference
The 2024 Information & Technology Leadership Conference will take place on December 3, with virtual and in-person attendance options at no cost. Former University of Michigan CIO Laura McCain Patterson will be the keynote speaker. Fifteen sessions will address topics such as managing change, artificial intelligence, and team building. Attend in person at the Discovery Building (includes breakfast and lunch) or virtually via Zoom from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. In-person space is limited; early registration is encouraged.
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Leadership in the Lab supports emerging faculty leaders
Applications for the next cohort in the Leadership in the Lab series, which will begin Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025, are now being accepted. Leadership in the Lab is a semester-long, cohort program designed specifically for early-career STEM faculty who are, or will be, leading a laboratory at UW–Madison. The series consists of a one-day in-person introductory session, followed by virtual, 90-minute weekly sessions in which participants learn about leadership essentials, explore tangible strategies, and engage in peer networking. Seats are limited; interested faculty should apply as soon as possible, and no later than Nov. 25, 2024.
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Construction to affect N. Park Street travel
In November, motorists, pedestrians, and cyclists will be affected by full and partial road closures on N. Park Street due to work on the new Irving and Dorothy Levy Hall. Metro Transit buses will detour. Travelers should plan ahead and expect delays, especially during peak travel times. Find details at transportation.wisc.edu.
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Diversity Forum invites online participation
There is still time to register for the 2024 Diversity Forum, Threads of Belonging: Navigating Differences and Building Community. Although in-person registration is now at capacity, registration for online participation is still open. Those who would still like to attend in person can also request to be added to the waitlist. Hosted by the UW–Madison’s Division of Diversity, Equity & Educational Achievement (DDEEA), the forum will take place at Union South on November 13 and 14. The Diversity Forum is free and open to the public. Register online.
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Change to Fair Labor Standards Act effective in January
The U.S. Department of Labor has increased the salary threshold for the Fair Labor Standards Act to $1,128 per week or $58,656 per year for a full-year worker. The new rules go into effect Jan. 1, 2025. Employees whose salaries fall below the new threshold must be paid hourly, report hours worked, and be compensated for overtime pay unless they qualify for a threshold exemption. Only employees with salaries above the threshold may be designated as salaried or “exempt” from overtime pay. Employees who are impacted by this change will be contacted directly by the human resources office in their school, college, or division. More details will be provided to these employees prior to the Jan. 1, 2025, effective date.
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Webinar teaches family communication skills
LifeMatters and the Employee Assistance Office are offering a free virtual webinar, Effective Family Communication, on Tuesday, Nov. 19, noon‒1 p.m. Participants will learn about nonverbal communication and listening, talking to kids, talking about tough subjects, and creating family talk time. Register online to receive the Zoom link.
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Lakeshore path public information meeting
There will be a public information meeting tonight, Wednesday, Nov. 6, 5:30–7:30 p.m., as part of a feasibility study on possibly paving and lighting the East Temin Lakeshore Path. The consultants completing the study will share their findings to date, show preliminary options, and gather feedback. The event will be held in the Frank Holt Center, 1650 Kronshage Drive, Madison, and is open to all members of the campus community.