News for Employees
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Jan. 4 Is Monthly Pay Date for December Earnings
For UW–Madison employees who are paid on the first of each month, the monthly pay date for December 2020 earnings will be Monday, Jan. 4, 2021. To avoid tax-related issues, the January 1 pay date for December earnings is paid in the new calendar year and must be the first “official banking business day” following the New Year’s holiday.
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UW–Madison’s Languages to Host Dec. 2 Meeting
UW-Madison’s Languages is an initiative to raise awareness of the value of multilingualism and to promote a more inclusive campus climate in which language is recognized as a key aspect of identity. The group will hold its second planning meeting via Zoom on Wednesday, Dec. 2, at 4 p.m. In this participatory meeting, three ad hoc working groups will be formed, each focused on a specific area. For more information on the ad hoc groups and to register for the planning meeting, visit languageinstitute.wisc.edu/uw-madisons-languages.
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TeachOnline@UW Spring and Summer Sessions
TeachOnline@UW is a free instructor learning community for those who are developing and plan to teach an online credit course. Participants explore research-based online course design and teaching best practices. Applications are due January 13 for the spring Plan & Design course and March 15 for the spring Facilitation & Management course. Summer dates are also available. For details and to apply, visit teachonline.wisc.edu.
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Employees Urged to Use Caution and Plan for Testing Around the Holidays
With COVID-19 cases rising locally and nationally, UW–Madison employees should be aware of the most recent public health guidance on holiday gatherings and travel. The university strongly encourages employees to avoid gatherings with people outside their immediate household. If you do choose to attend a gathering, make sure you are physically distanced, wear a face covering, and try to be outside as much as possible. Do not attend gatherings or travel if you have symptoms, are in isolation, or are in quarantine. The CDC offers additional information about safely celebrating the holidays this year, including recommendations regarding gatherings, travel, overnight stays, and more. Employees working on campus are encouraged to schedule a COVID-19 test before returning to work. Please note that some campus testing facilities will operate on reduced holiday schedules. Be sure to plan ahead, check all testing locations and hours, and make an appointment as soon as possible. For information about free COVID-19 testing options on campus,go to covidresponse.wisc.edu/testing.
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Dec. 31 Deadline for University Staff to Request Leave Conversion
Eligible University Staff employees have an annual opportunity to bank set amounts of vacation carryover hours and/or elect to receive a cash payout. All banking or pay out requests must be submitted no later than December 31, 2020. Personal holidays and legal holidays are not eligible to be banked or paid out. In addition, University Staff who used sick leave in 2020 may be able to change the type of leave they used and instead use personal holiday or vacation carryover hours. Any requests to swap one type of leave for another should be made as soon as possible. As a reminder, under the COVID-19 Pandemic Leave Policy, University Staff employees can carry over unused vacation time from calendar year 2019 (Jan. 1, 2019–Dec. 31, 2019) for one additional year. Unused personal holiday time from calendar year 2020 (January 1, 2020–December 31, 2020) may also be carried forward. All vacation and personal holiday hours carried over under this temporary extension must be used by Dec. 31, 2021. Employees who need assistance should speak with their supervisor or local human resources contact.
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Parking Restrictions Relaxed Nov. 27; Reduced Bus Service Begins
Madison Metro bus service will be on reduced service on Thursday and Friday, Nov. 26–27. UW Transportation Services will waive most surface parking lot restrictions on Friday, Nov. 27 to make it easier for those who travel by bus to come to campus. A permit will not be required to park in unsigned permit parking stalls. Campus bus service via routes 80 and 84 will also be reduced for the winter recess beginning Friday, Nov. 27, with further breaks in service on the holidays. Standard bus service will resume on Sunday, January 24. The yellow “trailer” buses will not operate during recess service. For details, visit transportation.wisc.edu.
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Help Make UW–Madison a Drug-free Workplace
All faculty and staff are encouraged to contribute to a drug-free workplace. You can do this by learning the facts about substance abuse, encouraging others to avoid substance abuse, and knowing where you or others can go for help with a drug or alcohol problem. The laws and expectations regarding substance abuse apply to all members of the UW–Madison campus community. You can review this information and find resources for drug and alcohol abuse prevention at go.wisc.edu/j15c7c.
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Rapid Antigen COVID-19 Testing at Kohl Center
UW–Madison has expanded its COVID-19 testing capacity with a new site for rapid antigen testing at the Kohl Center beginning Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2020 and running through Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2020. This site will be open only to UW–Madison students and employees. The rapid antigen tests complement PCR tests currently available for students and employees through University Health Services (UHS). Rapid antigen testing from Abbott BinaxNOW delivers results in as little as 15 minutes. A positive BinaxNOW test result will require a confirmatory PCR test, available from UHS at the Kohl Center.
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Respond to Employee Survey by November 23
UW–Madison will be ramping up its COVID-19 testing program in the spring semester. UW leaders are asking employees for information that will help shape the details of the testing program. Many employees received a link to the survey via email on Monday, Nov. 16. The survey is open through Monday, Nov. 23, and employees are urged to respond as soon as possible. Most employees will be able to complete the survey in five minutes or less. Find the survey at this link: go.wisc.edu/64niks.
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Update on Dane County Public Health Order
A new public health order taking effect Wednesday from Public Health Madison & Dane County prohibits off-campus indoor gatherings of any size and limits off-campus outdoor gatherings to 10 people or fewer in an effort to limit the spread of COVID-19. As part of the order, higher education institutions may determine their own policies and practices for safe operations and UW–Madison continues to emphasize its own safety protocols and procedures. Campus operations, including in-person instruction ahead of the Thanksgiving recess, continue as planned.