News for Employees
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Update on Payroll Tax Deferral Program
Employers have the option of deferring tax withholding of FICA taxes from employee paychecks on compensation paid from Sept. 1 through Dec. 31, 2020, under Presidential Order 2020-65: Payroll Tax Deferral. UW–Madison, along with the other UW System institutions and the State of Wisconsin, will not be implementing this option. Payroll tax deferral does not waive the employee’s obligation to pay these taxes. Instead, the deferral program would require employees to have the deferred amount from 2020 deducted from their paychecks starting in January 2021. The tax amounts for 2021 would also be deducted at that time. If implemented, this would result in large tax withholding amounts from paychecks in 2021.
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Raising Awareness of Linguistic Diversity: UW–Madison’s Languages
All members of the UW–Madison community are invited to participate in UW–Madison’s Languages, a new initiative to raise awareness of the value of multilingualism, of the many languages spoken by the UW–Madison community, and of language as a key aspect of diversity. An initial meeting to set priorities for the project will be held virtually via Zoom on Wednesday, Sept. 30 at 4 p.m. To learn more and to register, please visit languageinstitute.wisc.edu/uw-madisons-languages.
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Annual Benefits Enrollment Period Begins Next Week
The Annual Benefits Enrollment period is Sept. 28–Oct. 23, 2020. 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 every year. There will be only minimal benefits plan changes for the 2021 calendar year. For details, please visit wisconsin.edu/abe. In addition, watch your email inbox for reminders about the Annual Benefits Enrollment period.
You can prepare for Annual Benefits Enrollment by reviewing your current benefits elections in MyUW. Helpful resources are available online at hr.wisc.edu/benefits/annual-benefits-enrollment, including virtual presentations and checklists.
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Employee Flu Shots Available through Oct. 10
All UW–Madison employees are encouraged to get flu shots this fall. Flu shots are especially important this year in light of the pandemic. Flu shot clinics are being held on campus through October 10, and appointments are required. Health protocols are being observed at these clinics. You should wear a face covering to your appointment and bring your insurance card. If you do not have a health insurance plan, there will be a $25 fee. Spouses, partners, and children of employees are not eligible to receive flu shots at these clinics. Clinics are being held at the Nicholas Recreation Center and Nielsen Tennis Stadium. Details are available at uhs.wisc.edu/flushots.
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Virtual Events in October Focus on Well-Being
UW–Madison employees are invited to participate in 31 days of CommUNITY Well-Being in the month of October. Online presentations, resources, and suggested actions will be offered throughout the month. Live sessions will be held during the week of October 19 and will be recorded for viewing later. The month’s events will include a Racial Healing & Transformation series, designed to raise awareness and build understanding of the impact of racism on health and well-being. This series will use sequential, cohort-based learning to explore community well-being through the lens of health equity and racial justice. All events are available to UW–Madison employees at no cost. To learn more and to register, visit hr.wisc.edu/wellness-symposium.
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Diversity Inventory Invites Submissions
The UW–Madison Diversity Inventory (DI), a centralized online database of diversity programs, events, and services on campus, launched a website to track UW–Madison’s progress toward creating a more inclusive community. Students, faculty, and staff have already added more than 600 initiatives to the database, with 42 percent of them representing student services. Initiatives range from professional workshops and graduation events to inclusive bathroom signage and innovative course curricula. The website features a searchable database of initiatives, interactive charts and graphs, and spotlights on outstanding initiatives. All faculty, staff, and students are encouraged to submit their diversity- and inclusion-related efforts to the DI database. View the database at diversityinventory.wisc.edu.
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Chancellor Blank's Update on COVID-19 Response
On Tuesday, Sept. 15, Chancellor Rebecca Blank issued a blog post in which she addressed the number of positive COVID-19 tests on campus. The post explains actions that have been taken to protect the health of the UW–Madison community and planned next steps.
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Where to Find Updates on Campus Operations
A new web page on Campus Operations provides information on temporary changes to the status of some campus facilities—including dining services, research activities for undergraduate students, and more—during the current shift to remote instruction. The new page is part of the Smart Restart website, which provides updates for student, faculty, staff, and the community on UW–Madison’s response to the ongoing pandemic. Employees are encouraged to monitor the Smart Restart website regularly at smartrestart.wisc.edu.
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Family Caregiving Resources Online
Due to the pandemic, many UW–Madison employees are now facing additional family care responsibilities, which they must balance with their job responsibilities. These family caregiving needs may include child care, elder care, or care for family members impacted by COVID-19. To assist employees and supervisors who are navigating these challenges, UW–Madison has launched a new Family Caregiving website. The website contains guidance for both employees and supervisors on issues such as workplace flexibilities and leave options. Caregiving resources are also provided. More resources will be added over time. The website can be found at hr.wisc.edu/smart-restart/family-caregiving.
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Showcase 2020 Virtual Lunch & Learns
The Office of Strategic Consulting is hosting the Showcase 2020 Virtual Lunch & Learn Series beginning October 1 and running through November 12. Each one-hour session will provide an opportunity to expand one’s professional knowledge and share ideas with UW–Madison colleagues. The series highlights topics that are especially relevant right now, including change management. The Lunch and Learn Series is open to all faculty and staff at no cost. Space is limited in order to facilitate participant interaction. To learn more and to register, visit the Showcase 2020 website.