News for Employees
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Campus Mental Health Resources Support Well-Being
UW–Madison employees, significant others, and their families have access to free, confidential counseling on personal or professional concerns. The Employee Assistance Office (EAO) offers appointments for phone or video chats Monday through Friday during business hours. At this time, appointments are available the same week they are requested. For 24/7 access to counselors, contact EAO partner LifeMatters. LifeMatters also offers a library of articles related to well-being issues on their website. Visit hr.wisc.edu/employee-assistance-office for details.
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Hostile and Intimidating Behavior Training Online
Hostile and Intimidating Behavior (HIB) Policy and Process Training is available at no cost to all UW–Madison faculty and staff. In this 90-minute online workshop, participants will work with scenarios and case studies to understand and identify key features of hostile and intimidating behavior. Participants will also discuss their responsibilities and options when they hear about or experience incidents of hostile and intimidating behavior, and what they can do to prevent it before it happens. Participants will review UW–Madison HIB policies and campus resources. Upcoming sessions are being offered online on Thursday, June 11, 1–2:30 p.m., and Tuesday, June 23, 9-10:30 a.m. Register in advance at hr.wisc.edu/hib/training.
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Deadlines Extended for Use of Personal Holiday Hours and Vacation Carryover
UW–Madison recognizes that, during the COVID-19 pandemic, employees may not be able to use all of their personal holiday hours or vacation carryover balances by the deadlines set by other campus policies. The deadlines to use personal holiday hours or vacation carryover have been extended. Employees who are paid hourly now have until December 31, 2021, to use vacation carryover that was earned in calendar year 2019 and personal holiday time that was earned in calendar year 2020. Employees who are paid monthly now have until June 30, 2021, to use vacation carryover that was earned in fiscal year 2019 and personal holiday time that was earned in fiscal year 2020. This information is provided in the UW–Madison COVID-19 Pandemic Leave Policy. For additional information related to COVID-19 furlough and leave, visit hr.wisc.edu/furlough.
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Votes Due June 5 for University Staff Congress Elections
Ballots for the University Staff Congressional election have been mailed to employees who are in districts with at least one candidate for district representative. A postage-paid return envelope is included with the ballots. The deadline to receive ballots at the Office of the Secretary is Friday, June 5, at 11 a.m., when votes will be tabulated. Ballots may also be returned by campus mail, although due to delays, using campus mail is not recommended. Employees who are currently working in Bascom Hall are welcome to place completed ballots under the door of Office 271. Statements from the candidates for the 7th Congress are available online at ous.wisc.edu.
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Virtual Learning Opportunities Expanded
Learning and Talent Development is continuing to add more instructor-led courses and other virtual learning resources to its Virtual Learning web page. Virtual learning provides an opportunity to connect with others, learn new skills, and engage in meaningful discussions. A number of live courses are offered, with advance registration required. There are also links to TED Talks, useful LinkedIn Learning courses, and other online resources. All virtual learning opportunities are available at no cost to UW–Madison employees. Visit hr.wisc.edu/virtual-learning for details.
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Registration Open for IT Professionals Conference
The IT Professionals Conference will take place virtually on June 4–5, 2020. The free conference will feature both live and recorded sessions. Advance registration is requested.
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Employee Emergency Loan Program Launched
UW–Madison has established an emergency loan program to provide assistance to those employees who are experiencing financial hardship because they have been placed on Position-Specific Furlough or are working reduced hours in a Work-Share program. The loans are available at zero percent interest. For employees paid biweekly, the maximum amount of the loan is equal to their take home pay for two pay periods. For employees paid monthly, the maximum amount of the loan is equal to their take home pay for one pay period.
Although all aspects of the loan process can be completed online, employees can also arrange to pick up a paper application, drop off a completed application, or pick up a check for the loan amount. Important information, including the application form and promissory note, will be made available in multiple languages. Employees on voluntary leave without pay, voluntary reduction of hours, or Campus-Wide, Intermittent Furlough are not eligible for an emergency loan. Additional details and the application form are available at go.wisc.edu/i5t2kj.
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How to Report Furlough Time Used
All UW–Madison employees who are on Campus-wide, Intermittent Furlough are required to report their furlough time used. Reporting requirements vary depending on your employee classification. Detailed instructions are now available online on how to report furlough time. Furlough time will be reported under the Time and Absence module in MyUW. Employees are encouraged to report furlough time used as promptly as possible after their furlough days or partial days. If you have questions about this information, you can contact the Human Resources (HR) department for your school, college, or division. The Office of Human Resources also offers assistance at (608) 265-2257 or furlough@hr.wisc.edu. Furlough information is available at hr.wisc.edu/covid19/furlough.
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TSA Retirement Program Offers Live Webinars
The UW Tax-Sheltered Annuity (TSA) 403(b) Program is a supplemental retirement savings program that allows employees to invest a portion of their income for retirement on either a pre-tax basis, an after-tax basis (Roth), or a combination of both. Participation in the UW TSA Program is voluntary, with employees making the entire contribution; there is no employer match. Live webinars scheduled for May and June will provide information about the TSA Program and other topics related to budgeting, investing, and planning for retirement. A basic introduction to the TSA program is scheduled for Thursday, May 28, at 2 p.m. and Friday, June 19, at 11 a.m. The webinars are free, and registration is required.
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Where to Find Furlough Information
Information on employee furloughs, including answers to frequently asked questions, is available online at hr.wisc.edu/covid19/furlough. Key information is offered in English, Spanish, Hmong, Tibetan, Chinese, and Nepali. Employees will receive individual notification of their furlough status in the coming days. Employees who have questions are encouraged to contact the human resources (HR) department in their school, college or division. The Office of Human Resources also offers assistance with questions at 608-265-2257 or furlough@ohr.wisc.edu. For language assistance, contact Cultural Linguistic Services (CLS) at the direct line phone numbers found at hr.wisc.edu/cls.