News for Employees
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Webinar helps employees manage the winter blues
LifeMatters and the Employee Assistance Office are offering a virtual webinar, The Winter Blues, on Monday, Dec. 18, noon-1 p.m. via Zoom. The transition into the winter season can bring lowered energy and a change in mood. Webinar participants will learn about the causes and effects of the winter blues, the difference between “the blues” and Seasonal Affective Disorder, and tips for individuals and families. The webinar is offered at no cost to all UW–Madison employees. Register online to receive the Zoom link. Learn more at eao.wisc.edu.
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Find unique holiday gifts at UW‒Madison
The UW‒Madison Holiday Gift Guide features unique, Wisconsin-themed gift ideas to please every taste. Find holiday cards, books, food, outdoor and arts experiences, memberships, apparel, gift cards, and more at umark.wisc.edu/gift-guide.
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Make an impact with a gift to Partners in Giving
Tomorrow, Nov. 30, is the last day of the active Partners in Giving campaign. You still have time to help the campaign reach the UW goal of exceeding $1 million in donations by December 5. If that goal is met, the UW Partners in Giving steering committee co-chairs, Jeff Russell and Jeff Novak, will take an icy dip into Lake Mendota. View their challenge to campus. The ability to give via payroll deduction ends as of December 31, 2023. Donations are accepted through May 2024. Find answers to common questions in the Partners in Giving Myth Buster edition.
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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 unused vacation or vacation carryover hours and/or elect to receive a cash payout. All banking or payout requests must be submitted no later than Dec. 31, 2023. Employees cannot bank or receive a cash payout for personal and legal holidays. Employees can review their leave balances and submit their vacation leave banking request in MyUW at my.wisc.edu.
To check leave balances, go to MyUW > Time and Absence > Timesheet > Absence Balances. Conversion Eligibility will be displayed between the Posted leave balances and the Projected leave balances. Instructions on how eligible employees may enter requests to bank unused vacation time or receive a cash payout are available online. Employees who need assistance should speak with their supervisor or local human resources contact.
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Campus flu shots ending soon
Your last chance to get flu vaccines on campus will be next week at the Student Activity Center, 333 East Campus Mall, December 5, 6, and 7. Bring your Wiscard to your vaccine appointment. If you have a health insurance card, bring it to your vaccine appointment as well. If you don’t have proof of insurance, you can still get a vaccine at no cost. Schedule a flu vaccine at go.wisc.edu/flu. Schedule a COVID-19 vaccine at uhs.wisc.edu/covid/#vaccines.
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Upcoming schedule change for deducting benefit insurance premiums
Starting in 2024, the payroll deduction schedule for most benefits will be changing. Currently, benefit insurance premiums for most benefits are deducted one month prior to the coverage month. Starting in 2024, benefit insurance premiums will be deducted in the same month as the coverage month.
Benefit insurance premiums will not be deducted from Dec. 14 and Dec. 28 paychecks for the following insurance plans: State Group Health, dental, vision, life insurance, accidental death & dismemberment, and/or accident insurance. Employees may see more take-home pay on these paychecks. Benefits coverage will remain active in December 2023. Deductions for benefit insurance premiums will resume on the Jan. 11, 2024, paycheck.
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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 2023 is Dec. 31, 2023. If this leave is not used by Dec. 31, 2023, it will be lost. Carried-over vacation hours that were granted in calendar year 2022 must be used or banked (if eligible) by Dec. 31. In addition, floating legal holidays occur on Dec. 24 and Dec. 31, and University Staff must use these floating legal holidays by Dec. 31, 2023. 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.
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Parking restrictions waived Nov. 23‒24; changes to bus service
Parking permits are not enforced on Thursday, Nov. 23 (Thanksgiving), and most surface lots will not require parking permits on Friday, Nov. 24. Metro Transit will operate holiday or recess schedules, including campus bus routes. For exceptions and details, go to transportation.wisc.edu.
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Virtual sessions help with seasonal wellness
The College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS) Community of Wellness is partnering with LifeMatters to offer virtual wellness sessions at no cost to all UW‒Madison employees. Topics include Holiday Stress on Nov. 16, Winter Blues on Dec. 7, and First Aid Kit for the Mind on Jan. 11, 2024. All sessions are one hour and take place around lunchtime. Register to receive the Zoom link.
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Winter parking rules in effect Nov. 15‒April 15
Winter parking rules are in effect every day from 2 a.m. to 6 a.m. between Nov. 15, 2023, and April 15, 2024, regardless of weather conditions. Certain parking lots, moped parking areas, and bike parking areas are restricted to aid snow removal operations. Also learn where to report snowy or icy conditions in parking facilities. Find more information at transportation.wisc.edu.