News for Employees
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Information & Technology Leadership Conference Registration
Registration is now open for the seventh annual Information & Technology Leadership Conference (ITLC). The conference will be held virtually all day on Tuesday, Dec. 1, and will bring together information and technology leaders at all levels for shared learning and collaboration. This year’s conference theme focuses on leading through transformation.
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Campus COVID-19 Update for Employees
Over the past two weeks, an increase in employee COVID-19 case counts and employee test positivity rates has been observed. Contact tracing suggests this is mostly due to activities and events in employees’ personal lives, rather than their on-site work. In a message to campus, Jake Baggott, executive director of University Health Services, urged employees to follow all campus safety protocols, avoid gatherings with anyone not in one’s immediate household, and take advantage of no-cost COVID-19 testing on campus. The full message is available online in multiple languages at go.wisc.edu/88h760.
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Volunteers Sought for COVID-19 Surveillance Testing
UW–Madison is conducting surveillance testing among employee volunteers to monitor for the prevalence of COVID-19 on campus, compare campus cases to cases in the broader Madison and Dane County community, and limit the spread of disease. The School of Medicine and Public Health (SMPH) is seeking employees who are willing to volunteer for free COVID-19 testing once a week as part of a research study. Volunteers will collect their own samples using nasal swabs and bring their samples to one of three campus locations for drop-off at their assigned times. UW faculty, staff, post doctoral fellows, and graduate students working on campus are eligible to participate. For details, visit covidresponse.wisc.edu/surveillance-testing.
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Session for Those Coping with Job Loss
As Chancellor Blank’s message of October 26 indicated, there will likely be a small number of units on campus where staff layoffs may be needed to meet significant budget shortfalls. A one-hour online session will help UW–Madison employees who are coping with the loss of a job. The free session will explore the stages of loss and help participants prepare for the emotional impact of losing a job. Participants will also learn how to avoid isolation, assess their ability to adapt, and use this challenging time for transformation and growth. Coping with Job Loss will be offered on Wednesday, Nov. 18, 11 a.m. to noon. Register at go.wisc.edu/aj5cwh. Additional sessions are scheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2–3 p.m. (go.wisc.edu/317458) and Thursday, Jan. 14, 9–10 a.m. (go.wisc.edu/86k4na). The session is hosted by LifeMatters in partnership with Learning and Talent Development.
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Student Employee of the Year Nominations Open
The Office of Student Financial Aid is seeking nominations for Student Employee of the Year. The competition is hosted by the National Student Employment Association. Scholarships will be awarded to the top three student employees at UW–Madison. Students must be nominated by their supervisors. The deadline to nominate outstanding student employees is Friday, Nov. 20.
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Second Round of Furloughs Announced
A second round of employee furloughs will begin for most employees in January as a result of the financial challenges faced by UW–Madison due to the ongoing pandemic. The furlough structure will be the same as the structure used for the 2020 furlough program. Employees will have until June 30, 2021, to meet their Round Two furlough obligation. The impact of the furloughs will be partly offset by a long-planned 2 percent pay raise that employees will receive beginning in January, 2021. A minimum wage of $15 per hour for hourly workers (not including temporary and student employees) will take effect January 17, 2021. Chancellor Blank announced these changes and reviewed the university’s budget projections in a message to campus on Monday, Oct. 26.
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Plan Ahead to Vote in the Upcoming Election
UW–Madison employees who plan to vote in-person on Election Day, Nov. 3, should contact their supervisor in advance for approval of their voting plan. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day, and voters could encounter lines at some polling places. Supervisors are encouraged to be flexible when evaluating reasonable requests to use paid leave time or flexing work time in order to vote. Voters may also vote early in-person or vote by absentee ballot. The deadline to request an absentee ballot is 5 p.m. on Oct. 29. Additional information is available at elections.wi.gov.
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Career Management Help for Employees
UW–Madison employees can receive help managing their careers from Adult Career and Special Student Services (ACSSS). A career counselor who specializes in counseling employees will assist employees with their career and professional development. This free service can help employees clarify short-and long-term goals, identify learning opportunities, explore job possibilities within UW–Madison or elsewhere, and keep growing in the job they currently hold. Taking time to assess one’s career and professional development can be particularly important in light of the change and uncertainly caused by the pandemic. To schedule a virtual appointment with career counselor April McHugh, contact ACSSS at 608-263-6960 or advising@dcs.wisc.edu.
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Energy-Saving Discounts Available to Employees
The UW–Madison Office of Sustainability has partnered with Focus on Energy to offer exclusive discounts on energy-efficient ENERGY STAR® LEDs and water saving kits. For a limited time, these items can be purchased online at techniartpopup.com/focusonenergy_uw. This offer is open to Wisconsin residents within the UW–Madison community through November 2.
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Hot Meals Available for Pre-Order
University Housing Dining is now offering Dinner by Dining. Hot meals for 2, 4 or 6 guests will be ready for curbside pick-up at Carson’s Market. All packages include the meal for that week, plates, flatware, napkins, and any necessary condiments. Orders can be placed at go.wisc.edu/dinner-by-dining.