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.

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.

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.

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.