Beginning later in February, the Office of Strategic Consulting is hosting new virtual and in-person professional development sessions for spring 2024. All sessions are offered at no cost.

Ignite: Fueling Organizational Excellence features interactive workshops that focus on the tools and resources faculty and staff need to promote and sustain organizational excellence at UW–Madison. In Scope: Managing Projects at UW–Madison is an online series designed for managers of small- to medium-sized projects at UW–Madison. In this series, project management experts address managing projects in the university environment, introduce project management methods and resources, and facilitate conversations around common problems and solutions. A valid NetID is required to access the Canvas module associated with each In Scope session.

On Friday, Feb. 2, 2024, Governor Tony Evers signed two bills approving 4 percent wage increases for University of Wisconsin–Madison and UW System employees in the building trades collective bargaining units. The rate change will be implemented on Feb. 11, 2024, and employees will realize the rate change on their March 7, 2024, paychecks. Payment for hours in pay status from July 2, 2023, through Feb. 10, 2024, will be issued on the March 21, 2024, paycheck. Pay raises for trades employees, as part of the Tentative Collective Bargaining Agreements, were approved by the Joint Committee on Employee Relations (JCOER) in December. The agreements had to be approved by the full state legislature and the governor before implementation.

LifeMatters and the Employee Assistance Office are offering a virtual webinar, Mind-Body Wellness, on Tuesday, Feb. 20, noon‒1 p.m. Mind-Body Wellness can help participants develop the mindset to slow down, get centered, and get focused. Attendees will explore the difference between control and letting go and learn how to practice mindfulness, guided relaxation, conscious breathing, and gentle stretching. The webinar is offered at no cost to all UW‒Madison employees. Register online to receive the Zoom link. For more information, go to eao.wisc.edu/webinars.