UW–Madison will be implementing a new policy to provide eligible employees with up to six weeks (240 hours) of paid parental leave within a 12-month period for the birth or adoption of a child. The new policy will be effective July 1, 2024. Although it does not go into effect until July 1, 2024, UW–Madison’s policy is currently available on the Policy Library. Additional information, including FAQs, is available on the new Paid Parental Leave web page. Concurrently with the implementation of the new policy, UW–Madison will also make updates to the existing Postdoc Absence with Pay & Legal Holidays policy. More details, including a Parental Leave Request Form and language translations, will be added to the Paid Parental Leave web page before the policy effective date of July 1, 2024.

Nominations are invited for UW–Madison's annual IT Recognition Awards. The awards honor colleagues who excel at what they do and strengthen UW's information technology (IT) community across seven categories: community engagement; diversity, equity and inclusion; lifetime achievement; rising star; team achievement; transformational achievement; and unsung hero. All academic staff and university staff working in the information and technology fields are eligible. The 2024 honorees will receive their awards at the IT Professionals Conference on May 30. Nominations are due by Sunday, May 5.

The UW–Madison Division of Diversity, Equity & Educational Achievement is now accepting breakout session proposals for the annual Diversity Forum on November 13 and 14, 2024. The theme will be Threads of Belonging: Navigating Differences and Building Community. This theme underscores the importance of bringing our full selves to the collective while engaging with diversity and difference to gain new perspectives and facilitate growth. The deadline to submit a proposal is Monday, June 10.

LifeMatters and the Employee Assistance Office are offering a virtual webinar, Mind-Body Wellness, on Tuesday, April 23, 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 UW‒Madison employees. Register online to receive the Zoom link.