Effective in January, payroll deductions for parking fees, vanpool, and bus passes will change from a post-tax deduction to a pre-tax deduction. This is a result of recent federal tax law changes. Employees who are paid monthly will see the pre-tax deduction on their paycheck dated Jan. 31. Those who are paid biweekly will see the pre-tax deduction on their paycheck dated Jan. 30. UW System is working with the Department of Employee Trust Funds (ETF) on approval and possible re-implementation of the Parking & Transit Accounts through ConnectYourCare (CYC). Information will be shared with employees as it becomes available.

The Next Gen Network project team needs faculty, staff (including IT staff), and students to participate in an exercise that will help UW–Madison develop a modern, business-relevant network strategy. The team wants to know how the UW community uses the network now and plans to use it in the future. The input from these sessions will be used to make decisions regarding networking projects, teams, and investments. The goal is to create a secure, contemporary campus infrastructure for UW–Madison's wired, wireless, and cloud enterprise network that will serve the university’s needs well into the future. Sessions are an hour-and-a-half long and will be offered at various campus locations in January. Registration is encouraged, but walk-ins are also welcome. Snacks will be served.

Thrive@UW–Madison is offering a new course, “Managing Stress and Finding Vitality at Work.” In this course, participants will explore sources of stress, reconsider counterproductive stress reducers, explore strategies to regulate the central nervous system, and reframe thoughts. Thrive@UW-Madison courses are available to all employees at no cost. Thrive@UW participants develop skills to navigate times of change, actively listen to others, build trusting relationships, contribute to an inclusive work environment, and solve challenging problems. To learn more about Thrive@UW courses and register to attend, visit go.wisc.edu/k5z59z.

Recreation & Wellbeing (Rec Well) is offering lunchtime Workplace Workouts at The Union and the Space Science and Engineering Center. Classes meet once a week for seven weeks. The fee is $40 per seven-week session. All fitness levels are welcome; no Rec Well membership is required. Learn more at recwell.wisc.edu/workplaceworkouts.