The Annual Benefits Enrollment period is currently underway and will end on October 20, 2023. Even if you do not want to make any changes in your benefits elections for 2024, some plans require that you enroll each year to continue your participation. Be sure to enroll if you wish to participate in the Flexible Spending Account (FSA) in 2024, including Health Care FSA, Limited Purpose FSA, and Dependent Day Care FSA. You must enroll in a Health Savings Account (HSA) each year if you choose a High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP). The State Group Health Insurance Opt-Out Incentive requires re-enrollment each year. Employees must choose the Opt-Out Incentive when electing benefits; waiving health coverage is not enrolling in the Opt-Out Incentive.

GHC of South Central Wisconsin (GHC-SCW) will split into two separate networks starting January 1, 2024: GHC-SCW Dane Choice (Dane County) and GHC-SCW Neighbors (Columbia, Grant, Iowa, Sauk, Jefferson, Juneau and Lafayette Counties). If you are enrolled in the GHC-SCW network in 2023, you will automatically be enrolled in GHC-SCW Dane Choice network unless you change to GHC-SCW Neighbors during annual benefits enrollment. Virtual presentations and other resources for employees can be found at benefits.wisc.edu/2024.

All members of our campus community are encouraged to remain up-to-date on their COVID-19 vaccinations. An updated, monovalent COVID-19 vaccine is now available to all students and employees at no cost through University Health Services. Vaccine clinics are scheduled for a variety of campus locations and times beginning Oct. 5 and continuing through Dec. 7. Visit uhs.wisc.edu/covid to find a list of clinics and schedule an appointment.

The 2023‒25 state budget included funding for compensation increases of 4 percent in the first year and 2 percent in the second year for all state employees, including UW employees. The proposed state compensation plan is now before the Joint Committee on Employment Relations (JCOER), though there is no statutory deadline or requirement for the committee to meet. Working with UW System, UW‒Madison State Relations continues to advocate to legislators the need for JCOER to convene in a timely manner to approve the provisions of the 2023‒25 pay plan for all UW employees.

As part of the Administrative Transformation Program (ATP), UW‒Madison will be transitioning to Workday, a cloud-based software platform that will streamline and simplify administrative processes. The virtual Workday Walkthrough on Thursday, Oct. 12, 3‒4 p.m., will cover the tasks managers will be able to perform in Workday, including viewing information about their direct reports, approving requests for time off, approving timesheets, and more. Workday Walkthroughs are an introduction to Workday; they are not training. Learn more, find the meeting link to join this Workday Walkthrough live, or access the recording later on the ATP website with your UW login.

In recognition of Cybersecurity Awareness Month in October, DoIT is offering activities and learning opportunities to help people learn cybersecurity basics and protect their data online. UW‒Madison is highlighting four key action steps everyone can take: enable multi-factor authentication, use strong passwords, recognize and report phishing, and update your software. Learn more and find online activities, including a cyber-themed scavenger hunt, word search, and crossword puzzle.