As this is an election year, employees are encouraged to review the UW–Madison policy regarding serving as an election official and taking time off to vote. All sick-leave eligible faculty, academic staff, limited appointees, or university staff are entitled to leave with pay to serve as an election official during work hours on a public, special, primary, or general election day. Employees who are not sick-leave eligible are entitled to leave without pay to serve as an election official. The employee must provide their supervisor at least seven days' notice of application for leave to serve as an election official. The employee must submit the UW–Madison Employee Request to Serve as an Election Official form along with verification from the municipal clerk of their appointment as an election official. All employees are encouraged to make such requests as soon as they know they will serve. The policy also provides information about leaves of absence for voting in the unlikely event that employees cannot vote outside of working hours. Review the Leaves of Absence for Voting and Serving as an Election Official policy at policy.wisc.edu/library/UW-5059.

Communities of practice (CoPs) are peer-organized learning communities that bring together people from across an organization to teach one another, share resources, and find inspiration in their connections and creativity. CoPs provide a cost-effective way to share information, solve problems collectively, innovate, and train new staff. Dozens of CoPs are active at UW–Madison, including groups with interests in communication and project management; education and outreach; human resources; leadership; research; technology; and workplace culture. Find a CoP or learn how to start a new community of practice online.

Naming a beneficiary allows you to transfer your financial interests after you have passed away. If you do not recall who you have listed as your beneficiary, or if you have experienced a life event such as a marriage, divorce, or birth of a child, review and submit updated beneficiary designations. If you do not have a beneficiary designation on file, benefits will be paid in the order of Statutory Standard Sequence per Wisconsin state law. Review the Universities of Wisconsin Employee Benefits Beneficiary Information web page for a list of benefits plans that have benefits payable to beneficiaries and for information on how to designate a beneficiary for each benefit plan. To see which benefit plans you are enrolled in, go to MyUW at my.wisc.edu, click on the Benefit Information tile, and then go to the Summary tab.