Seats are now open in the University Staff Congress. University Staff who would like to serve on the Congress are invited to declare their candidacy. Congress members meet with campus administration and have a voice in discussions about campus policy. Members meet once a month from August to the following June, and participate without loss of pay. Elections will be held to determine the Congress representatives from each district.

To become a candidate for Congress, send an email stating that you wish to run for Congress to John Lease, Secretary of the University Staff, at john.lease@wisc.edu. You can also visit the Office of the Secretary in 271 Bascom Hall during regular business hours. Language assistance is available. The last day to self-nominate is April 3 at 1 p.m. Learn more at ous.wisc.edu/elections.

An interactive workshop, Bystander Intervention: Stepping In with Care and Confidence, introduces UW–Madison faculty and staff to intervention skills that can contribute to healthy, inclusive, and engaging workplaces. Participants will practice multiple intervention options in real-life scenarios, and will learn how to identify, intervene, interrupt, and improve workplace situations when they arise. An in-person session will be held on Thursday, April 3, 1–4 p.m. on campus at 21 North Park St., Madison. In addition, a two-part virtual session will be held on Thursday, May 15, 2–4 p.m. and Friday, May 16, 9–11 a.m. UW employees may attend at no cost. Advance registration is required.

The Human Resources System (HRS) will be unavailable Friday, March 14, 4 p.m. through midday Sunday, March 16, due to a planned maintenance outage. During this time period, employees will not be able to access self-service functions in MyUW, including timesheets, absence reporting, personal information, benefits, payroll, and tax documents. Employees who may need access to this information during the outage period should plan ahead.

All faculty and staff are encouraged to contribute to a drug-free workplace. You can do this by learning the facts about substance abuse, encouraging others to avoid substance abuse, and knowing where you or others can go for help with a drug or alcohol problem. The laws and expectations regarding substance abuse apply to all members of the UW–Madison campus community. You can review this information and find resources for drug and alcohol abuse prevention at go.wisc.edu/j15c7c.