UHR News
University Human Resources
October 19 , 2007
Questions? Please use the contact information found within each article for the fastest reply.
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Benefits Open Enrollment ENDS TODAY
Please remember that benefits Open Enrollment ends at 5:00 p.m. today, Friday, October 19. Faculty and staff may enroll or make changes to elections online as many times as needed until the 5:00 p.m. deadline. New benefit elections and rates take effect on January 1, 2008.
You may view current benefits and make changes for 2008 through eBenefits by logging in to Wolverine Access.
Important
Your eBenefits enrollment will not be complete until you click the Submit button and a confirmation statement is displayed. Record the confirmation number to use as a reference in case you need to call the HR/Payroll Service Center about your enrollment. You will also receive a confirmation of your changes by email following your submission.
Reminders
- The M-CARE plans are being replaced at the end of this year and anyone currently enrolled in the M-CARE HMO, PPO PLUS, or POS plan who does not select a different plan during Open Enrollment will be automatically enrolled in the new U-M Premier Care plan to avoid any lapse in coverage.
- GRADCARE will continue to be offered to benefits-eligible graduate students and will be administered by BCN Service Company of Blue Care Network of Michigan in 2008. Current GradCare members will be automatically enrolled in the GradCare plan administered by BCN.
- Health Care and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account enrollments do not carry over from year to year and require annual enrollment to participate. Do you have a SHPS Spending Account Card from a 2007 Health Care FSA? Hang onto your card. If you re-enroll in a Health Care FSA for 2008, your 2008 deduction amount will be applied to your card and can be used for 2008 eligible healthcare expenses.
For More Information
Web: To view plan information and 2008 rates, see:
http://www.umich.edu/~benefits
Email: To reach a benefits representative, send a message to:
mailto:benefits.office@umich.edu
Phone: To consult with HR/Payroll Service Center staff, call 615-2000 (campus), (734) 615-2000 (local or off-campus), or (866) 647-7657 (toll-free for off-campus, long-distance calling).
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Increase in Michigan Income Tax Rate
Effective 10/1/07, the personal income tax withholding rate for the State of Michigan was increased from 3.9% to 4.35%. The annual personal exemption amount of $3,400 remains unchanged.
The new tax rate will be used in all payroll payments made after 10/1/07 and may result in a decrease in your net pay. Michigan State Treasury officials have estimated the income tax increase will cost the average family of four an additional $157 a year after typical exemptions and deductions.
A worksheet to assist in calculating your tax withholding is available on the Payroll web site at http://www.payroll.umich.edu/taxhelp2007.pdf. Please contact a Payroll representative in the HR/Payroll Service Center at 615-2000 (option 2) if you would like a hardcopy worksheet mailed to you.
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MHealthy’s Ergonomic Program Offers Grants, Awards and Prizes
In recognition of October as National Ergonomics Month, Michigan Healthy Community’s Ergonomics Awareness Program has launched three programs to promote safety, health and productivity among U-M’s faculty and staff.
Ergo Grant Incentive Program
If your department needs financial help to purchase equipment, conduct training or redesign work processes to solve ergonomic problems, the Ergo Grant Incentive Program is providing grants of up to $15,000 to help maintain a safe, healthy, efficient work environment. Last year, a total of $45,000 was awarded to multiple units in need of funds to implement effective ergonomic solutions.
Effective Ergonomic Solutions Awards
Departments that have already implemented an ergonomic solution (such as new or modified equipment, training programs or work process redesigns) between July 2006 and June 2007, can apply for the Effective Ergonomic Solutions Award. This program recognizes solutions that have lowered ergonomic risk factors, thereby reducing or preventing employee discomfort.
Applications for the Ergonomic Grant Incentive and Effective Ergonomic Solutions Award programs are available at the MHealthy website, www.MHealthy.umich.edu, and can be submitted October 1 - November 30. Recipients will be announced in the spring of 2008.
Ergo Online Tutorial Drawings
Throughout October, complete one or more of the three ergonomic online tutorials (Introduction to Ergonomics, Office Ergonomics and Laboratory Ergonomics) on the MHealthy website to be entered into weekly drawings to win MHealthy prizes, such as MHealthy Fun Packs and gift certificates towards MFit classes and activities. Faculty and staff can re-enter weekly and complete multiple tutorials for more chances to win.
To view tutorials or learn more about any of these programs, visit www.MHealthy.umich.edu.
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Pocket Medication Record and Presrciption Safety Tips Available on Benefits Site
The first and most important step in using medications properly is to educate yourself about the drugs you use and the conditions they are intended to treat.
To this end, the U-M Benefits site provides basic guidelines for keeping your medications safe and effective as well as a "Pocket Medication Record."
Click here for more information: http://www.umich.edu/~benefits/plans/drugs/safetytips.htm
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Look for October’s GOOD CHOICE of the Month vending machine item!
It's easier than ever to make healthier snack choices at U-M vending machines.
October’s GOOD CHOICE of the Month vending machine item is Kar's Original Trail Mix Unsalted – look for the “GOOD CHOICE of the Month” sticker on the package. Each month, a GOOD CHOICE item is selected and sold at a reduced price.
Michigan Healthy Community’s GOOD CHOICE program has selected dozens of healthier food and beverage items, each identified with the GOOD CHOICE logo. MFit nutrition guidelines for fat, sugar, sodium, cholesterol and fiber are used to determine healthier choices in vending machines, at participating dining locations and through U-M Catering.
For more information on the GOOD CHOICE program, visit www.mhealthy.umich.edu.
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Professional Development Opportunities from HRD
The advent of a new academic year brings the start of Human Resource Development’s new annual offerings. We are pleased to present a targeted and focused set of competency-based programs, aimed at contributing to and supporting the excellence of the University. Please click on the link below to see our newest planning tools that will assist units and individuals in their performance planning related to the new U-M Organizational Competencies.
HRD Learning Tracks and Competency Map: http://www.umich.edu/~hrd/programsandcourses/comptraining.html
Below you'll find links to courses that are coming up in the next month. Remember, many of our courses can also be customized and brought to your unit. For further information, visit the new site at: http://www.umich.edu/~hrd. Further information about custom courses can be found at: http://www.umich.edu/~hrd/customizedtraining.html and about our consulting services at: http://www.umich.edu/~hrd/consulting.html.
Upcoming Courses:
Click on the course title or the link after the course title for a description and registration information. Timely registration is very important.
Business Communication: Writing With Power
Wed. 10/24/07; 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.; http://www.umich.edu/~hrd/programsandcourses/readingwrittencomm.html#2
Event Planning: How to Plan a Top-Notch Event
Friday 11/2 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. & 11/9/07; 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.; http://www.umich.edu/~hrd/programsandcourses/projectandtask.html#2
Gossip Stoppers: Managing Negativity in the Workplace
Wednesday 11/7/07; 1 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.; http://www.umich.edu/~hrd/programsandcourses/teamdevelopment.html#2
Presenting a Professional Image
Thursday 11/8/07 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.; http://www.umich.edu/~hrd/programsandcourses/presentationskills.html#1
Planning for Retirement
Tuesdays 11/13, 11/27, 12/4 & 12/11/07 4 p.m. – 7 p.m.; http://www.umich.edu/~hrd/programsandcourses/retirement.html#1 (this session is not yet listed on our website, but registration is available by clicking on the “register for the CBD list” button)
Orienting and Training Employees for Success
Tuesday 11/13/07; 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.; http://www.umich.edu/~hrd/programsandcourses/performance.html#2
Proofreading
Wednesday 11/28 & 12/5/07; 1 p.m. – 4 p.m.; http://www.umich.edu/~hrd/programsandcourses/readingwrittencomm.html#5
Check our website often for the very latest in course offerings – especially courses that are currently in development. Or better yet, contact us. Tell us what you’re interested in and we’ll contact you when the course is available.
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Fidelity Investments: Look Forward with Confidence to Retirement Day
Knowing you can reach your retirement goals. That’s retirement readiness. And you can begin taking the steps to achieve your goals when you meet with a Fidelity Retirement Counselor. These sessions are designed to help you become better informed and more confident in planning for your retirement.
Please join Fidelity Investments for a confidential consultation. You will learn about investing for retirement and get a better understanding of the steps you can take to ensure your retirement readiness.
Consultations are conducted at:
- Michigan Union
- Michigan League
- Medical Professional Building
- Medical Inn Building
- North Campus-Pierpont Commons
- University Hospital
- Flint Campus
- Dearborn Campus
To schedule your confidential consultation call
1-800-642-7131, Monday – Friday, 8:00AM-midnight, ET, or reserve your space at: http://www.fidelity.com/atwork/reservation
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Get More Help on Your Retirement Plans – Anytime – with TIAA-CREF
In Person
TIAA-CREF has a consultant who is available to meet with you individually to discuss your investments needs and to conduct retirement planning workshops at many different U-M locations including Ann Arbor Campus, Health System, Flint and Dearborn. To view upcoming dates and locations and to register for an appointment or seminar, please click here http://www.tiaa-cref.org/umich or call the TIAA-CREF Ann Arbor office at 866 842-2949, extension 6804.
Online
Two of the more popular Financial Education Seminars (Pre-retirement and SRA/IRA) created specifically for U-M employees continue to be available for viewing 24/7 by clicking here: U-M Web Presentations http://www.umich.edu/~benefits/tiaa-cref .
On the Phone
You can talk to a TIAA-CREF representative about investment choices, income options, pre-retirement illustrations and other ways to help get the most from your retirement plan, Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. ET, and Saturday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET at 800 842-2776.
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