UHR News
University Human Resources
November 7, 2007
Questions? Please use the contact information found within each article for the fastest reply.
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Online Kids Kare Registration Gives Faculty and Staff a Childcare Backup
As part of the University’s commitment to help faculty and staff meet the challenge of balancing work obligations with family commitments, the U-M Work/Life Resource Center is proud to once again offer “Kids Kare at Home.”
Kids Kare at Home is a safe and secure emergency back-up option for those times when regular childcare is unavailable. For example, when a child needs to stay home due to illness, but the parent cannot take time away from work, a Kids Kare caregiver can be called to provide back-up care in the home.
To use the Kids Kare at Home program, faculty, staff and students must first register at www.umich.edu/~hraa/worklife/kidskare/ during the registration period – November 5-16, 2007.
Registration is free and there is no obligation to use the service. Many parents sign up “just in case”. An hourly rate of service will be determined upon registration. Once registered, a person will be able to use the emergency/backup childcare when needed by making a phone call.
Remember – even if you recently enrolled for service in 2007, you must re-register for next year. Visit www.umich.edu/~hraa/worklife/kidskare/ for information and on-line registration.
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New Feature Articles on Uniquely Michigan
The Uniquely Michigan website has recently been updated with new feature articles in each of its topic areas. Visit the site frequently for a comprehensive listing of fun things to do, free events, places to explore, deal and discount opportunities, and links to the vast world of possibilities available to U-M faculty and staff in the way of campus area Attractions, Learning, Entertainment, Health and Wellness, Deals and Discounts and other Miscellaneous programs and services.
Here’s a bird’s eye view of one feature now online…
With colder weather just around the corner and bird migrations in full swing, discover what several campus birder watchers find so compelling about their hobby, their recommendations of best places for bird sightings, great U-M birding resources, awesome photos, and even one owl-inspired poem!
Check it out at: http://www.hr.umich.edu/um/learning/feature.html
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Choose Success: Professional Development Courses from HRD
In addition to the courses listed below, HRD is pleased to announce that we are once again partnering with UMHS Human Resources to offer some additional courses at the North Campus Administrative Complex (NCAC). To see the list of courses and for registration information, click here: http://www.umich.edu/~hrd/programsandcourses/umhscourses.html.
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.
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)
Personal Career Assessment: Am I Where I Want to Be? ~ LOCATION: North Campus Administrative Complex (NCAC)
Wednesday, 11/21 & 11/28/07; 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.; http://www.umich.edu/~hrd/programsandcourses/career.html#1
Taking Good Notes and Meeting Minutes ~ LOCATION: North Campus Administrative Complex (NCAC)
Friday 11/30/07; 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.; http://www.umich.edu/~hrd/programsandcourses/readingwrittencomm.html#4
Proofreading
Wednesday 11/28 & 12/5/07; 1 p.m. – 4 p.m.; http://www.umich.edu/~hrd/programsandcourses/readingwrittencomm.html#5
Difficult Conversations ~ LOCATION: North Campus Administrative Complex (NCAC)
Tuesday 12/4/07; 1 p.m. – 5 p.m.; http://www.umich.edu/~hrd/programsandcourses/commandlistening.html#3
The Art of Managing Multiple Projects and Multitasking ~ LOCATION: North Campus Administrative Complex (NCAC)
Friday 12/7/07; 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.; http://www.umich.edu/~hrd/programsandcourses/projectandtask.html#1
Developing Personal Leadership: Mastering the Art of Empowerment ~ LOCATION: North Campus Administrative Complex (NCAC)
Wednesday 12/19/07; 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.; http://www.umich.edu/~hrd/programsandcourses/leadershipdev.html#1
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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Retirement Savings & 457(b) Final Deadlines
December 1 is the final deadline for the Benefits Office to receive enrollments for the Retirement Savings Plan for 2007. This includes any elections to enroll, cancel, raise, or lower a supplemental or SRA contribution. In addition, November 30 is the deadline for the Benefits Office to receive any enrollments or changes for the 457(b) plan for 2007. Forms received after these deadlines will be made effective no sooner than January of 2008.
For more information visit:
http://www.umich.edu/~benefits/plans/retire/index.htm
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You Can Still Enroll in a Flexible Spending Account
Although benefits Open Enrollment has ended, you can still enroll in a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) for 2008. Enrolling in an FSA, whether for dependent care (child or elder care) or health care (glasses, contacts, dental expenses or doctor co-pays, etc.), is a simple way to save money by paying less in taxes.
If you are enrolled in an FSA for 2007 and wish to continue in 2008, please remember that FSA enrollments do not carry over from year to year. You must re-enroll if you wish to participate in 2008.
Remember: Use it or Lose it
While FSAs offer a simple way to save money by paying less in taxes, it is very important that you estimate your expenses wisely and follow the guidelines described on the Benefits Office Web site. Failure to use your account balance before the claims deadline results in loss of the unused amount in your account.
For More Information
Information about FSAs, the SHPS Spending Account Card, an online FSA calculator and a guide to eligible health care and dependent care expenses, are available here:
http://www.umich.edu/~benefits/plans/reimburse/index.htm
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OFF-SHIFT PARKING PROGRAM
Based on a proposal from the Voices of the Staff Parking & Transportation Committee, a special Off-Shift Parking Program will be implemented as soon as participants are identified. The Program is designed to provide new parking opportunities for staff whose shifts start between 10:00 am & 1:30 pm.
Since the opening of the patient/visitor portion of the CVC (M85) Parking Structure, we have new capacity in the Taubman (M18) Parking Structure.
Due to the significant interest in this program, a random lottery will be used to choose 100 participants via a drawing from eligible applicants. The Program terms are as follows:
- If at any time, this program compromises our patient/visitor parking in either structure, it will be immediately modified or discontinued.
- 80 will be drawn for the M18 Structure; 20 for the M85 Structure.
- Participants must have regular, straight shift start times between 10:00 am & 1:30 pm.
- Blue parking permit required. If participants don’t currently have one, they must obtain one before access will be granted.
- Structure entry will begin at 9:30 am; exit no later than 7:00 am the following day.
- Each participant’s application must be verified & signed by her/his manager.
Applications must be submitted no later than October 24. We plan to conduct the drawings on October 25 & plan to notify the participants by October 26.
Applicants must complete the form at: http://pts.umich.edu/forms/Off_Shift_Parking_Program.pdf
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Regents approve replacement of Towsley Center for Children
The University will replace the Towsley Center for Children with a new facility that will broaden U-M's capacity for child-care. The Board of Regents approved the building design on October 25. The new structure will combine the U-M Children's Center for Working Families and Pound House — both built before 1915 — into a single center. The building replacement project is a result of the Child Care Initiative, begun in 2005 by President Mary Sue Coleman to provide more full-time child-care on campus, develop new infant and toddler care programs and improve University facilities for early childhood education and care.
Read More at the Record:
http://www.umich.edu/~urecord/0708/Oct29_07/09.shtml
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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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