Month: February 2011

Budget Repair Bill Resources

Below are resources related to the Budget Repair Bill:

* Office of State Employment Relations (OSER) Budget Repair Bill Questions & Answers: http://oser.state.wi.us/docview.asp?docid=7209

* UW-System Budget Repair Bill FAQs (pertaining to benefits): http://www.uwsa.edu/hr/benefits/repairbillfaq.pdf

* UW-System Budget Repair Bill website: http://www.uwsa.edu/hr/benefits/budgetbill.htm

* Estimator that employees can use to determine the increase to their Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) contributions and health insurance premium:  http://www.uwsa.edu/hr/benefits/budgetBillEstimator/index.php

* Health insurance premium comparison chart: http://www.uwsa.edu/hr/benefits/repairbillhealth.pdf

* Department of Employee Trust Funds (ETF) document regarding fringe benefits and the Accumulated Sick Leave Conversion Credit Program (ASLCC): http://www.etf.wi.gov/news/Budget_Repair_Bill_Whats_New.pdf

* Department of Employee Trust Funds (ETF) document regarding retiring on short notice: http://www.etf.wi.gov/news/Retiring%20on%20Short%20Notice%202%20_2_.pdf

Some employees may have received an e-mail referencing future vacation requests.  Please note that we have no information regarding any changes to vacation or leave requests.  All requests should be handled in accordance with the current processes within each department.

Please e-mail hr@uwgb.edu or call 465-2390 if you have any questions.

ETF Effective Interest Rates Announced

NOTICE TO EMPLOYEES PARTICIPATING IN THE WISCONSIN RETIREMENT SYSTEM

Please see the following release from the Department of Employee Trust Funds regarding the interest rates applied to the WRS accounts for active members and eligible inactive members:   http://www.etf.wi.gov/news/ht_20110211.htm

Please e-mail benefits@uwgb.edu or call 465-2390 if you have any questions.

TSA Fee Increase

Please click on the following link to view the new TSA Investor newsletter: http://www.wisconsin.edu/hr/benefits/retsav/tsaspring11.pdf.  This newsletter is being made available earlier than usual to announce an increase in the TSA fee.

In this newsletter, you will find articles regarding the following topics:

* TSA fee increase

* TSA program services the University provides

* New low-cost TIAA-CREF mutual fund share classes for UW employees

* Fidelity funds with K (institutional) share classes

The TSA fee is being increased from $9.00 to $15.00. The last fee increase was in 1999. At that time, the $6.50 fee from 1995 was increased to $9.00. We have been able to hold the fee to $9.00 for the past 12 years, but inflation and increased costs have necessitated the increase.  If you have already paid the $9.00 fee, you will only be charged the difference of $6.00.

Please e-mail benefits@uwgb.edu or call 465-2390 if you have any questions.

Volunteer Opportunities

In response to employee-generated suggestions as part of the campuswide “Quick Fix” campaign, the Human Resources Office has implemented “Quick Fix Initiative #99 – Facilitate volunteer service by employees.” HR created a web page which promotes volunteer opportunities for employees both on campus and in the community. At the HR homepage, see the Employee Quick Links column and click on the link “Volunteer Opportunities.” You’ll find links to resources in the community, such as the Volunteer Center of Brown County, and volunteer opportunities here at our University, such as helping the Institute for Learning in Retirement. You will also find a featured volunteer opportunity, as well as seven good reasons to volunteer!

Contact Human Resources at hr@uwgb.edu or 465-2390 with any questions or comments.

HRS and How It Will Impact You

To find out more about HRS (the new Human Resource System) and how it will impact you, please mark your calendar to attend one of the following presentations in the 1965 Room in the University Union:

* Thursday, February 10th from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.

* Friday, February 18th from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

* Monday, February 21st from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

* Thursday, March 3rd from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.

You can also view the power point presentation online at http://www.uwgb.edu/hr/documents/hrs.pptx.

Please e-mail hr@uwgb.edu or call 465-2390 if you have any questions.