Phoenix Rise Virtual Run/Walk June 26-28

Join all four UW-Green Bay campuses as we join together in a virtual run/walk June 26 – 28!

Prizes for those who participate
Printable race bib
Post a picture with your bib and tag #uwgbphoenixrise2020
Complete this survey after your run/walk

your date. your time. your length. your pace.

Learn about Exploring Wisconsin State Parks

ETF is offering a series of 30-minute, live, interactive webinars designed to increase your understanding of Wisconsin Retirement System benefits. Individuals can also ask questions at the end of these sessions. Visit their webinar page to learn more about any of the following sessions.

Annuity Options

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/rt/3191653963789777680

Choosing a WRS annuity option is one of the most important decisions you will face. This webinar will cover all of the WRS annuity options and help you understand them so that you can make an informed decision. We will also explain the important differences between a beneficiary and a named survivor.

Thu, Jun 4, 2020 11:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Fri, Jun 12, 2020 12:00 p.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Thu, Jun 18, 2020 6:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Wed, Jun 24, 2020 12:30 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Buying Service

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/rt/2673221037153979920

If you are eligible to purchase service, doing so would increase your retirement or disability benefit. Find out how by viewing this webinar. We’ll cover the types of service you may be able to buy, how and when you can buy service, and much more. Eligible types of service include service earned during prior WRS covered employment and forfeited through a separation benefit and some types of service earned with other government employers.

Tue, Jun 2, 2020 6:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Thu, Jun 4, 2020 12:30 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Wed, Jun 10, 2020 11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Fri, Jun 19, 2020 12:00 p.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Newly Retired? What to Expect

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/rt/1762010671239346192

The Newly Retired webinar provides basic information for Wisconsin Retirement System members who have recently entered or are soon to enter retirement status. Topics include initial (“estimated”) retirement annuity payments, “finalized” payments and adjustments, post-retirement life and health insurance, and return to work rules under the WRS.

Mon, Jun 1, 2020 11:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Thu, Jun 11, 2020 11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Mon, Jun 15, 2020 12:30 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Mon, Jun 22, 2020 6:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.

Variable Fund

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/rt/459143268394637840

In this webinar we will discuss the Variable Fund – what it is, how it differs from the Core Fund, and the effect participation in this fund may have on your retirement benefit calculations. We will also discuss how to elect to participate in the Variable Fund, how to cancel Variable participation, and the impact the timing of these decisions may have on your Wisconsin Retirement System benefits.

Wed, Jun 3, 2020 12:00 p.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Wed, Jun 10, 2020 6:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Thu, Jun 18, 2020 11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Thu, Jun 25, 2020 11:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Preparing for Your Retirement

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/rt/2062561071726664450

Who should attend? Employees who are planning to retire in the next 1 – 10 years.
Learn about your steps to retire with the WRS. Attend this event by live webinar! You will learn about the impact of contributions and investment returns on your account, when you can retire, your WRS annuity options, returning to work after you retire, what happens to your account when you die, health and life insurance, and more.
Questions are welcome during and after the event!

Thu, May 28, 2020 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Fri, Jun 12, 2020 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Thu, Jun 25, 2020 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Thu, July 9, 2020 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Thu, July 23, 2020 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Thu, Aug 6, 2020 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Mon, Aug 17, 2020 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Tue, Sep 1, 2020 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Thu, Sep 17, 2020 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Understanding your Annual WRS Statement of Benefits

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/rt/4088832361488024588

Your annual Statement of Benefits provides a summary of your Wisconsin Retirement System account information. Join us to learn more about the important topics addressed on your statement including:

• How much you and your employer have contributed to your WRS pension
• Your vesting status and years of service
• Your beneficiary designation – what happens to your account if you die before taking a benefit

*** It is helpful to have your Statement of Benefits with you while participating in the webinar.

Tue, Jun 16, 2020 6:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Thu, Jun 25, 2020 12:30 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Wed, Jul 8, 2020 11:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Pursue Wellness (and $150) from Home

While you’re protecting others by staying home during the coronavirus pandemic, you can take steps to protect your own well-being, too.

Well Wisconsin can help.

Oh, and you can earn your $150 Well Wisconsin* gift card along the way.

COMPLETE YOUR HEALTH SCREENING FROM HOME
We know you can’t visit your doctor to complete the health screening component of Well Wisconsin. And the onsite screening events have been canceled this spring.

But you can still complete the health screening using the Health Care Provider Form (HCPF). Just follow these steps:

Download the fillable HCPF.
Locate blood pressure and weight numbers from your most recent physician visit.
Enter those values on the HCPF.
Upload your HCPF using one of the methods listed on page 1 of the form.

COMPLETE YOUR HEALTH ASSESSMENT FROM HOME
Head over to wellwisconsin.staywell.com and create a profile if you haven’t already. Then just follow the steps to complete your health assessment.

COMPLETE YOUR WELL-BEING ACTIVITY FROM HOME
Try one of these well-being activities to complete that part of your incentive without leaving home:

Complete the Million Steps Challenge.
Connect with a health coach to manage stress and anxiety, get workout ideas and more.
Track your wellness goals on the Well Wisconsin dashboard.

Go to the My Incentives tab at wellwisconsin.staywell.com to see a full list of well-being activities.

JOIN US FOR A WELL WISCONSIN RADIO SELF-CARE BOOST
In the COVID-19 world, everything feels out of our control. How can we gain some perspective on some certainty in our life?

Join Kristi Mulcahey and Morgan Meinen, Well Wisconsin program managers, as they discuss how to reduce your stress in this time.

Click here or on the link below to listen to their conversation.

QUESTIONS? Contact the StayWell HelpLine at 800-821-6591 or wellwisconsin@staywell.com.

*The Well Wisconsin incentive program is a voluntary program available to employees, retirees and spouses enrolled in the State of Wisconsin Group Health Insurance Program, excluding Medicare Advantage participants who have incentives available through their health plan. The Well Wisconsin incentive will automatically be issued to eligible participants upon completing the applicable activities. All wellness incentives paid to participants are considered taxable income to the group health plan subscriber and are reported to their employer, who will issue a W2. In some cases, the Wisconsin Retirement System acts as the employer. Retirees, continuants and their spouses will have some taxes withheld from the incentive amount earned.

Taking Care of Your Mental Health in the Face of Uncertainty

The following article is from our
Employee Assistance Program, FEI

Spring EAPost: Taking Care of Your Mental Health in the Face of Uncertainty

Human beings like certainty. We are hard-wired to want to know what is happening when and to notice things that feel threatening to us. When things feel uncertain or when we don’t generally feel safe, it’s normal to feel stressed. This very reaction, while there to protect us, can cause all sorts of havoc when there is a sense of uncertainty and conflicting information around us.

A large part of anxiety comes from a sense of what we think we should be able to control, but can’t. Right now, many of us are worried about COVID-19, known as the “Coronavirus”. We may feel helpless about what will happen or what we can do to prevent further stress. The uncertainty might also connect to our uncertainty about other aspects of our lives, or remind us of past times when we didn’t feel safe and the immediate future was uncertain.

In times like these, our mental health can suffer. We don’t always know it’s happening. You might feel more on edge than usual, angry, helpless or sad. You might notice that you are more frustrated with others or want to completely avoid any reminders of what is happening. For those of us who already struggle with our mental wellness, we might feel more depressed or less motivated to carry out our daily activities.

It’s important to note that we are not helpless in light of current news events. We can always choose our response. If you are struggling, here are some things you can do to take care of your mental health in the face of uncertainty:

Separate what is in your control from what is not. There are things you can do, and it’s helpful to focus on those. Wash your hands. Remind others to wash theirs. Take your vitamins. Limit your consumption of news (Do you really need to know what is happening on a cruise ship you aren’t on?).
Do what helps you feel a sense of safety. This will be different for everyone, and it’s important not to compare yourself to others. It’s ok if you’ve decided what makes you feel safe is to limit attendance of large social events, but make sure you separate when you are isolating based on potential for sickness versus isolating because it’s part of depression.
Get outside in nature–even if you are avoiding crowds. I took a walk yesterday afternoon in my neighborhood with my daughter. The sun was shining, we got our dose of vitamin D, and it felt good to both get some fresh air and quality time together. Exercise also helps both your physical and mental health.
Challenge yourself to stay in the present. Perhaps your worry is compounding—you are not only thinking about what is currently happening, but also projecting into the future. When you find yourself worrying about something that hasn’t happened, gently bring yourself back to the present moment. Notice the sights, sounds, tastes and other sensory experiences in your immediate moment and name them. Engaging in mindfulness activities is one way to help stay grounded when things feel beyond your control.
Stay connected and reach out if you need more support. Talk to trusted friends about what you are feeling. If you are feeling particularly anxious or if you are struggling with your mental health, it’s ok to reach out to a mental health professional for support. You don’t have to be alone with your worry and it can be comforting to share what you are experiencing with those trained to help.

We are in this together, and help is always available. If you’re feeling alone and struggling, you can also reach out to The Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741 or National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK.

Source: American Foundation for Suicide Prevention/2020

You can also contact FEI at 1-866-274-4723 or complete FEI’s contact form (https://fei.eapintake.com/).

Gardening 101

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Furlough – Benefits and Payroll Information

Employees are encouraged to review the UW System Benefits During Furlough webpage to understand their insurance benefits options while on furlough. If needed, the Insurance Selections Form is available for employees on a consecutive day furlough to indicate their preference for their insurance benefits.

Reporting absences will be different for employees on furlough who are paid on a monthly basis. Individuals will need to complete a bi-weekly timesheet during the period of time they have been identified on furlough. For example, if an individual is placed on furlough for the week of May 4th, they would need to complete and submit a bi-weekly timesheet for the period of 4/26/20 to 5/9/20 by the end of the day on Monday, May 11th (timesheet entry deadlines). Instructions on timesheet entry for monthly employees can be found here.

For employees on furlough who are paid bi-weekly, the Office of Human Resources and Workforce Diversity will take care of adding furlough time to their timesheets. For any time not on furlough, individuals will continue to enter their regular in and out punch times or paid leave as before.

Questions? Please contact us at payrollandbenefits@uwgb.edu.

Author: Jolene Truckenbrod

Phoenix Rise Virtual Run/Walk June 26-28

Learn about Exploring Wisconsin State Parks

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