Author: Jolene Truckenbrod

Faculty, Academic Staff and Limited Appointees (who have or had an active leave-eligible appointment) must submit monthly leave reports for each appointment, whether or not leave is used. Employees are required to report leave on or before the day the leave is taken, or if no leave is taken, to enter a “No Leave Take” at the end of the month.

Missing leave reports must be submitted by September 30, 2023 for fiscal year July 2022 through June 2023.

Failure to submit leave reports will result in a permanent reduction of sick leave hours. Even one unsubmitted leave report will reduce an employee’s sick leave balance resulting in less sick leave available to use if needed.

Long term, a reduction of sick leave hours will result in fewer hours available for the Sick Leave Credit Conversion Program which allows employees to pay for health insurance in retirement.

How do I Know if I have Missing Leave Reports?

Employees with missing leave reports receive email reminders every two weeks listing their missing reports. Employees may also check for missing leave reports at any time in the My UW portal.

Resources

• To check for missing Leave Reports, review the Missing Leave Reports tipsheet on the Time and Absence Help page.
• Sick leave policy: UW System Administrative Policy 1212 (formerly BN 3) Sick Leave (section 6.G.III. and VII.1)

Questions? Please contact Human Resources at hr@uwgb.edu or (920) 465-2390.

Source: UW System Human Resources

When was the last time you reviewed your beneficiary designations?

Naming a beneficiary allows you to transfer a financial interest to a specific person after you have passed away. If you do not remember who you have listed as your beneficiary, or you have experienced a life event such as a marriage, divorce, or birth of a child, review and submit updated beneficiary designations.

The most recently dated beneficiary designation on file at the time of your death is binding for the payment of any proceeds. If a beneficiary is not designated, benefits will be paid according to plan provisions (not your will).

Here is a list of the plans that have benefits payable to beneficiaries:

• State Group Life Insurance
• Individual & Family Life Insurance
• UW Employees, Inc. Life Insurance
• University Insurance Association Life Insurance
• Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance
• Accident Insurance (accidental death & dismemberment component of the plan)
• Health Savings Account (HSA)
• Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS)
• UW 403(b) Supplemental Retirement Program (SRP)
• Wisconsin Deferred Compensation (WDC) 457 Program

To see which benefit plans you are enrolled in, log into the My UW portal and follow these steps:

1. Go to the Benefit Information tile and click Launch full app.
2. On the Summary tab, review the Coverage column to see which plans you’re enrolled in (waive indicates you are not enrolled).
3. Click Next to see additional plans.
4. Review the plans you are enrolled in that have benefits payable to beneficiaries.

The UW System Beneficiary Information web page provides information on how to designate a beneficiary for each benefit plan. Some plans allow you to update your beneficiary designations online while others require a signed paper form. If a plan you are enrolled in requires a paper form, print the applicable beneficiary form(s) from the Beneficiary Information page, and mail the completed forms directly to the address listed on the form.

Source: UW System Human Resources

Faculty, Academic Staff and Limited Appointees with a 12-month appointment have an annual opportunity to bank unused vacation after completing 10 or more fiscal years (July 1 through June 30) of continuous service. The deadline to bank unused vacation allocated in fiscal year 2022-23 is September 30, 2023.

(Please note that the option to bank vacation for University Staff is available in December.)

Vacation and carryover balance hours that are eligible to be banked may be viewed beginning July 1. Instructions for viewing your leave balances and banking unused vacation are available in the Banked Leave Conversion Tipsheet.

How Much Vacation Can You Bank?

Years of Continuous Service          Hours That Can be Banked *
First 10 Years                                        0
10 to 25 Years                                       40
25 Years and Over                               80

* The amount of vacation that can be banked is prorated for part-time employees.

There is no limit to the total number of hours (balance) that can be retained in your Banked Leave account. Once vacation is banked the hours do not expire.

When Can Banked Leave Be Used?

With your supervisor’s approval, banked leave hours may be used whenever you are allowed to use paid leave.

What If You Terminate Employment?

Unused banked leave hours will be paid to you at your wage rate at termination.

Resources

• UW System Administrative Policy 1210 (formerly BN1) Vacation
• Questions? Please email hr@uwgb.edu or call (920) 465-2390

Source: UW System Human Resources

Faculty, Academic Staff and Limited Appointees (who have or had an active leave-eligible appointment) must submit monthly leave reports for each appointment, whether or not leave is used. Employees are required to report leave on or before the day the leave is taken, or if no leave is taken, to enter a “No Leave Take” at the end of the month.

Missing leave reports must be submitted by June 30, 2023 for fiscal year July 2022 through June 2023.

Failure to submit leave reports will result in a permanent reduction of sick leave hours. Even one unsubmitted leave report will reduce an employee’s sick leave balance resulting in less sick leave available to use if needed.

Long term, a reduction of sick leave hours will result in fewer hours available for the Sick Leave Credit Conversion Program which allows employees to pay for health insurance in retirement.

How do I Know if I have Missing Leave Reports?

Employees with missing leave reports receive email reminders every two weeks listing their missing reports. Employees may also check for missing leave reports at any time in the MyUW portal.

Resources

• To check for missing Leave Reports, review the Missing Leave Reports tipsheet on the Time and Absence Help page.
• UW System Administrative Policy 1212 (formerly BN 3) Sick Leave (section 6.III.1 and VII (1)

Source: UW System Human Resources

As a UW System employee, you are eligible for the UW 403(b) Supplemental Retirement Program (SRP) – a voluntary supplemental retirement savings plan administered by UW System specifically for UW employees.

In the UW 403(b) SRP, there are two record keepers to choose from—TIAA or Fidelity. Both record keepers offer the same 18 best-in-class choice of mutual funds, and each also offers a guaranteed interest option and access to a brokerage window. You decide how much to save, which of the fund options to invest in, and whether to contribute on a pre-tax and/or Roth (after-tax) basis. You can start, change, or stop your deductions at any time.

Individual Counseling Sessions
To help you better understand how the UW 403(b) SRP works and the options available to you, UW System is offering individual counseling sessions. No matter where you are in life—just getting started or planning for retirement—a session with a financial consultant can help you create a plan for your goals.

These one-on-one counseling sessions are a free service available to participants in the UW 403(b) Supplemental Retirement Program (SRP) as well as those considering participation. Counseling sessions are open to all employees, and you are not obligated to open an account with a provider.

TIAA Individual Counseling Sessions
Schedule an appointment at tiaa.org/public/support/contact-tiaa/consultations-seminars or call 1-800-732-8353, weekdays, 8 am to 8 pm (ET).

Fidelity Individual Counseling Sessions
Schedule an appointment at fidelity.com/atwork/reservations or call 1-800-642-7131. For on-demand help, utilize the Call Now button in the appointment search scheduler.

Live and On-Demand Webinars
Whether you are a current contributor to the 403(b) or looking for more information, check out the Live and On-Demand Webinars available to all UW employees. The on-demand webinar: SRP: Investing in Your Financial Future: Intro to the 403(b) Program is a good resource for new enrollees.

Additional Resources
Additional resources are available on the UW 403(b) Supplemental Retirement Program web page.

Source: UW System Human Resources

Faculty, Academic Staff and Limited Appointees must use personal holiday, floating legal holiday and vacation carryover hours by June 30, 2023, or this leave will be lost.

Paid leave is granted on a fiscal year basis (July 1 – June 30) to Faculty, Academic Staff and Limited Appointees who have annual basis appointments.

Faculty, Academic Staff and Limited Appointees

Paid Leave Type                Year Granted             Deadline to Use
Personal Holidays               7/1/22 – 6/30/23            6/30/23
Floating Legal Holidays     12/24/22 & 12/31/22     6/30/23
Vacation Carryover            7/1/21 – 6/30/22             6/30/23

University Staff Employees

As a reminder, paid leave for University Staff employees is granted on a calendar year basis.

• Personal Holidays granted January 1, 2023, must be used by December 31, 2023.
• Floating Legal Holidays (December 24, 2023, and December 31, 2023) must be used by December 31, 2023.
• Vacation carryover must be used by December 31, 2023.

Resources

UW System Policies:

• UW System Administrative Policy 1210 (formerly BN1) Vacation
• UW System Administrative Policy 1211 (formerly BN2) Personal Holiday and Legal Holiday Administration

Source: UW System Human Resources

Employees covered by the Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) can now view their WRS Statement of Benefits as of January 1, 2023, in the My UW portal. To view your statement, launch the Benefit Information tile and click on the WRS Statements of Benefits tab.

Your WRS Statement of Benefits includes 2022 earnings and service, retirement benefit projections (if vested), separation benefit, death benefit, and employee and employer contributions.

Resources

• Introductory letter
• Explanation of Annual Statement of Benefits
• UW System WRS Statement of Benefits web page
• Webinar: Understanding Your Annual WRS Statement of Benefits (registration required)

Beneficiary Reminder 

It is recommended that you review the beneficiaries listed on your WRS Statement of Benefits and if a beneficiary is not listed complete a Beneficiary Designation Form.

Death benefits are paid according to the most recent beneficiary designation form on file with the Department of Employee Trust Funds (ETF) prior to your death. Your beneficiary does not automatically change due to a life event, such as divorce or marriage.

To add, change, or remove beneficiaries, complete one of the following forms and mail the completed form to ETF at the address listed on the form.

• Beneficiary Designation Form (ET-2320): Allows you to name primary and secondary beneficiaries.
• Beneficiary Designation (alternate) Form (ET-2321): Allows you to name primary and secondary beneficiaries and/or successors to those beneficiaries.

If you do not have a beneficiary designation on file, death benefits will be paid according to the statutory standard sequence in effect on the date of death.

Questions

If you have questions about your statement after reviewing available resources, please reach out to the UW-System Benefits Counseling team at benefits@uwss.wisconsin.edu or 888-298-0141.

Source: UW System Human Resources

State Group Life Insurance premium rates will increase for most age categories effective April 1, 2023. There is no change to the premium rates for Spouse and Dependent coverage.

View Your Updated Premium
Employees who are currently enrolled in the State Group Life Insurance program can view their updated 2023 premium in their Personalized State Group Life Insurance Premium Notice. Any change in premium will be reflected on the March 23, 2023, paycheck.

Annual Premium Update
In addition to the premium rate increase, your State Group Life Insurance premium may also change effective April 1, 2023, if either or both your age category and salary have changed since April 1, 2022. Coverage levels are based on:

• Your highest calendar year of eligible earnings,
• Your age as of April 1 each year, and
• Your elected coverage level(s).

The UW System contributes towards the cost of your State Group Life Basic and Supplemental Insurance coverage. You pay the full cost of Additional, Spouse and Dependent coverage.

Questions? Please review the 2023 State Group Life Insurance premiums or email hr@uwgb.edu. For general plan information, review the UW System Employee Benefits State Group Life insurance web page.

Source: UW System Human Resources