Category: Occupational Wellness

Occupational wellness is the ability to get personal fulfillment from our jobs or our chosen career fields while still maintaining balance in our lives. Our desire to contribute in our careers to make positive impact on the organization we work in and to society as a whole.

Well Wisconsin Radio: Purpose and Goals

Well Wisconsin Radio podcast discusses topics of health and wellbeing from experts around the State of Wisconsin.

Purpose and Goals with Health Coach Kari Wray

Focus on your well-being in 2023 by aligning your purpose with your goals. Join Renee Fox, as she talks with a WebMD Health Coach Kari Wray to help you live on purpose this year. Renee will start the conversation with a clip from an interview with Dr. Christine Whelan, author, speaker and clinical professor in the Consumer Science department at the School of Human Ecology at UW-Madison, to set the stage on connecting your purpose with your well-being. Then Coach Kari will guide us through steps to use your purpose as motivation for creating and meeting your goals.

Click HERE to listen to the podcast now!

2023 Benefits Highlights

The Annual Benefits Enrollment (ABE) period is September 26 – October 21, 2022. This is your annual opportunity to enroll in or make changes to most benefits for the upcoming calendar year. Changes made during ABE are effective January 1, 2023. Below are some benefits highlights for 2023.

State Group Health Insurance
The health plan designs (health plan and high deductible health plan), and most health plan components (deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance) will remain the same. Employee premium information will be available prior to ABE.

Health Plan and High Deductible Health Plan
As previously announced, WEA Trust will no longer be a carrier option in the health insurance program for 2023. This includes WEA Trust East, WEA Trust West – Chippewa Valley, WEA Trust West – Mayo Clinic.

These health insurance carriers will be additional options available to you for 2023. Each will offer a health plan and a high deductible health plan option.

    • Common Ground Healthcare Cooperative
    • Dean Health Plan – Prevea360 West & Mayo Clinic Health System
    • Group Health Cooperative (GHC) of Eau Claire – River Region
    • HealthPartners – Southeast
    • Security Health Plan

Some health insurance carriers will have name changes.

    • Dean Health Plan – Prevea360 will change to Dean Health Plan – Prevea360 East
    • Group Health Cooperative (GHC) of Eau Claire will change to GHC of Eau Claire – Greater Wisconsin
    • HealthPartners will change to HealthPartners – West

All other health insurance carriers will continue to be offered for 2023.

Access Plans
The Access Health Plan and Access High Deductible Plan which offers nationwide coverage will continue to be available. Dean Health Plan is the new carrier for the Access Plans replacing WEA Trust.

Uniform and Preventive Dental Insurance Plans
These plans provide coverage for preventive dental services, most basic dental services, and orthodontia services (up to age 19). Both plans will continue to be offered. Employee premium information will be available prior to ABE.

Supplemental Dental Insurance Plans
The Select and Select Plus plans provide coverage for major and restorative dental services. One of the plans (Select Plus) covers orthodontia services for children and adults. You may enroll in one supplemental dental insurance plan. Employee premiums will remain the same for 2023.

Vision Insurance Plan
The vision insurance plan provides coverage for an annual eye exam and materials (contacts and/or glasses). Employee premiums will remain the same for 2023.

Accident Insurance Plan
This plan will help cover expenses by providing a lump sum payment to you for specific injuries due to an accident. For 2023, cash benefit payment amounts for most covered injuries due to an accident will increase. In addition, cash benefit payments will be added for surgical anesthesia, joint replacement, and modifications to home and/or vehicle. This plan includes an Accidental Death & Dismemberment component. Employee premiums will remain the same for 2023.

Pre-tax Spending and Savings Accounts
Below are the pre-tax spending and savings accounts maximum contribution amounts for 2023.

    • Healthcare Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs): $2,850
    • Dependent Day Care Account: $2,500 or $5,000 (depending on tax filing status)
    • Parking & Transit Accounts: $280 (monthly amount)
    • Health Savings Accounts: $3,850 for single health insurance; $7,750 for family health insurance

The Healthcare FSAs and Parking & Transit Accounts will have an annual minimum contribution requirement of $50 starting in 2023.

The Healthcare FSA carryover limit will increase to $570. The Dependent Day Care Account does not have a carryover provision. The Parking & Transit Accounts and Health Savings Account have unlimited carryover.

Next Steps
Watch for emails in September for more information including action required, premiums, and other benefits available to you. Virtual benefits sessions will be available to help you understand the changes and your options for 2023.

Source: UW System Human Resources

2022 Employee Appreciation Days!

Each spring, we set aside time for employee appreciation to intentionally honor, recognize, and show appreciation for all of the wonderful work performed by faculty and staff across the four UW-Green Bay campuses. During Employee Appreciation Days (May 3 – 10), we celebrate the impactful contributions of our faculty and staff, which make UW-Green Bay a dynamic and engaging place of living, learning, and working for our students. As a measure of thanks, we enthusiastically encourage employees to take part in the below events happening on the campuses and virtually throughout the week.

Watch the video message from Chancellor Alexander

All Week May 3-10

I Appreciate U! Compliments posted on HR Facebook page. Send your compliments to hr@uwgb.edu

2022 Thank You Cards

Preferred Parking Each day three winners from the Green Bay campus will be selected to park in a 15 minute or visitor parking spot.

Winners: Andy Bleier, Zach Gloshen, Cindy Johnson, Michael Shaw, Laura Delikowski, Erin Giese, Georjeanna Wilson-Donges, Nicole Kurth, Blake Pogrant, Nolan Bennett, Mark Fischer, Julie Flenz, Lea Truttmann, Jess Lambrecht, Erin Beres, Bea Yang Thao, Katie Lesperance, and Amanda Wildenberg.

Fitness Classes To attend in person, please register on the UREC app. To attend virtually, please visit the UREC website for the link.

Tuesday, May 3

Goat Flow rescheduled to Friday, May 6th due to weather

Lunch with Leadership 12:00 – 1:00 pm Chancellor’s Conference Room, 5 Employees will be selected to have lunch with members of Leadership

Winners: Lindsey Lecus, Erin Beres, Michael Shaw, Stephanie Kaponya, Blake Pogrant

Wednesday, May 4

Manitowoc Group Walk 11:45 am Meet Jared Dalberg by the Phoenix logo between the Founders & Hillside bridge

Marinette Group Walk 11:45 am Meet Kaitlin O’Claire in the center circle

Virtual Desk Stretches 12:30 – 12:45 Learn some simple stretches you can do right in your office to feel better and improve posture. Click here for the meeting invite: Desk Stretches

Thursday, May 5

Team Building Thursday Activities 11:45 am to 1:15 pm Student Services Plaza

      • Tricycle Races starting at 11:45
      • Games throughout

Love, Chartwells 11:45 am to 1:15 pm (or while supplies last) Student Services Plaza, Get a small wrapped treat from Chartwells

Virtual Guided Meditation 2:00 – 2:15 pm Reach a relaxed, focused state with a technique known as guided imagery. We’ll walk you through a peaceful scene to make it feel like you’re actually there! Click here for the meeting invite: Guided Meditation

Marinette Campus Employee Massages with Jessy Lemire 10:00 am to 1:00 pm (Veteran’s Lounge M167) sponsored by Wellness Committee – Sign up here: Marinette Chair Massages

Sheboygan Campus Employee Massages with Kandi Bagley 10:00 am to 1:00 pm sponsored by Wellness Committee – Sign up here: Sheboygan Chair Massages

Friday, May 6

Phoenix Fridays at the Garden Café – Staff and Faculty can redeem a free coffee refill if they’re wearing GB gear and bring a reusable cup.

$5.00 Fridays– $5.00 lunch for staff/ faculty at the Marketplace on Fridays. Download our Dine on Campus app for the Menu.

Goat Flow  – Quad between the Union and Library, Co-Sponsored by the Wellness Committee, Healthy Choices Task Force, and UREC

    • 1:00 pm and 2:00 pm – Wellness break/stretching
      • Limited to 35 students and 15 staff for each session
      • First come, first serve
      • Bring a towel
    • 3:00 pm – Pet the goats (no class)

Virtual Full Body Relaxation 2:00 – 2:15 pm Participation in an anxiety-reduction technique that involves alternating tension and relaxation in all of the body’s major muscle groups. Click here for the meeting invite: Full Body Relaxation

Manitowoc Campus Employee Massages with Gina Armstrong 10:00 am to 2:00  pm (Room F170) sponsored by Wellness Committee – Sign up here: Manitowoc Chair Massages

End of Year Celebration Shorewood Center – Sponsored by Student Engagement and Housing and Residential Education

    • 4:00 pm – 7 pm DJ Foam Drop Dance Party, Chalking, & Food
    • 7:15 pm – Live Concert from Stealing Oceans
    • 8:45 pm – Fireworks

Monday, May 9

Green Bay Campus Employee Massages with Brookside Therapeutic Massage LLC 8:30 am to 2:30 pm (Wood Hall 441) sponsored by Wellness Committee – All times reserved.

Green Bay Group Walk 1:00 pm Meet Ethan Harvey at the Shorewood Center

Tuesday, May 10

Faculty and Staff Cookout 11:45 – 1:15 Dick Bennett Gym, Kress Events Center or streaming via Teams Live Honoring Years of Service, Retirees and Emeriti

Thank you for all you do!

There is no UWGB without U!

UW-Green Bay Employee Appreciation Work Group Members

UW-Green Bay Employee Appreciation Week is an annual employee recognition event organized by Human Resources. If you have any questions, contact Julie Flenz at flenzj@uwgb.edu.

Kindness Calendar – April Challenge

Are you checking your Kindness Calendar every day and doing some of the activities?  We hope that this daily reminder is inspiring you to do those little things that make our lives happier!

If you complete at least one item from the Kindness Calendar for each of 4 weeks in April, you can receive a wellness incentive!  So, each of the 4 weeks in April, make sure to check off at least one of the items listed for that week.  Then email wellness@uwgb.edu after you complete this challenge to receive your incentive!

Bellin Run 2022

It’s time to register for the 46th Annual Bellin Run!  The Bellin Run will be an in-person and virtual event on June 11, 2022 in Green Bay.  This 10K (6.2 mile) event is for runners and walkers of all participation levels.

Employees, family and friends are encouraged to sign up to participate as part of the UW-Green Bay Corporate team!

To register:

  1. Click on this link: https://runsignup.com/CorporateTeams/PublicList/53110 
  2. Enter UW-Green Bay in Team Name field and Search
  3. Click on UW-Green Bay and Join
  4. Enter your registration information
  5. Team code: Phoenix
  6. There are options for the 10K, the Children’s Run, and the virtual run
  7. NOTE:  There is a $10 registration fee discount due to a wellness grant from the Department of Employee Trust Funds (ETF), and this discount is only for UWGB employees and does not apply to students, friends & family members, however you can register your family and friends in this cart – they just wouldn’t receive the discount.  This discount should automatically calculate when you register on our team as an employee.

If you register as part of the UW-Green Bay team by May 15th, you will receive an early incentive gift, and your race packet (bib and race shirt) will be delivered directly to the Green Bay campus about a week before the event (as well as the packets for any family members/friends that you registered in your cart).  You will be notified when it is ready to be picked up in the Human Resources office.  *NOTE: If you are not regularly on the Green Bay campus, there will be an option to have your packet mailed directly to your home for a shipping & handling fee.*

Check out their helpful training information online such as tips, videos, training plans, free training runs and walks, etc. at https://www.bellinrun.com/training 

Questions? Please contact wellness@uwgb.edu.

University Recreation – Faculty/Staff Offerings

Did you know there are many FREE recreation offerings for UW-Green Bay faculty and staff?

The Kress Events Center includes a fitness center with state-of-the-art equipment, lap pool, group fitness studio, several gyms, locker rooms, outdoor recreation center, and more!

Understanding what is available to faculty/staff has been confusing in the past so UREC developed a Faculty/Staff Offering Packet to cover all of the details on memberships, facilities, programs, and more.

If you have any questions or would like to set up a Kress Events Center tour, please email urec@uwgb.edu or Alex Wandersee at wandersa@uwgb.edu

Onsite Health Screening

Time to register for your onsite health screening!

A free health screening* event has been scheduled for employees (and spouses) who are enrolled in the State of Wisconsin Group Health Insurance Program.

At an onsite screening, you’ll learn your measurements for blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), cholesterol (HDL, LDL and total), triglycerides and glucose, and be in and out in 20 minutes. Register today!

  • DATE:  Wednesday, April 6, 2022 or Thursday, September 22, 2022
  • TIME:  9:00 am to 2:00 pm
  • LOCATION:  University Union, Phoenix Rooms, Green Bay campus

Please register at webmdhealth.com/wellwisconsin by clicking Benefits, and then Get Started on the Biometric Screening card.

Earn your $150 Well Wisconsin Incentive

Complete three activities by October 14, 2022 to earn the $150 Well Wisconsin incentive.

  1. Get a health screening or complete another health check option (ex. dental exam or coaching session).
  2. Complete the health assessment at webmdhealth.com/wellwisconsin – it takes about 10 minutes and is mobile and tablet friendly!
  3. Complete a well-being activity (ex. complete a challenge, listen to two 30 minute pod casts, etc.).

For more information on the Well Wisconsin Program or to complete your activities, log in to webmdhealth.com/wellwisconsin­­.

*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.