Category: Payroll & Benefits

Student Employee Hours Limit Change

As a reminder, the student employee hours limit changes to 40 hours per week starting December 17, 2017, and returns to 25 hours per week on January 7, 2018.  The hours limit is in place to make sure we are in compliance with the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA).  Please review the Student Bi-Weekly Payroll Schedule at: http://www.uwgb.edu/human-resources/payroll/payroll-schedules/

If you have any questions about this, please contact Human Resources at payrollandbenefits@uwgb.edu or ext. 2203.

SECC- Final Days to Give!

SECC

 

To those of you who have already given, congratulations we are nearly to our 2017 goal!  If you haven’t had the chance to participate there is no better time than now!  We are nearly to our goal and with just a $1 a pay period contribution you can help ensure we meet that goal by the end of the month!  Remember the campaign ends on November 30th so there is only one day left to give!    Donate Today, Don’t Delay!

If every person eligible to participate in the campaign donated just $1 a pay check for a year we would raise over $698,000!  While $1 a pay period may not seem like a lot to you, collectively it can mean a world of difference to those in need!

The SECC Statewide is a workplace giving campaign that offers you the opportunity to donate to one or more of the more than 400 charities that participate via payroll contribution, check or cash.  Giving through your work place is as easy as ever!

 

Not sure how much to give?  See below for what $1 a pay check can do:

  • $1 a pay check provides an individual diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes with a cookbook to help them learn what and how to eat to manage everyday living. (Community Health Charities of Wisconsin)
  • $1 a pay check pays for a low-income family’s membership in our CSWA through our Food-to-Share fund. (Community Shares)
  • $1 a pay check provides a set of guidebooks and hiking trail maps for the more than 30 public preserves for the use of school groups during their visits. (EarthShare Wisconsin)

 

Again, it’s quick and simple!  I encourage you to log in and consider making a contribution because every dollar really does make a difference.

The campaign runs through November 30th.  If you have questions or would prefer paper materials, please call 608.256.1066.

To make your pledge online (please note, the online tool is only for state employees who work outside Dane or Milwaukee counties):

  • Go to seccstatewide.wi.gov
  • Click on the link for State employees
  • To register click on ‘Yes’ under “Is this your first time logging into this system?” (if you used the system last year, please click on ‘No’ and use your username and password from last year).
  • Choose your department and fill out the information to register.
  • Follow the instructions on the website to complete your pledge.
  • If you would like to give via cash or check or would prefer paper materials, please call 608.256.1066.

ETF Face-to-Face Events – 2018 Schedule Updates

etf

ETF has updated the face-to-face learning opportunities schedule to include dates into the spring of 2018. These include benefit fairs, benefit presentations and group retirement appointments scheduled in your area of the state.

View the face-to-face learning opportunities schedule for your area.

If you have any questions please contact Human Resources at (920) 465-2390 or payrollandbenefits@uwgb.edu with any questions.

HR System Maintenance on Sunday, December 3rd

Employees will not have access to their online timesheet, earnings statements and other related documents and services during a UW Human Resources System (HRS) outage that will occur on Sunday, December 3rd from 6:00 a.m. to Noon.  This outage is due to system maintenance.  The following self-service features that employees access through the My UW System portal will be unavailable during this outage:

  • Online timesheet
  • Absence reporting
  • Updates to personal information
  • Access to electronic earnings statements, tax statements (W-2, 1042-S, etc.), leave statements and other HR, Payroll and Benefits documents

This HRS outage will also affect currently posted recruitments, as applicants will not be able to get into TAM (Talent Acquisition Manager) to apply for positions during this time on Sunday morning.

Please contact Human Resources at hr@uwgb.edu or ext. 2390 if you have any questions.

StayWell website down starting December 23rd

Website

Due to preparation for the 2018 program year, the StayWell wellness portal will not be available after December 23, 2017 through early January 2018.

Continue working on your health goals
Try one or more of the confidential StayWell services available to you through December 22, 2017, like Self-Directed Coaching, the Mindfulness Series and more. For more information on the resources available, log in to wellwisconsin.staywell.com.

Watch for 2018 program information
Information on the 2018 Well Wisconsin Program will be coming to you in January.  Watch your mail for your Well Wisconsin Program brochure which will contain all the details on earning your 2018 incentive.

Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) Webinars Offered in December

etf

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.

Additional Contributions

Find out how making additional contributions to your WRS account can potentially increase your retirement. This webinar also provides examples of how contributions grow over time with interest, how to pay additional contributions (payroll deduction or direct pay), etc.

  • Mon, Dec 4, 2017 11:30 a.m – 12:00 p.m
  • Thu, Dec 14, 2017 11:00 a.m – 11:30 a.m
  • Tue, Dec 19, 2017 12:00 p.m – 12:30 p.m

 

Choosing When to Retire

This webinar will focus primarily on choosing your optimal termination and WRS benefit effective dates. The focus will include not only the “December versus January” decision, but also how retirement timing at any point during the year can affect your retirement annuity amount and other employee retirement benefits as well.

  • Tue, Nov 21, 2017 11:30 a.m – 12:00 p.m
  • Thu, Nov 30, 2017 11:00 a.m – 11:30 a.m
  • Tue, Dec 5, 2017 11:00 a.m – 11:30 a.m
  • Mon, Dec 11, 2017 12:30 p.m – 1:00 p.m
  • Tue, Dec 12, 2017 6:00 p.m – 6:30 p.m
  • Thu, Dec 21, 2017 12:00 p.m – 12:30 p.m

 

Beneficiary Designations-What Happens to My Account When I Die?

Do you have a beneficiary designation on file with ETF and does it reflect how you’d want your WRS death benefits paid? This webinar reviews the importance of having a beneficiary designation on file and keeping it updated as life events occur. We’ll also review the process of how to correctly complete a designation form, what it means if you do not have one on file with ETF, and how to request a copy of your current form. 

  • Tue, Dec 5, 2017 12:30 p.m – 1:00 p.m
  • Fri, Dec 8, 2017 11:30 a.m – 12:00 p.m
  • Tue, Dec 12, 2017 11:00 a.m – 11:30 a.m
  • Mon, Dec 18, 2017 12:00 p.m – 12:30 p.m

 

Retirement Annuity Options

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.

  • Wed, Dec 13, 2017 6:00 p.m – 6:30 p.m
  • Thu, Dec 14, 2017 12:30 p.m – 1:00 p.m
  • Wed, Dec 20, 2017 11:30 a.m – 12:00 p.m
  • Thu, Dec 21, 2017 11:00 a.m – 11:30 a.m

 

 Register for a webinar

Please contact Human Resources at (920) 465-2390 or payrollandbenefits@uwgb.edu with any questions.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program

The Public Service Loan Forgiveness program can help employees pay off their student loans.  This program forgives the remaining balance on qualified federal loans after borrowers have made 120 qualifying monthly payments under a qualifying repayment plan while working full-time for a qualifying employer, such as the University of Wisconsin System.  Further information can be found at the Department of Education website at https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/repay-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/public-service.StudentLoan

There are a number of federal income-based repayment plans, including the Pay As You Earn Repayment Plan (PAYE) and the Revised Pay As You Earn Repayment Plan (REPAYE), both of which has monthly payments of ten percent of discretionary income (the difference between your annual income and 150% of the poverty guideline for your family size). Whether the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program is right for an individual can vary.  A student loan borrower needs to work for ten years in a public service qualifying employer to receive the loan forgiveness benefit.  Therefore, for many borrowers, the standard 10-year repayment option may be the best option and examining the total cost of different federal repayment options can be helpful.

The above information was provided by the UW-System Office of Academic and Student Affairs.

The Department of Education recommends that if you would like to qualify for this program now or in the future, you would complete the Employment Certification form as soon as possible. You would complete sections 1 and 2 of this form, as well as the Public Service Loan Forgiveness fax cover sheet (https://uwservice.wisconsin.edu/docs/publications/voe-uws-pslf-request.pdf), and fax or mail (don’t email due to the confidential information on the form) the forms to the UW-Service Center.

 

Annual Leave Conversion Forms Available for University Staff

BankedLeaveFormForms for University Staff employees who are eligible for the Annual Leave Conversion Option (also known as banked leave or sabbatical) are now available on our My UW System Portal, under the Time and Absence section, Leave Reports tab.  Please click on the “2017 Banked Leave Report” link to open the form, and then print it.

  • Part 1 – Review that the appropriate option box is checked.
  • Part 2 – Enter the number of vacation hours that you would like credited to your banked leave in the top row (A), and/or the number of vacation hours you would like paid out in the second row (B).  Please note that you must enter whole numbers, not partial hours (ex. 32 hours – not 32.75 hours).
  • Sign and date the form, and submit it to Human Resources by Friday, December 8, 2017.

Here is a link to the Vacation Policy, showing when University Staff employees are eligible to bank vacation hours (page 5): https://www.wisconsin.edu/ohrwd/download/policies/ops/bn1.pdf

Page three of these instructions shows how to check your paid leave balances.

Please contact the Payroll & Benefits office at 920-465-2390 or payrollandbenefits@uwgb.edu if you have any questions.

Important Year End Leave Information for University Staff

As we near the end of the 2017 calendar year, University Staff employees are reminded to review their leave balances.

Vacation Carry Over
Normally, vacation time must be used within the calendar year during which it is earned.  Employees may carry over any unused earned vacation into the following calendar year.  Any vacation carried over from the previous calendar year must be used by December 31 of the following calendar year.

The Human Resources System (HRS) will automatically take any vacation absences entered first from carry over balances before taking from the current year’s allocations.

Compensatory Time
Compensatory time is able to be carried into the following calendar year if approved by the immediate supervisor.  If carried over, unused compensatory time must be used by April 30th of the following year or it will be paid out on the pay period that includes May 1st.

Personal and Legal Holidays
Personal and Legal holiday hours may not be carried into 2018 and if not used by December 31, 2017, will be forfeited.

We have two floating legal holidays this year, for Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve.  Your legal holiday balance includes both observed and floating legal holidays.  The remaining observed legal holidays this calendar year include Thanksgiving and Christmas.  You can take your available “Legal Holiday Balance-YTD” and subtract these two observed legal holidays to see if you have any floating legal holiday hours left to use.

Annual Leave Conversion Option (Banked Leave or Sabbatical)
Forms for employees eligible for the Annual Leave Conversion Option will be available soon on your My UW System Portal, under the Time and Absence section, Leave Reports tab.  We will post a notification when these forms are available.

Please note that the above information applies to University Staff positions, not Academic Staff, Limited, or Faculty positions.

How do I check my paid leave balances?  Please review page three of these instructions.

Please contact the Payroll & Benefits office at 920-465-2390 or payrollandbenefits@uwgb.edu if you have any questions.