Category: Payroll & Benefits

Annual Benefit Enrollment (October 5-30, 2015)

The Annual Benefit Enrollment (ABE) period is the only time when you are able to make changes to your benefits unless you have an eligible family (e.g. marriage, birth, divorce…) or employment change during the year.

The ABE period for 2016 will take place October 5 to October 30, 2015. Eligible benefits changes elected during this time period are effective January 1, 2016.

To review the main changes expected for 2016 and see additional information on benefit changes as available, please review the UW System ABE website.

July 4th- Floating Legal Holiday

For 2015, July 4th falls on many employee’s regularly scheduled day off (Saturday), therefore the time is granted as a Floating Legal Holiday.  Floating legal holiday time can be used any time during the calendar year it’s earned for. With supervisor approval, employees may use this day as an additional day off at their discretion.  Please see these helpful directions for how to record and account for this time.

For questions on this process, please contact Payroll and Benefits at (920) 465-2196 or PayrollandBenefits@uwgb.edu.

 

Changes to State Group Health Insurance for 2016

The Department of Employee Trust Funds Group Insurance Board met on May 19, 2015 and approved changes to the state employee health insurance program. The Department of Employee Trust Funds (ETF) will be summarizing the changes made to employee benefits for 2016 in an upcoming communication. This article is intended to assist you with understanding the benefit changes prior to the official summary from ETF. The changes affect participants’ deductibles, out-of-pocket limits, copays and drug costs. Review this article for more specifics on the upcoming changes.

Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) Webinars offered in June

ETF

Live Webinars Scheduled for June

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 our webinar page to learn more about any of the following sessions.

Variable Fund 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.

  • Friday June 05, 2015, 11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
  • Tuesday June 09, 2015, 12:00 – 12:30 p.m.
  • Thursday June 25, 2015,  6:00 – 6:30 p.m.

Buying Service 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.

  • Thursday June 04, 2015, 11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
  • Wednesday June 10, 2015,  6:00 – 6:30 p.m.
  • Thursday June 11, 2015,  12:00 – 12:30 p.m.
  • Monday June 22, 2015,  11:00 – 11:30 a.m.

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.

  • Wednesday June 10, 2015, 11:00 – 11:30 a.m.
  • Monday June 15, 2015,  6:00 – 6:30 p.m.
  • Thursday June 25, 2015,  11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Wisconsin Retirement System New and Mid-Career Benefits These one-hour, webinars are designed for WRS members who are more than five years from retirement. ETF provides accurate information about WRS benefits early in a member’s career so that they can make sound, strategic decisions over the course of their careers. Topics covered at each presentation include vesting requirements, various ways to enhance a WRS retirement benefit, purchasing service, military service credit, the Core and Variable Trust Funds, contribution rates, the importance of a beneficiary form and how to complete one, and how “life event” changes affect retirement benefits.

  • Wednesday June 10, 2015,  2:00 – 3:00 p.m.
  • Tuesday June 16, 2015,  11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
  • Thursday June 18, 2015,  10:00 – 11:00 a.m.
  • Wednesday June 24, 2015,  6:00 – 7:00 p.m.
  • Monday June 29, 2015, 12:00 – 1:00 p.m.

5 Basic Steps to Your Retirement Consider this webinar your quick reference guide to starting the retirement process within the next 12 months. We’ll review: choosing a termination date, how to request a retirement estimate – and how to read and understand it. We’ll also cover how to schedule a retirement appointment and – drum roll here — how to submit the retirement application

  • Thursday June 11, 2015,  6:00 – 6:30 p.m.
  • Friday June 19, 2015,  12:00 – 12:30 p.m.
  • Wednesday June 24, 2015,  11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Register for a webinar

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

Reminder to enter monthly absences

As we near the end of the 2014-2015 academic year, please be sure to enter all monthly online absence entries (formerly leave reports).  Online absence entries should be entered by the 5th of each ‘following’ month.

Please review your My UW System Portal under the Time and Absence section to ensure you are not missing any monthly leave reports.  Under the Time and Absence section, in the Leave Reports tab, there will be a ‘Outstanding Missing Leave Reports’ link.  By clicking on the link a pdf file will open, listing any months that are missing absence entries.

Missing absence entries must be submitted online for your supervisor’s approval.  Please review the Unclassified Absence Entry Instructions for step by step details on how to enter leave.

Please remember that you must make a monthly absence entry, even if you did not take any leave during that month:

“No Leave Taken” entries should always use the first day of the month as the start date and the end date.  This provides accurate leave reporting for both instructional and non-instructional employees.  Your “No Leave Taken” entry should have the following components:

  • START DATE: First day of the month (e.g., 2/1/15 for a February leave report)
  • ABSENCE NAME: “No Leave Taken”
  • END DATE: First day of the month – same as the start date (e.g., 2/1/15 for a February leave report)

Information on 2015 summer leave reporting will be sent in the next couple weeks.

Fidelity Investment Individual Counseling Sessions

Fidelity Investments is offering individual counseling sessions where you can confidentially discuss your financial situation with a Fidelity representative.  These sessions will give you the opportunity to:

  • Explore your plan benefits in more depth
  • Consolidate retirement account into the UW 403(b) retirement plan
  • Explore distribution options for pre-retirees
  • Tap into Fidelity’s experience and expertise
  • Make decisions that help you meet your goals

David Eichler, Fidelity Planning & Guidance Consultant will be coming to campus on:

Thursday, June 4, 2015
8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
World Unity Room A, University Union

To schedule a confidential consultation with your Fidelity Investments representative, David Eichler, call 1-800-642-7131 or go to www.fidelity.com/atwork/reservations.

WDC Individual Sessions – REMINDER

WISCONSIN DEFERRED COMPENSATION (WDC) INDIVIDUAL SESSIONS

Scott Schewe, representative from WDC, will be available to meet individually with employees regarding their current WDC enrollment and for those interested in learning more about the program and planning for retirement by investing before tax dollars.  Please review the documents listed above for more information about WDC’s Program highlights and options.

When:   Monday; May 4, 2015; 8:00 am to 4:00 pm

Where:   University Union Building, Manistique Room (#101B)

You can schedule an individual session with Scott Schewe by emailing him at scott.schewe@empower-retirement.com

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

WRS Webinars Offered in May

Attention Employees covered under the Wisconsin Retirement System

See below for the Department of Employee Trust Funds (ETF) information regarding their upcoming webinars during the month of May.

ETF

 

 

 


Live Webinars Scheduled for May

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. Please click on the following link to visit ETF’s webinar page to learn more about any of the following sessions.

Webinars


WRS Effective Rates and Annuity Adjustments Do WRS accounts receive an investment return? Do investment returns affect how much a retiree will initially receive when they begin their pension? Do those retired in the WRS receive adjustments to their monthly pension amount over the years? This webinar will cover the process of how account effective rates and annuity adjustments are calculated, starting with the investment return reported by the State of Wisconsin Investment Board. Also covered during the webinar will be explanations of both the Core and Variable Trust Funds and the calculations specific to each fund for effective rates and annual adjustments. At the end of this webinar, it is hoped that you will have a better grasp on how State of Wisconsin Investment Board investment returns affect your WRS pension.

  • Wednesday May 13, 2015 11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
  • Thursday May 21, 2015 12:00 – 12:30 p.m.


Returning to Work After Retirement Whether retired or planning to retire, do you need information about what happens if you decide to work again? This webinar is for you. 2013 Act 20, which was effective July 2, 2013 made some important changes to laws that affect retired WRS members planning to return to work. This webinar covers the old law as well as the changes that provided by Act 20.

  • Tuesday May 05, 2015 11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
  • Thursday May 14, 2015 11:00 – 11:30 a.m.
  • Thursday May 21, 2015 6:00 – 6:30 p.m.


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.

  • Wednesday May 06, 2015 6:00 – 6:30 p.m.
  • Tuesday May 12, 2015 11:30 a.m. -12:00 p.m.
  • Thursday May 14, 2015 12:30 – 1:00 p.m.
  • Wednesday May 20, 2015 11:00 – 11:30 a.m.


10 Key Things to Know About Your Statement of Benefits Join us as we review 10 key things you can find out about your WRS benefits just by reading and understanding your annual WRS Statement of Benefits. Some items we will review include:

  1. How much you and your employer have contributed to your WRS pension
  2. Your vesting status and years of service
  3. Your beneficiary designation – what happens to your account if you die before taking a benefit
  • Thursday May 7, 2015 12:00 – 12:30 p.m.
  • Tuesday May 19, 2015 11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
  • Wednesday May 20, 2015 6:00 – 6:30 p.m.

Please click below to register:

Register for a webinar

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

Reminder: Student Rehire

The Student Rehire process, Graduating Students and those not returning, and Hiring Priorities

Student Rehire Process

Supervisors, please discuss with your student employees your plans to rehire them for Summer 2015 and/or Academic Year 2015-2016. E-mails with spreadsheet attachments containing a list of all active student employees will be sent out to the primary supervisor in late April. The spreadsheet will need to be updated/completed and sent back to hr@uwgb.edu for processing. Please watch for this email. Complete instructions will be provided within the email.

NOTE: Supervisors will need to complete the Student Employment Form to continue/rehire current student employees beyond 5/15/2015 that are not listed on the spreadsheet.

Graduating Seniors and Students not continuing enrollment

Student employees that will be graduating at the end of this semester and those who will not continue enrollment can work in their student appointments through the last day of exams, Friday, May 15, 2015.

Students who are graduating and those not continuing enrollment will be terminated by Human Resources and will not show on your rehire spreadsheet. Please contact Human Resources regarding the process to continue these students’ employment after that date.

Employment Period/Payrolls

Summer 2015 Payrolls: May C – August B (5/17/15-8/22/15)

  • The 2014-2015 Academic year ends on 5/15/15. All students graduating, not returning or who are on Federal Work Study may only work through 5/15/15. Note: Unused Work Study funds will not transfer to another term.
  • The summer work period begins on 5/17/2015.
  • Students seeking Federal Work Study for summer must complete the Summer Financial Aid Application found on the Financial Aid website: uwgb.edu/financial-aid

Academic Year 2015-2016: September A-May A (8/23/15-5/14/16)

  • The 2015-2016 Academic year begins on 9/2/2015.

A reminder on hiring priorities:

Students must be at least 16 years old and enrolled at an institute for higher education or high school to be eligible for student employment.

Students are employed on a priority basis with UW-Green Bay students receiving first priority.  Before other students are considered, a position must be posted in the PRO system to UW-Green Bay students for a minimum of two weeks.

Other students will need to provide of enrollment for the summer or Fall semester and employment form must indicate that the position was posted in PRO for two weeks.

Who do I contact with questions?

  • Student Employment Office (www.uwgb.edu/student-employment/)

The Student Employment Office posts employment opportunities for currently enrolled students using Phoenix Recruitment Online (PRO). The office also manages Federal Work Study Awards. Connect on facebook twitter

For questions on student employee rights or issues, part-time student employment opportunities, off campus employment or Work Study, contact Diana Delbecchi at delbeccd@uwgb.edu or studentemployment@uwgb.edu.

For student employment eligibility, appointments, paperwork, Portal access, contact Sousie Lee at lees@uwgb.edu or hr@uwgb.edu.

For timesheets, hours, payroll processing or earnings statements, contact Kimberly Danielson at danielsk@uwgb.edu or payrollandbenefits@uwgb.edu.

 

Are you a student supervisor or student employee?
• Student rehire spreadsheets will be sent to primary approvers in late April. Please look for these emails from HR.
• Students graduating or not returning may only work through 5/15/2015.
• Reminder: Our hiring priority is UW-Green Bay students.
Please click here for more information

WDC Individual Sessions

WISCONSIN DEFERRED COMPENSATION (WDC) INDIVIDUAL SESSIONS

Scott Schewe, representative from WDC, will be available to meet individually with employees regarding their current WDC enrollment and for those interested in learning more about the program and planning for retirement by investing before tax dollars.  Please review the documents listed below for more information about WDC’s Program highlights and options.  You can access the Wisconsin Deferred Compensation Program Quick Enrollment Card by clicking here.

When:   Monday; May 4, 2015; 8:00 am to 4:00 pm

Where:   University Union Building, Manistique Room (#101B)

  • “Join us to learn more about the WDC” flyer
  • WDC Program Features and Highlights
  • WDC Rollover flyer

You can schedule an individual session with Scott Schewe by emailing him at scott.schewe@empower-retirement.com

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