20 Easy Ways to Get More Exercise

When you think of exercise, you probably picture activities such as jogging, cycling, or lifting weights in a gym. However, exercise can take many different forms. The goal is to spend more time moving. What’s more, your workouts don’t have to last for a full 30 minutes at a time. You can break them up into smaller chunks throughout the day, lasting at least 10 minutes. Here are 20 ways to sneak in more exercise.

  1. Take a walk after dinner every night.WalkingDog
  2. Turn up the music and dance!
  3. Climb the stairs instead of taking the elevator.
  4. Park farther away from buildings so you get in more steps.
  5. Play a sport—join a local team and you’ll get in a workout while making new friends.
  6. Do chores around the house that keep you on your feet.
  7. Walk your dog instead of letting him outside in the yard.
  8. Stand up and walk while taking work calls instead of sitting.
  9. Hit the mall and walk, especially if the weather isn’t ideal for strolling outside.
  10. Work in the yard—rake, weed, plant, or mow.
  11. Skip the car wash and wash your car by hand.
  12. Stay active while watching TV—walk around, jog in place, or do sit-ups.
  13. Find exercise YouTube videos you enjoy doing at home.
  14. Choose family activities that keep you active, such as going to the park, lake, or zoo.
  15. Join your kids and go swimming at the pool.
  16. When it snows, use a shovel instead of a snowblower.
  17. Find an exercise buddy—a friend or family member who can help you stick with your plan, exercise together, and motivate you to live a more active life.
  18. Go hiking at a nearby park.
  19. Walk up and down the sidelines during your kids’ sports games.
  20. Keep hand weights available so you can grab them and do a few reps any time, even while on the phone.

Article from The StayWell Company, LLC

Custodian (First Shift)

The University of Wisconsin – Green Bay has a current vacancy for a full-time, first shift Custodian in outbuildings/float. This position reports to the Custodial Services Program Supervisor and is responsible for maintaining the overall appearance and cleanliness of the designated work area.  Work performed in this position includes manual cleaning and maintenance of UWGB buildings.  General areas of responsibility include: cleaning offices, restrooms, classrooms, and other building areas; maintaining all floor surfaces including mopping, buffing, vacuuming, shampooing, and refinishing; cleaning windows (inside and outside); cleaning furniture; assisting with furniture, piano and equipment moves as required; stocking restrooms and custodial work areas with necessary supplies and products; waste and recycling removal; snow removal and salting of building entrances.

For more information and full position responsibilities, please see the full position announcement.

To ensure consideration, please apply by Sunday, July 23, 2017.

WRS Contribution Rates to Decrease in 2018

The Department of Employee Trust Funds (ETF) has announced a slight decrease for 2018 Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) contribution rates effective January 1, 2018. According to ETF, the 2018 contribution rate changes are primarily due to higher favorable WRS Trust Fund investment performance.  In general, when trust fund investment earnings are greater than expected, contribution rates may decrease the following year.  When earnings are lower than expected, rates may increase to make up for the shortfall. Changes in WRS contribution rates are designed to be stable, with investment returns for the Core Fund smoothed over a five-year period.

WRS contribution rates are set annually by the ETF Board, upon review of its consulting actuary’s annual valuation of the system and its funding requirements.  The total rates are generally split evenly between employees and employers and adjusted annually.

Your contribution rate is determined by your WRS employment category. Most UW employees are covered by the General/Teacher WRS category. High level administrators (chancellors, president, vice presidents, provosts) are covered by the Executive category.  Employees whose main duties are related to law enforcement or the protection of the public (police officers, fire fighters) are covered by the Protective category.

2018 WRS RatesThe 2018 rates will apply to all paychecks paid in 2018, beginning on the January 2, 2018 for Faculty, Academic Staff and Limited Appointees paid monthly, and January 4, 2018 for University Staff paid bi-weekly.  As a reminder, WRS contributions are taken on a pre-tax basis for state and federal purposes.

For More Information:

 

 

 

 

 

Marketing/Editorial Project Writer – Temporary

Applications will be considered for vacancies that occur from June 30, 2017 to June 30, 2018.

UW-Green Bay welcomes the submission of credentials from persons interested in short-term employment in the department of University Marketing and Communication.This posting does not apply to a specific current opening. Respondents to this posting will be included in a general pool for the department, and may be contacted when positions become available.

These positions may include the following responsibilities:

  • Attending on-site or teleconference meetings to receive assignments and project direction, timelines, etc.
  • Research and reading (online or via other secondary sources) to establish base of knowledge on various topics to increase subject matter expertise and enhance quality of writing
  • Adherance to UW-Green Bay style guide and formats
  • Story/idea vetting, to include information gathering and interviewing to refine and shape story ideas and marketing concepts
  • Writing copy for a variety of channels, executions, and audienes to include but not limited to blog posts, news releases, magazine stories, website copy, advertising copy and e-mail campaign copy
  • Accuracy of information, both factually and grammatically
  • Ability to receive feedback and constructive criticism and apply feedback to revisions and interations
  • Attention to detail and accuracy
  • Ability to consistently meet deadlines and work in a fast-paced environment
  • Responsive nature and pleasant customer service skills

For more information and position responsibilities, please see the full position announcement.

 

Performance Evaluations – Non-Instructional Academic Staff & Limited Employees

Annual performance evaluations are a key component to employee performance and development.  The objectives of annual performance evaluations are to provide all employees and their supervisors an opportunity to:

  • Discuss job performance
  • Set goals for professional development
  • Establish objectives for contributing to the department’s mission
  • Discuss expectations and accomplishments
  • Discuss career progression eligibility

Non-instructional academic staff and limited employees and their supervisors should begin the performance evaluation process for the prior fiscal year (July 1, 2016 – June 30, 2017) as soon as possible. Please follow the procedure outlined on the Performance Evaluation Narrative Form, submitting the completed evaluation to the area leader’s office no later than Friday, August 25, 2017. Please note – An annual performance evaluation is not required for individuals hired after July 1, 2016 if a six-month evaluation has already been completed.

Part of the performance review process should be a discussion regarding changes in position responsibilities, appropriateness of the assigned title, and the eligibility towards career progression if employees are in a progression series title.

Per Regent Pay Plan Distribution Policy, compensation adjustments must be based upon merit and employee performance.  Therefore, any future pay adjustments will be contingent upon satisfactory performance.

If you are interested in receiving training related to performance evaluations, career progression and title change, and/or academic staff contracts, or have any questions regarding these processes, please contact hr@uwgb.edu or (920) 465-2390.

Payroll & Benefits Specialist (5-Month Temporary Appointment)

Under the general direction of the Human Resources Director, this position performs a variety of payroll, benefits, and human resource related activities for UW-Green Bay’s Office of Human Resources and Workforce Diversity. This position will assist with interpreting and applying a wide variety of payroll and benefit rules and regulations affecting various employee classifications on campus. Primary benefits duties include advising employees on the Annual Benefits Enrollment period, counseling employees on insurance changes for 2018, advising on the process for reviewing current benefit elections and processing benefit election changes in the HRS system. Primary payroll duties include assistance with processing biweekly and monthly payrolls. This position will also assist with data collection and analysis for the UW Systemwide Title and Total Compensation Study. In addition, this position will assist with various other human resource related projects.

For more information and position responsibilities, please see the full position announcement.

To ensure consideration, please submit application materials by Sunday, July 23, 2017.

IS Technical Services/Shipping and Receiving Supervisor – Bookstore (1-year project appt)

This approximately 1-year project appointment (ending July 2018) reports to the Director of the Phoenix Bookstore and is accountable for bookstore system support and maintenance. Responsibilities include designing, developing, and maintaining the bookstore’s website, coordinating and evaluating e-commerce, and assisting in research, testing, troubleshooting, and implementation of bookstore systems software and hardware. This position will also supervise the bookstore’s shipping and receiving department, manage the bookstore’s loyalty program, and assist with textbook buyback and customer service.

For more information and position responsibilities, please see the full position announcement.

To ensure consideration, please submit application materials by Wednesday, July 19, 2017.

Employee Spotlight: Brenda Beck

brenda-beck

Name: Brenda Beck

Position at UW-Green Bay: Dean Assistant, College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences

Summary of what you do: Administrative support for the Dean and for the College in the areas of budget, financial management, business policies and procedures, human resources and more.

How long have you been employed: I started at UW-Green Bay in May 2008

Brief history of employment with UW-Green Bay: Before starting in my current position three years ago, I had a variety of part- and full-time positions with Phuture Phoenix, University Advancement, University Archives/Records Management, Human Development & Information and Computing Sciences. I even worked a few days in the Chancellor’s office when they let Paula Marcec take a vacation!

Three words that describe you: Organized, efficient and flexible

Personal interests: Spending time with family, yoga, exercise, reading, Sudoku, FreeCell, Scrabble

Random fact: I received my MBA from UW-Oshkosh, but never had a class on their campus; all of my courses were held in the evenings at UW-Green Bay.

 

Any favorite line from a movie? You can’t handle the truth!

Are you messy or organized? Definitely organized

Best vacation you’ve been to? Any vacation is the best vacation.

Do you have a favorite newspaper, blog? The Atlantic

Do you have a favorite quote? If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all.

Favorite travel spot? Our cottage in Nasewaupee, Door County

If Hollywood made a movie about your life, who would you like to see cast as you? Meg Ryan? Drew Barrymore? I do need to add that it wouldn’t be an Oscar winning movie!

If you could witness any historical event, what would you want to see? It would be interesting to witness my great-grandparents immigrating to the United States from Germany.

If your house was burning down, what’s the one non-living thing you would save? Photographs

Least favorite food? Pasta, melon, mushrooms. I’ll stop at listing just three!

Tell us a little about yourself. I grew up in Schofield, WI, the oldest of 4. My youngest brother was born on my birthday when I was 14. I graduated from St. Norbert College and have lived in the area since then.

Tell us about your family. I’ve been married to my best friend, Paul, for 26 years this month and we have 3 wonderful children. After graduating from St. Norbert, our oldest daughter, Kaylee, spent 27 months in the Peace Corps/Malawi and just finished her first year of graduate school at Marquette University. Our daughter, Micah, spent a year in Argentina during her high school junior year and will graduate from UW-Green Bay this December (after just 5 semesters!) with a major in Spanish & Latin American Studies and a minor in Democracy & Justice Studies. Our son, Gage, just finished his sophomore year in high school and will leave next month to spend his junior year in Cavalaire sur Mer, France.

Tell us something about yourself that would surprise us? I’ve never had a cell phone.

What advice would you give to recent new hires? Get involved with the variety of activities that are hosted by Human Resources and the professional development committees. Take advantage of using the Kress Activities Center.

What do you like most about your job? The interaction I have with so many departments on campus.

What else do you do for fun? I’ve volunteered as a cashier at the Habitat for Humanity ReStore for the past 6+ years. It’s a great way to give back to the community and meet a lot of people.

What is an ability you wish you had? To get by on less sleep.

What is your biggest pet peeve? The first that comes to mind is people who don’t use their directional when driving, or feel the need to stop at stop signs, or litter, or don’t know how to recycle…oh, I have so many pet peeves (is that a bad thing?!)

What one food do you wish had zero calories? I wish bakery had zero carbs!

What phobias do you have? Heights. I have to look at the walls when I’m on the eighth floor of the library.

What places have you lived in? Aside from a semester in London, I’ve lived in Wisconsin my entire life.

What would people never guess you do in your role? That I spend way too much time with spreadsheets!

What would you like to be famous for? I don’t need to be famous, but I’d like to be remembered as being a good person.

What’s your favorite thing to do in Green Bay? Enjoying a Titletown Brewing Company beer on the patio or Roof Tap!

Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 5 years closer to retirement!

Where is your favorite place to eat? At home – Paul does the cooking!

Life Insurance Considerations Throughout Your Employment

The UW offers a variety of term life insurance plans for employees to consider.  Participation and coverage amounts will vary by individual depending on specific life circumstances and age.  See UW Life Insurance Plans for eligibility, coverage levels and premiums.

How Much Life Insurance do you Need?

For information to help decide life insurance needs, see the article How Much Life Insurance is Enough? Use the insurance needs calculator referenced in the article. These resources may help decide how much life insurance is needed at different times during your career.

Enrollment Opportunities

  • New Employee/Newly Eligible – New employees and newly eligible employees are offered the opportunity to enroll in the life insurance plans offered by the UW. There may be opportunities during your career to make changes to coverage.
  • Continuing Employee – If employees did not enroll in life insurance as a new employee or newly eligible employee, or did not enroll in all the available plans, they may be able to enroll during their career if they have a qualifying life event such as the birth or adoption of a child, marriage, divorce.  See Family Status Change for details.  An Employment Change may also provide an enrollment opportunity.Employees may also be eligible to enroll through Evidence of Insurability (EOI), which requires medical underwriting. Cancellation or reduction of coverage is also available and appropriate for some individuals.It is important for employees to revisit their life insurance plan participation, coverage and premium levels throughout their active employment as insurance needs change.
  • Terminating or Retiring Employee – While the UW life insurance plans provide coverage during an employee’s working life, continued coverage upon termination or retirement from the UW is not guaranteed.  Employees may have either a conversion or continuation option for the UW life insurance plans. Not all plans offer these options.

Conversion vs Continuation

When continuing a life insurance plan typically former employees will continue as a group member.  Depending on the employee’s circumstances, this may be a more economical choice than converting the insurance plan.

When converting a current life insurance plan typically employees will convert to an individual policy.  This choice is typically more costly than continuation.

UW Life Insurance Plans and Conversion or Continuation Options Offered

(All plans are term life insurance.  Benefits are payable only for covered events while coverage is in effect) 

 

State Group Life

Individual & Family Life

UW Employees, Inc. Life

Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D)

 University Insurance Association (UIA)  Life

Options Upon Termination from Employment (not retirement)

Conversion; Continuation of employee coverage if employee has 20 plus years of WRS service.

 Conversion to individual policy. Conversion to individual policy. Conversion to individual policy.

Conversion; Continuation if the termination is due to disability as outlined in the plan certificate.
Options Upon Retirement Continuation of employee coverage; conversion of Spouse/DP & Dependent coverage. Conversion to individual policy. Conversion to individual policy. Continuation of group policy.

Continuation of group policy or conversion to individual policy (employee choice).

 

For information on life insurance enrollment, conversion or continuation and the associated enrollment deadlines, visit the UW System Employee Benefits website.

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

Source: UW Service Center