2011 TSA 403(b) Limits

The IRS announced that because inflation has been very low, there are no cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) to the dollar limitations for contributions to the Tax-Sheltered Annuity 403(b) Program in 2011. (The same limits as 2010.)

For 2011 University of Wisconsin employees may contribute a maximum of $16,500 to the Tax-Sheltered Annuity 403(b) Program. Employees age 50 and over can contribute an additional $5,500 for a total of $22,000. If you have 15 years or more of service with the UW, you may have an additional “catch-up” opportunity. Check with your human resources/benefits office to see if you are eligible. For more information see the web page on TSA limits at http://www.uwsa.edu/hr/benefits/retsav/limits.htm.

Employees currently enrolled in the program can easily change TSA contributions for 2011 by submitting a Salary Reduction Agreement (SRA) to their human resources/benefits office. The SRA is found on the web at http://www.uwsa.edu/hr/benefits/retsav/sraform.pdf.

If signing up for the TSA program for the first time, information can be found at http://www.uwsa.edu/hr/benefits/retsav/tsaenroll.htm.

In order to have these deduction amounts taken from each paycheck throughout 2011, please have your TSA Salary Reduction Agreement in your human resources/benefits office in early December. Clearly mark the form as calendar year 2011.

Please click on the following link to view the dollar amount maximums: http://www.uwgb.edu/hr/benefits/2011 Maximum Contributions TSA.pdf

Please e-mail benefits@uwgb.edu or call 465-2390 if you have any questions.

New Timesheets

To All Classified Employees and Limited Term Employees

The timesheets for classified staff and LTE’s have been updated in Excel to include features such as automatic calculation of hours worked, overtime, differential hours, etc.  For your convenience, holidays and fixed furlough days will automatically highlight on the timesheet.  Please note that once you complete your timesheet, you must still print, sign, and have your supervisor sign.

Effective with the November B pay period (11/7/10 – 11/20/10), please use the correct timesheet for your employee type as follows:

Please find step-by-step instructions for all timesheets by clicking on the second tab in the Excel worksheet titled “instructions” to assist you with completing the new version of the timesheet.  You can save a copy of your timesheet for your records; it is recommended that you save this to your M: Drive.

Please note that handwritten timesheets will no longer be accepted and will be returned.

If you have any questions or would like help with the new timesheets, please feel free to contact Payroll or Human Resources at x2390.

Insurance Premium Holiday

The following information affects employees who are enrolled in State Group Health Insurance and/or State Group Life Insurance.

Employees currently pay State Group Health (SGH) and State Group Life (SGL) Insurance premiums two months in advance of coverage. For example, the premiums deducted from July earnings pay for SGH and SGL coverage for the month of September. A decision was made to change the current SGH and SGL deduction schedule so premiums are paid only one month in advance of the coverage month. During the transition period, you will not have SGH and SGL premium deductions for one month – this is considered a premium holiday. Normal payroll deductions will resume after the one‐month premium holiday.

Classified employees (those paid bi‐weekly) will not have a SGH deduction from the November 18, 2010 paycheck and will not have a SGL deduction from the December 2, 2010 paycheck.

Unclassified employees (those paid monthly) will not have a SGH or SGL deduction from the December 1, 2010 paycheck.

For more information, please read the Frequently Asked Questions.

Please e-mail benefits@uwgb.edu or call 465-2390 if you have any questions.

Wisconsin Deferred Compensation Individual Sessions

Scott Schewe, a 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.   For more information about WDC’s Program highlights, see the Wisconsin Deferred Compensation Program Highlights by clicking on the following link:  http://www.uwgb.edu/hr/benefits/WDCP Program Highlights.pdf

When:   Wednesday, November 3rd, 8:00 am to 4:00pm

Where:   University Union Building, Wequiock Room #101A

To schedule a meeting with Scott, call toll-free at 877-457-9327, option 2, or call the WDC office in Madison at 608-241-6604.

Please e-mail benefits@uwgb.edu or call 465-2390 if you have any questions.

Retirement Investing from Beginning to End Webinar

T. Rowe Price, one of the investment companies in your UW TSA 403(b) Program, will be offering the webinar “Retirement Investing from Beginning to End” presented by Drew Kessler on November 4th and 5th.  Drew is a Retirement Specialist in T. Rowe Price Retirement Plan Services.  He is passionate about educating investors on retirement planning and setting them up for retirement success.

This 40-minute program is a comprehensive presentation that explains asset classes, reviews the concepts of risk and return, and helps employees make the most of their investment choices. The plan’s investment options are discussed and profiled using market capitalization, investment style, and geographic characteristics.  There will be time for you to ask questions and get your questions answered.

Times of the webinar are: 

Thursday, November 4 – 9:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 3:30 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.

Friday, November 5 – 10:00 a.m., noon and 2:00 p.m.

To participate in the webinar from your desktop, register at http://inter.viewcentral.com/reg/troweprice/uw

No desktop access???

If you are an employee that does not have desktop access or may simply prefer to view the webinar in a group setting, UW-Green Bay is offering the webinar at the University Union, Room Alumni A, on November 5 at 2:00 p.m.  You will not need to login; simply sit back and watch “Retirement Investing from Beginning to End” projected on a screen.

We ask, due to limited space- that if you are planning on attending this webinar that you simply RSVP to HR@uwgb.edu to ensure we have enough seating room for those interested.

Please e-mail benefits@uwgb.edu or call 465-2390 if you have any questions.

Statewide Employees Combined Campaign

The Statewide Employees Combined Campaign (SECC) annual workplace campaign begins Monday, October 12, 2010.  You can make a pledge anytime before November 30, 2010.

The campaign will be online again this year.  Making it easier for you to give and make a difference in your COMMUNITY and the WORLD.

To make your pledge, go to www.seccstatewide.wi.gov

The SECC Statewide is Wisconsin’s largest voluntary fundraising campaign.  Thanks to your help, the campaign raises money for more than 400 participating charities.

The CHOICE is yours…

As the only annual, cooperative, on-the-job campaign authorized to run at your workplace, SECC offers you many choices.

You decide:

• How you want to give – choose payroll contribution, cash or check.

• Where your dollars go – when you designate your gift to specific charities, only the charities you choose will receive money from you. Pick from more than 400 state, national and international charities.

To make your pledge:

  2. Click on the link for University employees
  3. All University employees are pre-populated.  To login click on “Login Now” in the upper right hand corner OR click on ‘No’ under “Is this your first time logging into this system?”
  4. Log in using the following information: Username:  Your first and last name as it is displayed on your earning statement (use all caps with no spaces between words). Example: JOHNDOE.  Password:  Last 4 digits of your social security number.
  5. Find out more information about the charities and decide who you would like to give to.
  6. Follow the instructions on the website to complete your pledge.

For additional information, to give by cash or check, or if you would prefer paper materials please ask your coordinator or call 608.256.1066 extension 12.

Please e-mail benefits@uwgb.edu or call 465-2390 if you have any questions.

TIAA CREF Individual Counseling Sessions

TIAA CREF is offering individual and confidential counseling sessions where you can discuss your financial situation with a TIAA CREF consultant.  They will be able to help you achieve your financial goals by investing in financial solutions and help simplify your retirement planning.

Please see the flyer for more information about TIAA CREF sessions at UWGB.

When:     Monday, October 25th, 9:45am – 4:45pm

                 Tuesday, October 26th, 8:00am – 12:30pm

Where:    University Union Building, Wequiock Room, #101A

Don’t miss this opportunity — schedule a confidential consultation with your TIAA CREF representative, Chad Stein.   To schedule a time, call 1-800-732-8353, Monday through Friday, 9:00am to 8:00pm (EST).

Please e-mail benefits@uwgb.edu or call 465-2390 if you have any questions.

Year End Information for Classified Employees

**Important information regarding vacation carry over, compensatory time, annual leave conversion, and personal & floating holidays**

Attn:  Classified Employees and their Supervisors:

UW-Green Bay requires that vacation for classified employees be taken in the calendar year in which it is earned.  It is UW-Green Bay’s practice to allow up to 40 hours of vacation to be carried over into the following year, if approved by the employee’s supervisor.  A request to carry over more than 40 hours of vacation must be approved by Human Resources.  Any vacation carried over from 2010 into 2011 must be used by June 30, 2011.

Please complete the Vacation Carry Over Request Form ONLY if requesting to carry over more than 40 hours of vacation into 2011.

Requests must be submitted to HR, ES 107, no later than Friday, December 10, 2010.  A scanned, signed copy of the form may be e-mailed to hr@uwgb.edu in lieu of a hard copy submission.

If a new employee completes his or her original probationary period between July 1 and December 31, 2010, all vacation may be carried over (without supervisor or HR approval).  However, the leave must still be used by June 30, 2011.

 In-so-far as possible, all 2010 Compensatory Time earned should be used by December 30, 2010.  Under exceptional circumstances, approval to carry unused compensatory time into 2011 may be granted by the immediate supervisor.  All 2010 compensatory time must be used by April 30, 2011 or it will be paid.

Personal holiday hours may not be carried into 2011 and if not used by December 30, 2010 will be forfeited.  Also, please remember that Christmas Day falls on a Saturday, resulting in a floating holiday.  You must use this floating holiday by December 30, 2010 or it will be lost.

In 2011, classified employees will be granted three floating holidays due to the dates of certain legal holidays during the year.  Please visit the Legal Holidays section of our website for additional details.

Eligible employees able to utilize the Annual Leave Conversion Option will receive written notification by the end of November.

Please contact Human Resources at 465-2390 if or via e-mail at hr@uwgb.edu you have any questions.

Benefit Enrollment and Change Period

There are important changes to benefits for 2011 that may require you to take action during the Benefit Enrollment & Change Period.  Even if you are satisfied with your current benefit plans, please take time to read about changes to the benefit plans so you know how you may be impacted and if you need to take any action.

The Annual Benefit Enrollment and Change Period begins on October 4th and ends on October 29, 2010 for most plans.  Watch for an email near the beginning of the enrollment and change period that includes important details about changes to your benefit plans and your enrollment and change opportunities.

The My UW System portal will also have personalized benefit enrollment and change information available in early October.   Please review the UW System Benefit Enrollment and Change period website for details.

You may take the following actions during the benefit enrollment and change period:

• Change health insurance plans

• Change from single to family health insurance or add additional eligible family members to family health insurance (including      married children under age 26 and unmarried children under age 27)

• Enroll in plans that have an open enrollment (vision, dental, EPIC Benefits+)

• Enroll in Employee Reimbursement Account (medical expense and dependent care)

• Cancel vision or dental coverage for the 2011 plan year (must submit application by December 1)

• Remove eligible dependent children ages 19-27 or a domestic partner from benefit plans

Watch for benefit plan changes for 2011:

• Stand-alone dental insurance – there will be a new dental plan, Dental Wisconsin, and Anthem DentalBlue will no longer be available to employees not represented by a union.  Action needs to be taken by these employees to apply for the new dental plan.  Coverage will automatically end on December 31, 2010 for Anthem DentalBlue.

• The EPIC Dental & Excess Medical insurance plan changed its name to EPIC Benefits+ and has added an optional vision insurance benefit to their plan.

• Many over-the-counter drugs will no longer be a reimbursable medical expense under the Employee Reimbursement Account (ERA) program.

• Coverage and benefit levels under the Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) Insurance plan will be expanded.

• Premiums for State Group Health and State Group Life Insurance will be deducted one month in advance of coverage.  Premiums are currently deducted two months in advance of coverage so in order to make the change to paying premiums one month in advance, there will be no health or State Group Life Insurance deduction from your November earnings.  Normal premium deductions will resume on your December earnings.

• Married children under age 26 will be eligible for coverage under State Group Health Insurance.

• State Group Health has a new health plan available in several eastern Wisconsin counties- WEA Trust PPP. For more information, please see the 2011 It’s your Choice Decision Guide.

Please e-mail benefits@uwgb.edu or call 465-2390 if you have any questions.