HR Connection Newsletter
VOLUME 6 FALL 2007
Table of Contents
 Employee Wellness Program
The University of Utah has launched the Employee Wellness Program, making wellness a priority. The program connects employees to location-specific wellness resources and activities.
Wellness is a way of living—eating a healthy diet, being physically active and managing your well-being every day.
Through , the University is committed to supporting employee wellness efforts by making it easier for employees to learn about and use the many resources available to them. Putting a priority on wellness will help build a healthier University workforce—a benefit for everyone.
The website puts practical health-related information right at your fingertips. You will find links to the WebMD Health Manager, wellness activities and services on campus as well as special health-related events. Whether you want to improve your health, keep fit, control your weight, quit smoking or learn how to manage stress, the University has a number of wellness resources you can take advantage of right here on campus. Many of the services are available at no cost or discounted for employees and are scheduled during the workday so you can more easily fit them into your busy schedule. 
You’ll want to visit the website often, as it will be updated with articles, tips, resources and activities that will support your commitment to wellness.
Just some of the program features you can expect to find:
- Save Money! Complete your HealthQuotient™ on WebMD Health Manager and save up to $40/month off your University Health Plan premium
- Sign up for no cost individualized consultations with a Registered Dietitian
- Sign up for no cost biometrics testing (blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose, waist circumference)
- Learn about fitness classes, smoking cessation, stress management classes and health lectures around campus
- Sign up for the USteps 10,000/day or the Holiday Weigh 2 Go Challenge...visit www.hr.utah.edu/wellu for more information
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Maintain
DON’T Gain - Elevate Your Diet
TIPS FOR A HEALTHY HOLIDAY SEASON 
Enjoy your holiday treats...have a smaller serving size
Serve meals on smaller plates...the servings will look larger
Drink water with your meals...wine and punch add extra calories
Add fruits and vegetables to your meals...they add color and nutrition
Increase your exercise...take a power walk before you start your holiday shopping
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2007 Staff excellence award winners
Congratulations to the six Staff Excellence Award winners.
Each winner received an honorarium of $3000 for their contributions to the University of Utah. They were recognized at a special luncheon on September 11, 2007 by President Michael K. Young. For more information about the Staff Excellence Awards, visit www.hr.utah.edu/etc/psa/.
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Employee Appreciation Day Photos NOW on the Web
Thank you for joining us on Employee Appreciation Day. Photos are now available on the web at web.utah.edu/employeeday.
Mark your calendar for Employee Appreciation Day 2008,
Thursday, September 25, 2008!
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Benefits Corner
Retirement Plan Reminders
It has been one year since the University made the changes to the Retirement Plan Investment Providers to include Fidelity Investments, TIAA-CREF and Vanguard. All three companies are now providers on the 403(b) and 457(b) Supplemental Retirement Plans (for all employee elective deferrals) and the 401(a) Defined Contribution Plan (the employer-provided plan for faculty, exempt staff and UUHC employees).
The IRS recently announced the 2008 limits for supplemental retirement plans. The employee elective deferral limits for the 403(b) and 457(b) Plans will remain at $15,500.
The catch-up limits for each of the Plans will also remain the same:
- $5,000 for employees age 50 or older to both Plans
- $3,000 per year for 5 years for the 403(b) Lifetime Special Catch-up
- $15,500 for the 457(b) Special Catch-up
Confidential retirement counseling is provided to University employees at no cost by each of the investment providers. To schedule an individual consultation with a licensed agent, click on the web link or call the phone number listed on the Benefits Department Retirement Plans web page at www.hr.utah.edu/ben/retirement.
Please contact the Benefits Department at (801) 581-7447 or one of the investment providers for additional information. Change Forms and Salary Reduction Agreements are available through the Benefits Department Retirement Plans web page at www.hr.utah.edu/ben/retirement.
Vacation Accrual Maximums
University Policy 2-41 provides that staff employees may accrue vacation up to a maximum amount (accruals do not roll over from year to year for faculty, senior academic officers, and senior administrative officers). The maximum number of vacation hours that staff employees roll over from one year to the next is 240 hours (30 days at 100% FTE) plus the employee’s current annual vacation leave entitlement. Any accrual balances that exceed the maximum accrual on December 31, will be lost. Employees are required to work with their supervisor in advance to schedule vacation time so that it will not disrupt department operations.
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Meet Brooke Gardner, New Wellness Manager 
Brooke Gardner is the new manager of Employee Wellness. She joined the Division of Human Resources in August and will oversee the continued development and implementation of the WellU Program. Prior to The University of Utah, she worked for the Utah Department of Health and has over 10 years of public health and health promotion experience.
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2007 Winter Holiday Closure Schedule
The University’s 2007 winter holiday closure schedule will be as follows:
| Monday, December 24, 2007 |
|
University Closed (UCD) |
| Tuesday, December 25, 2007 |
|
Christmas Day Holiday |
| Tuesday, January 1, 2008 |
|
New Year’s Day Holiday |
Employees will be paid their regular rate for work hours scheduled but not worked on Monday, December 24th. Information on the University Closure Day process can be found at www.hr.utah.edu/comp/proc/sect_14.php. If you have any additional questions please contact your service team.
This holiday closing schedule does not apply to employees of University Hospitals and Clinics and identified employees in Health Sciences departments, and other departments providing critical services. Please notify members of your staff who are affected.
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