HR CONNECTION Volume 8 Summer 2009
2009 District Staff Excellence Award Winners
The University Staff Excellence Awards were established to recognize superior service and ongoing contributions by the University of Utah's full-time staff.
Twenty-four staff employees have been selected for their district's Staff Excellence Awards. These winners will be the pool from which the final six recipients of the University Staff Excellence Awards (USEA) will be selected.
All twenty-four district winners will be recognized at a special luncheon on Thursday, September 10, 2009 where the final six winners will also be announced. Each USEA winner will receive an honorarium of $5000, a special plaque, and their name added to the Perpetual Plaque that resides in the HR Building at 420 Wakara Way.
If you would like to attend to support the winners, tickets are available for $16.00 each. Contact Terri Crow at 585-0928 or email terri.crow@utah.edu. Reservations must be made by Thursday, September 3, 2009.
USEA Luncheon
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Noon
The Ballroom, Union Building
For a list of nominees, visit www.hr.utah.edu/etc/psa/sea09/.
2009 Employee Appreciation Day
Human Resources is pleased to announce that the 6th annual Employee Appreciation Day (EAD) will be held again this year. Due to the tough budget issues the University has faced this year, the entire event will be funded through generous donations. Please join us for food and fun activities on:
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Olympic Cauldron Park at
Rice-Eccles Stadium
10 am - 2 pm
Many of the activities you have enjoyed in past years such as the football field goal kick, soccer kick, hooked on books, massages, and bingo will still be held this year. The first 100 employees will receive a pair of football tickets. Remaining tickets will be distributed randomly throughout the day. The exhibitor tables will be located in the West Concourse to reduce long lines.
Important Changes for 2009
Admittance
In previous years, EAD postcards were used as your ticket. This year, to keep costs down and be more "green", we will not be printing and mailing EAD postcards. All employees, both faculty and staff, will need to show their ID card for admittance. Please note that the word "faculty" or "staff" must be indicated on your ID card. Student employees will be contacted via a special email with information on how to be admitted to this event.
Event Entrance
The entrance to EAD will be at Gate D on the West side of the Stadium instead of Gate A. Signs will be posted to assist you with this change.
Volunteers Needed
Don't wait in line for your athletic tickets, volunteer for EAD. Volunteers will be required to work in one to two hour shifts and will receive a pair of athletic tickets in appreciation. Training will be provided.
If you would like to volunteer, please contact Shanna Erickson at shanna.erickson@vpres.adm.utah.edu for more information.
For more information about EAD, please contact Susie Johnson at 581-8365 or visit web.utah.edu/employeeday.
UU Farmers Market Starts August 20th
It's back! The University of Utah Farmers Market was such a huge success last year that Human Resources' WellU Program will be hosting it again this year. The market brings fresh, local food and talented artisans to the greater campus community.
New to this year's market will be weekly workshops on gardening and healthy living. Coming in August you can find a weekly market agenda with market happenings, news, and updates posted on the WellU website. Farmers Market canvas bags displaying this year's poster design will also be be sold for the first time to support the continual sponsorship of this event.
Please join us for great food, fresh produce and local arts and crafts 9 am - 2 pm, Thursdays, from August 20 though October 8, 2009 on Webster's Lawn, east of Pioneer Memorial Theatre.
For more information, please visit www.hr.utah.edu/wellu/farmers_market/ or contact Vanessa Harbour at vanessa.harbour@utah.edu.
Benefits Corner
Dental Co-Pay/Co-Insurance Waived
Dental co-pay/co-insurance in the University's Dental Plan waived on most dental services received from July 1, 2009 through June 30, 2010.
- The co-insurance for dental services will be waived and eligible expenses will be paid at 100% up to the Plan maximum of $2,000 per individual per Plan Year.
- Services that are covered by the Plan and included in this promotion are: Preventive, Diagnostic, Basic, and Prosthodontic. Orthodontics are not included in this promotion and will continue to be covered at 50%.
For a detailed list of covered services please refer to the Summary Plan Description at
www.hr.utah.edu/forms/lib/Dental.pdf.
Premium Rate Reductions
Rate reductions for Long Term Disability (LTD) and Supplemental Life Insurance took affect July 1, 2009. Rates will vary depending on your plan. Visit www.hr.utah.edu/ben/summ/standard/ltdinsurance.php for details for your specific plan.
Supplemental Life Insurance Open Enrollment
Now until September 30, 2009, University employees in benefit-eligible positions may enroll in supplemental term life insurance without providing proof of good health.
- Employees may enroll or increase Supplemental Life Insurance coverage up to a maximum of $350,000.
- New coverage amounts will be effective beginning the first of the month following the date the forms are
submitted.
- Employees must be actively working at the U for new coverage amounts to be effective.
Further information regarding the open enrollment process is available on the web at www.hr.utah.edu/ben/lifeinsurance/index.php.
2009 Staff Service Awards
The Staff Service Awards is an annual event recognizing staff employees from across campus who have 25 or more years of service in increments of five years to the University of Utah. This year's awards luncheon will recognize 170 staff employees and will be held on Tuesday, September 1, 2009 in the Ballroom in the Union Building at noon.
The list of the 170 recipients is available at www.hr.utah.edu/etc/ssa/ssa09/ssa09.pdf.
If you would like to attend the luncheon to recognize a co-worker, tickets are available for $14.00. The last day to RSVP with payment is Tuesday, August 25, 2009. For tickets or more information, please contact Terri Crow at 585-0928 or email terri.crow@utah.edu.
Books Needed for Hooked on Books
The sixth annual Employee Appreciation Day will be held on Thursday, September 24, 2009 in Olympic Cauldron Park at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Hooked on Books is one of the most popular venues at this annual event. We need your unwanted books to continue its success. Books, dvds, and VHS tapes will be collected until September 21, 2009. Book collection boxes have been placed around campus for your convenience. If you need more information, please contact Sandy Haughey at 585-9873.
For a list of drop off locations, please visit web.utah.edu/employeeday/books.html.
Workshop on Personal Finance in Difficult Times
The Division of Human Resources is pleased to welcome Republic Mortgage to campus on Thursday, August 20th to provide two short training sessions about personal finances. The sessions will be facilitated by Stan Nelson, Diana Rosenkrantz, and Kathy Sater. In this 50 minute session, you will learn:
- How to read and improve your credit score
- Why credit scores are important in a changing market
- The option of refinancing to improve your financial situation
- How to take advantage of federal tax credits
- The value of liquidity and savings
- Surviving the economy by monthly budget, rainy day fund, and long term investments
This session will be held twice on Thursday, August 20th:
Morning Session
When: 10:00 am to 11:00 am
Where: Health Sciences Ed. Bldg (HSEB), Rm 2958
To register: www.hr.utah.edu/training/register/registration_form.php?regSec=5115&ClassID=372
Afternoon Session
When: 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm
Where: Marriott Library, Rm 1150
To register: www.hr.utah.edu/training/register/registration_form.php?regSec=5116&ClassID=372
All employees are welcome! With questions, please send an email to andrea.d.brown@utah.edu.
