Employee Benefits & Well-Being
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If you still have a question after reading this newsletter or visiting our website, please contact us.
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COVID-19 and Your Benefits
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To view frequently asked questions about COVID-19 and your benefits, visit the Forward Together website.
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RETIREMENT READINESS
Retire from UNI
Human Resource Services will host an informational session on retiring from UNI, for faculty and staff planning to retire soon or in the foreseeable future. Participants will learn guidelines and benefits available at retirement from UNI. This hour long session will be presented by Therese Callaghan, Employee Well-being Coordinator, via Zoom on July 7 at 3 p.m. Please register in advance.
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RETIREMENT READINESS
Social Security 101
Human Resource Services will host an informational session on Social Security benefits and preparing for retirement. Learn how Social Security benefits impact your retirement income, and strategies to maximize your benefits. The hour long session will be presented by John Morgan with AIG via Zoom on July 13 at 10 a.m. Please register in advance.
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MY WELL-BEING
Healthy Eating Guide 101
Human Resource Services will host an informational session providing an overview of good nutrition and the benefits of healthy eating today and in the future. Virginia Brown, MercyOne Registered Nutritionist and Licensed Dietician, will lead this one hour session via Zoom on July 20 at 3 p.m. Please register in advance.
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RETIREMENT READINESS
Bridging the Gap: Healthcare in Retirement Before 65
Human Resource Services will host an informational session on bridging the gap from your employer health plan to Medicare. Learn how to use the Marketplace or healthcare.gov to price Affordable Care Act (ACA) compliant plans, and options such as COBRA, short-term health plans, sharing programs and group plans. New updates due to changes this year will be provided. The hour long session will be presented by Todd Cooper with Veridian, via Zoom on August 3 at 10 a.m. Please register in advance.
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Participation in events that occur during scheduled working hours must be approved by your supervisor. Employees on a university-approved leave should contact hrs-leaves@uni.edu for approval. Stay up-to-date with the status of this session by visiting https://hrs.uni.edu/event-status. If the status of this session changes you will also be notified by UNI email or campus phone. Individuals needing an accommodation in order to participate in an event, please contact a HRS team member at 319-273-2954, or
hrs-benefits@uni.edu, at least one week prior to the event.
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TIAA July Financial Wellness Webinars
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July 13 | 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. CST
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July 13 | 2 to 3 p.m. CST
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July 14 | 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. CST
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July 14 | 2 to 3 p.m. CST
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July 15 | 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. CST
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July 15 | 2 to 3 p.m. CST
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Times through the webinar link will be shown in Eastern Standard Time.
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Keeping Your Personal Financial Passwords Secure
Unfortunately, we have been hearing a lot in the news media about cybercriminals, data breaches, and ransomware attacks. Here at UNI, we have IT professionals and secure systems that ensure we keep our passwords updated on a regular basis and utilize two-factor authentication to log-in to systems to enhance security. At home it is just as important to keep your financial passwords up-to-date and secure your accounts. To help you to remember to update your passwords, July is 6 months into the year and may be a good time to change them. Store passwords in a secure location, and consider using password manager systems, such as LastPass, which offers free online personal accounts. Also, utilize two-factor authentication whenever possible. Many financial institutions and financial savings accounts may automatically require them, but if yours does not find out if it is an option. Lastly, just as you stay alert for phishing attacks at UNI, follow these same practices at home. To learn more consider attending the Data Security training provided for faculty, staff, and students at no cost.
Additional Resource: 8 Steps to Keeping Your Financial Information Secure.
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Stay Cool This Summer!
The hot and humid weather came fast this year. It is especially important in the heat to remember to stay hydrated. It is recommended we drink half our body weight in ounces of water (e.g. If you weigh 150 pounds you should try to drink 75 ounces of water daily). If you are spending any amount of time outdoors in the heat and humidity, you will need to drink even more fluids to stay hydrated. An easy indicator of hydration (and a good one to teach kids) is that urine should stay clear and copious (lots of it). If it isn’t or you aren’t needing to go to the bathroom once per hour, then you need to drink more water.
Fruits high in water (e.g. watermelon), frozen fruit juice treats (e.g.popsicles/freezer pops), and electrolyte drinks can also be helpful in replenishing lost electrolytes and keeping us cool. Early indicators of dehydration include: dark colored urine, fatigue, dry mouth, and thirst. It is especially important for young children, pregnant women, and older adults to stay cool and hydrated, as dehydration can occur faster and become serious more quickly. Heat illness including heat exhaustion or heat stroke need to be taken seriously. Watch closely for these warning signs in yourself, co-workers, friends, and family. Follow these tips from the CDC and stay cool this summer!
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Important Information About Your Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
On December 27, 2020 the President signed the COVID-19 Relief Bill passed by Congress, allowing UNI the opportunity to temporarily amend our flexible spending plans for the 2021 calendar year. The following two provisions impact Health Care FSA and Dependent Care FSA and will expire December 31, 2021.
The deadline for individuals with remaining 2020 unused FSA funds has been extended to December 31, 2021, rather than March 15, 2021. This extension also allows 2020 participants to use their 2020 unused funds for 2021 claims. This provision expires December 31, 2021.
Between January 1 - December 31, 2021 you may elect, increase, decrease, or waive 2021 FSA contributions without a qualifying life event. No retroactive changes are allowed. This provision expires December 31, 2021.
Those who participate in the Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account can elect a maximum of $10,500 to claim for the 2021 calendar year.
Limitations do exist, for more information and examples visit our 2021 FSA Plan Updates webpage.
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More Than Just Insurance, Discounts Offered
UNI’s benefit vendors offer discounts to benefit eligible employees and their dependents. Wellmark offers discounts through Blue365, Delta Dental offers vision discounts through DeltaVision, as well as hearing discounts, and Principal offers discounts on hearing aids, will prep, and more. Businesses in the Cedar Valley may also offer discounts to UNI employees, ask them before making a purchase. View our Discounts and Services webpage for more information.
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We are thankful for the service of all of UNI's retirees! With their consent we are able to celebrate their years of service and share their information with the entire campus community.
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Julie Johnson
Record Analyst I, College of Education
26 Years of Service, Retired in June
soaringwjls@gmail.com
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Timothy Klatt
Associate Director, Recreation Services
37 Years of Service, Retiring in July
tim.klatt@uni.edu
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Retirement Benefit Questions? The HRS Benefits Team is Here to Assist!
The Human Resource Services Benefits Team is continuing to help employees with retirement benefit questions. If you plan to retire in 2021 please email
hrs-benefits@uni.edu or call 319-273-2423. For additional information on retirement visit Retire from UNI: Next Steps.
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Stay Up-to-Date with HRS Events
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Plan on attending an upcoming Human Resource Services (HRS) sponsored event? Please visit the HRS event status webpage to view if the event is on-time, postponed, rescheduled, or canceled. Registered participants will also receive an email from HRS notifying that an event status has changed.
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Subscribe to HRS Latest News and Events
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Be the first to hear the latest news and events from UNI Human Resource Services including benefits and well-being news. Subscribe to receive the HRS News emails right to your uni.edu email account.
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Is Your Personal Information Up-to-Date?
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To make changes to your office and/or home (confidential) contact information:
Login to MyUNIverse > My Page > Update My Personal Information. This information is sent to Human Resource Services and will be updated within four working days.
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