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HR REVIEW monthly electronic newsletter provides University faculty
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April 2008
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
BENEFITS BRIEFS
NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT
WORK/LIFE and WELLNESS
CHILD and FAMILY
HR CONSULTING AND STAFFING
BENEFITS BRIEFS
NEW 15-MINUTE PARKING SPACE AT HUMAN RESOURCES
Human Resources and University Police parking office have provided a 15-minute parking space near the Evanston campus HR building's east entrance at 720 University Place . The space is available for the convenience of faculty and staff members when visiting HR personnel or dropping off HR-related forms. The parking space is designated with a sign and is reserved for parties who have business in the HR office. Parking is limited to15 minutes to avoid a citation from the parking office.
UPCOMING SPRING FINANCIAL PLANNING WORKSHOPS
This month kicks off the Spring financial planning educational workshop series. Visit the benefits web site at http://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/ and refer to the Benefits Calendar heading to learn the dates and locations for the Benefits financial planning workshops this month. Simply go to the Benefits Calendar, click on the class in which you are interested, click on the web address and it will take you directly to Self Service. Enter your Net ID and password to access Self Service. You may register for these classes directly at Self Service. Upcoming topics include the following:
- Finding the Right Investment Strategy with Fidelity Investments
- Developing an Investment Strategy with TIAA-CREF
- The Services of First Northern Credit Union
- FSA PayFlex Information Sessions
- Tuition Planning and 529 Plans
- Steps to Take When Retiring from NU
- NU Healthcare Insurance and Medicare
- Achieving a Sound Retirement with Fidelity Investments Retirement Income Options with TIAA-CREF
- Social Security and Financial Planning
- Estate Planning: Top Ten Reasons to Have an Estate Plan
Full workshop listing and registration information
WAYS TO SAVE ON PRESCRIPTION DRUG COSTS
Remember, your prescription drug costs are lower if your prescription is filled with a generic drug as opposed to a brand name or non-brand name prescription. A generic medication is therapeutically equivalent to another drug in that same drug class and is identical in strength, concentration and dosage. Costs also are lower if a medication is obtained at a participating pharmacy. The network of participating pharmacies include major chains such as Walgreens, Osco, Dominick's, K-Mart, CVS, Target, Rite Aid, and others; as well as at many independent pharmacies such as the Northwestern Memorial Hospital and Evanston Northwestern Healthcare pharmacies.
You can take advantage of additional cost savings by ordering maintenance medications (such as for the treatment of diabetes, high blood pressure, asthma, etc.) through your health plan's mail-order program. For example, if you obtain a maintenance medication from a retail pharmacy costing you a $25 co-payment per prescription, you will pay a total of $75 for a three-month supply (3 times $25). Obtaining the same prescription by mail order will cost you $50 for the same three-month supply and save you $25. If you are enrolled in a Health Flexible Spending Account, you may use the PayFlex Debit Card number on the face of the card to pay for the mail order prescription. Mail order forms are available from the Benefits Division website at http://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/plans/health/forms.html . Mail order prescription drug plan options are listed by plan as follows:
- Premier PPO, Select PPO and HMO Illinois members may obtain mail order medications from the Walgreens Healthcare Plus mail facility located in Phoenix , Arizona .
- Value PPO members may obtain maintenance medications from the PrimeMail facility located in Dallas , Texas .
- UniCare HMO members may obtain mail order medications from the Wellpoint mail order pharmacy, Precision Rx, located in Fort Worth , Texas .
HOW DO I PROCESS MY 2008 FSA CLAIM?
Flexible Spending Account claims for services received during calendar year 2008 should be submitted to PayFlex, the new FSA claims administrator, not to the University Benefits Division. Claims may be conveniently submitted online by accessing the PayFlex member website at http://www.mypayflex.com . Your PayFlex member ID is your NU employee ID which appears on your Wildcard. You also may use the PayFlex Debit Card to pay for out of pocket health, dental and vision care expenses. Information about PayFlex is available online at http://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/plans/fsa or directly from the PayFlex member web site. Further information about PayFlex is available online at http://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/plans/fsa , or you may contact the Benefits Division at 847-491-7513.
Information sessions about PayFlex, the new FSA claims administrator, have been scheduled in May on both the Evanston and Chicago campuses. PayFlex and NU Benefits Division representatives will discuss eligible FSA expenses, how to submit claims, how to use the debit card, what merchants qualify to accept the debit card and how to view account balances and transactions online. Dates and locations for the information sessions are:
Register at http://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/08SpringFinancialPlanningWorkshops.pdf .
NORTHWESTERN TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT
NU TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT OFFERINGS THIS SPRING
Registration is open for Northwestern's Spring 2008 training & development offerings, which will help individuals and organizations work more effectively. Learning opportunities from April through June include workshops, tools and coaching in the areas of:
- New Employee Orientation Part 2 -- Q&A with NU senior leader; University's mission, vision, Standards for Business Conduct, and Performance Excellence process; and network-building luncheon with colleagues
- Leadership & Management -- Capability building for supervisors and managers
- NU Business Processes -- University policies & procedures, purchasing, accounting, internal controls, and ethics
- Workplace Skills -- Recruiting & hiring, project management, customer service, meeting management, business writing, stress reduction, and administering ADA accommodations
- NU Performance Excellence -- setting workplace expectations, giving and receiving feedback, and conducting year-end reviews
- Organization Development -- Strategic planning, process improvement, and communication
- Managing Your Career -- Assessment, exploring options, creating your plan, applying for the job, and interviewing
- Computer Applications -- Access, Acrobat, Dreamweaver, Excel, Mail Merge, Office Fundamentals, Outlook, Photoshop, PowerPoint, Project, and Word
Descriptions, schedules and registration instructions are available at http://www.northwestern.edu/hr/training . If you have any questions or comments, please contact us at training@northwestern.edu or 847-467-5081.
WORK/LIFE and WELLNESS
HELP FIGHT CANCER BY SUPPORTING NU'S RELAY FOR LIFE TEAMS
Hundreds of Northwestern University community members will participate in the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life in the Welsh-Ryan Arena on May 16. Join students, faculty, staff and their family and friends as the university community remembers those lost to cancer and celebrates cancer survivors. The relay starts at 6 p.m. and continues until 6 a.m. It will include such moving events as the Survivor Lap and luminaria ceremony. So far, Northwestern's 62 relay teams have collected more than $14,000 in donations to support The American Cancer Society's cancer research, education, advocacy and service programs.
The Relay for Life is not only a time to celebrate and remember; it is also a time to fight back! Your contributions can help research efforts to eliminate cancer, support essential services in the community and build hope for the future. You can support the Relay for Life of Northwestern University by donating online, either to a team or to an individual. The NU Human Resources Department (Team HR) will be represented and urges your participation in this worthy cause. You can get involved by joining one of the relay teams or creating one of your own.
To learn more
HEALTH TIPS FROM THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY
The April issue of the “Because We Care” newsletter features tips on diet and nutrition.
EVENTS PLANNED TO CELEBRATE NATIONAL PHYSICAL FITNESS AND SPORTS MONTH
May is National Physical Fitness and Sports month, and the Department of Athletics and Recreation will be hosting a variety of special events at the Henry Crown Sports Pavilion and Aquatic Center on the Evanston campus for individuals of all fitness levels.
Physical inactivity has been directly linked to many preventable chronic diseases. The primary goal of the National Physical Fitness and Sports 2008 Celebration is to get as many individuals within the Northwestern University community to commit to 30 minutes of moderate physical activity at least three days each week to help prevent chronic disease and result in healthier longer lives. Participation in this celebration will encourage individuals to develop lifelong habits of regular physical activity. Visit http://www.fitrec.northwestern.edu/mayevents.html throughout May or call (847) 491-4303 to learn more about free Fridays and many other services being offered.
INTERESTED IN FORMING WEIGHT WATCHERS AT WORK MEETINGS?
Are you interested in forming a Weight Watchers on-site meeting in Evanston or Chicago? The cost is $186 for a 17-week session (3 payments option available). This also includes 19 Weeks of FREE ETOOLS. The work/life office will explore the addition of an on-site meeting based on adequate interest. Please contact k-krauch@northwestern.edu to express your interest and specify a campus location.
UPCOMING DISCUSSION GROUP MEETING
Work/Life Balance Discussion Group
- Evanston – May 19 from noon to 1:30 p.m. in Norris Center , Alumni Room
If you would like to attend, please send an email to p-ellis@northwestern.edu .
PERSPECTIVES ON-LINE – WORK/LIFE INFORMATION AND RESOURCES JUST A CLICK AWAY
Northwestern University 's Faculty and Staff Assistance Program (FSAP) provider, Perspectives, Ltd., offers a valuable on-line resource. The site provides thousands of articles and self-assessment tools on a variety of work/life topics including emotional well being, family and care giving, health and wellness, daily living, and working well. Access to Perspectives online is free for Northwestern faculty, staff and their families.
The FSAP also provides faculty, staff and family members free and confidential professional support for working through personal challenges that can upset the work and life balance. These personal challenges might include time management difficulties, emotional problems, family issues, financial and legal troubles, stress management, work-related concerns, and substance abuse. Evaluation, counseling and referral services are provided at no charge from a confidential third-party vendor, Perspectives, Ltd. Call (800) 456-6327 to speak to a counselor.
TAKE THE MILLION STEP CHALLENGE THIS SPRING
Finding the inspiration and time to exercise or shed those few extra pounds sometimes can be rough. The Million Step Activity Challenge promotes SIMPLICITY and offers FLEXIBILITY, while inspiring you to log one million steps in a year. That’s five hundred miles worth of stepping! It may sound intimidating, but by wearing a pedometer (digi-walker device that tracks your steps) you'll be amazed at just how many steps you take each day. It may even inspire you to take some additional steps to reach your goal of a million. The program takes it one "step" further by offering incentive prizes for each milestone marker reached. This all-encompassing walking/activity program is offered to the entire university community, and it's ideal for all ages, fitness levels, abilities and interests.
For more information
CHILD and FAMILY
CHILDREN DISPLAY ARTWORK IN CHICAGO
Northwestern's Chicago campus KinderCare celebrated the National Association for the Education of Young Children's (NAEYC), Week of the Young Child, with a children's art display in the Medical School Method Atrium the week of April 13. The purpose of the Week of the Young Child is to focus public attention on the needs of young children and their families and to recognize the early childhood programs and services that meet those needs.
The display featured artwork done by the children attending the university's KinderCare center and was titled “Through the Eyes of a Child.” Toddlers through children age 5 took photographs of their world, created springtime art pieces and provided their interpretations of their work. Hats off to our NU children!
FAMILY-FRIENDLY FACILITIES FOR NEW MOTHERS
A mothers’ room is available on the Chicago campus to help support working mothers upon their return from leave to continue fostering a family-friendly environment at the University. The space is located in Abbott Hall, 14th floor, room 1428. Nursing mothers will have exclusive keyed access to the mothers’ rooms to ensure necessary privacy and availability for its users. Contact the Work/Life Office at 312-503-6631 for more information.
An Evanston south campus room is adjacent to the women’s restroom in the lower level of Rebecca Crown Center, 633 Clark Street. Mothers’ room keys will be issued to nursing mothers by Claire Repsold, who can be reached at (847) 491-5534.
A north campus mothers’ room is also available in Pancoe ENH Life Sciences Pavilion, room 1-410. Keys are issued by the Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Cell Biology Office, located in Hogan Hall room 2-100. The BMBCB office can be reached at (847) 491-5061.
Faculty, staff and students across campus are welcome to obtain a key and reserve space in the reservation books located inside the rooms.
More information
NEED HELP FINDING CHILD CARE?
The University offers a free resource and referral program to help working parents and students find child care solutions. Searching for quality child care can be an overwhelming and time-consuming process. Parents can conduct an efficient, well-informed search with information and advice provided by our resource and referral services. However, parents need to carefully evaluate each provider to determine what is best for their family's needs, as this service is unable to make recommendations.
Northwestern faculty, staff and students have access to enhanced child care resource and referral services provided by the Action for Children. Call (312) 823-1275 to reach a designated Northwestern representative.
The consultation services include:
* Parent consultations about the variety of child care options available
* Child care provider referrals that are customized to the search criteria provided by the parent
* Up-to-date information on more than 4,500 child care centers, family childcare homes, nannies agencies, sick care, camps and before and after school programs in Cook County and the surrounding area
* Printed resource materials to help parents throughout their childcare search, including tips for interviewing and selecting a quality provider
Additional childcare information is available at http://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/childcare/solutions/index.html .
INTERESTED IN SHARING A NANNY?
If you are interested in having nanny care for your children but are reluctant due to the expense, you might consider sharing a nanny with another Northwestern family. The Work/Life, Child & Family Resources Office is helping families network so they might explore this creative child care arrangement.
To create a successful shared arrangement, participants would need to first find a compatible family and then together negotiate an agreement with a caregiver to ensure that everyone's needs are met. Learn more about the process at http://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/childcare/solutions/nannyshare.html
HR CONSULTING AND STAFFING
HOW CAN I OFFER MY MANAGER FEEDBACK?
During President Bienen's State of the University Address, an audience member asked if there are ways for individuals at NU to provide feedback about their manager's performance along with suggestions for improvement. Below are some suggestions for manager feedback.
DIRECT AND OPEN COMMUNICATION: Offering feedback to a supervisor is most productive when the manager and employee have established open lines of communication, and the supervisor is receptive to the direct report's suggestions. Feedback from a direct report should be delivered in a professional manner. It also should specifically link how the manager's performance improvements would positively affect department work flow and employee productivity. Essentially, the employee communicates what he/she needs from the manager for the employee to be successful. A proactive manager also can seek ideas directly by asking team members basic questions such as "What am I doing well?" and "What can I do better to help you work better?" This could be done in a meeting format or more informally.
ADVICE FROM A THIRD PARTY: Some employees may have difficulty having a candid, open conversation about their needs with a supervisor. NU Human Resources Consultants are available to offer advice and help employees formulate their thoughts for positive resolutions of issues in the workplace. Another resource is the Faculty and Staff Assistance Program (FSAP) offered through Perspectives, Ltd. Call (800) 456-6327 to speak to a counselor about strategies for addressing workplace concerns.
FEEDBACK OFFERED AS PART OF PERFORMANCE EXCELLENCE: NU's "Performance Excellence" process automatically encourages managers to request input from various stakeholders when preparing year-end performance reviews for team members. For example, a vice president who is reviewing the performance of a director can ask the people who report to the director for feedback and suggestions about his/her performance.
For more information about the Performance Excellence process or to seek workplace advice from an HR professional, please call your HR Consultant in Chicago at 312-503-8481 or Evanston at 847-491-7507.
Performance Excellence information is also available on-line at http://www.northwestern.edu/hr/training/perfex.html
The university supports professional development of its managers through the systematic Leadership and Management Series offered through the HR Development Division. Workshops are available for line managers to director level leaders. Visit http://www.northwestern.edu/hr/training/leadership.html#L&M for more information.
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES WITH NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY IN QATAR
During the coming months, Northwestern University in Qatar will be recruiting to staff the new branch campus located in Doha , Qatar . Some of the positions will be based in Evanston ; others will be based in Doha . To find out about Northwestern University in Qatar programs, Education City, and life in Doha, watch the new informational video available on the Northwestern University in Qatar employment web page.
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