The Thanksgiving holidays observed for staff members are Thursday, November 23rd and Friday, November 24th.
December Holiday closedown for 2023 begins on Friday, December 22 and concludes on Monday, January 1st. Staff will return to work on Tuesday, January 2nd. Staff can enter their floating holiday requests after November 10th (Veterans Day – the last floating holiday to accrue for 2023).
Paid holidays will be December 25th and January 1st. For staff who have been employed for the entire calendar year, you will need to use your 5 accrued floating holidays for December 22nd and December 26-29th. All leave-eligible employees should submit their leave requests through Firefly. If you have questions or you do not have enough leave time to cover this time period, please contact Human Resources at 865-8184.
UNK’s Annual Budget Overview is available for viewing on the Business and Finance webpage. The Annual Budget Overview provides the campus community with the details of resources that are used to manage the campus. See https://www.unk.edu/bf/budget.php. Please contact Chris Moran at morancl@unk.edu with any questions.
As a reminder, Nebraska minimum wage will increase to $12.00/hour effective January 1, 2024. Human Resources will be in contact with departments within the next month if your department has employees who are currently at a rate of less than $12.00/hour. Our goal is to make the increase process to comply with minimum wage as efficient to departments as possible. Please contact the Human Resources office at 865-8184 with any questions. Below is a link to the Nebraska Department of Labor minimum wage poster, which identifies the minimum wage increase schedule through January 1, 2026:
The University of Nebraska system allows all employees to opt to receive their W-2 through Employee Self Service (Firefly). Please consider opting for the electronic version to save paper and distribution time. Those who choose to receive an electronic W-2 through Firefly will receive their W-2 statement about a week earlier than those who receive paper W-2 forms. Only employees who elect an electronic W-2 will be able to view their W-2 form throughout the year. To enroll, log into Firefly>Employee Self Service>W-2 Form>Enroll for W-2 Online Delivery. Please contact Human Resources at 865-8184 with any questions.
This is also a good time to review your address listed in Employee Self Service (About Me - Personal Information>Address & Emergency Contact) to confirm that your contact information is current. The address listed in an employee’s “permanent address” is where all benefit and payroll related information is sent, so it is important that the information is correct.
If you have access to NUFFO, University of Nebraska Foundation’s CRM system, a new, faster process to request payments and transfers from your foundation funds will be launched November 1. You should have received email(s) regarding this announcement and the changes that will occur. Paper requests for payments or transfers will no longer be accepted after November 10. Please contact fundmanagement@nufoundation.org with any questions.
Annual NUFlex Benefits Enrollment began on Monday, October 30th and will end Friday, November 17th, 2023 at 5:00pm. Employees will be able to make any changes to their benefits plan during this time. We encourage you to enroll early to avoid any last-minute complications.
Reminders:
If you contribute to the Flexible Spending Account – Health Care and/or Dependent Care, you will need to enter amount(s) for 2024.
Complete the Health Risk Assessment to receive enhanced wellness and preventative services benefits.
Complete your Tobacco/Nicotine designation if you have Voluntary Life Insurance. If you do not designate your tobacco/nicotine status during enrollment, your voluntary life insurance premium will be defaulted to the tobacco/nicotine premium.
Human Resources will be available to answer questions regarding NuFlex Benefits Enrollment. For any questions, please call Erica Oliver (308) 865-8522 or email benefitsunk@unk.edu
See and access your benefit coverage breakdown, insurance card, etc. through our health insurance vendors’ member portal sites. Our vendor’s direct links to their member login sites can found here: https://nebraska.edu/faculty-and-staff/health-benefits. Direct links will be located on the right side of the screen. If you have not already registered for an online account with that vendor, please do so first.
Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
New in 2024: You will be able to carry over up to $610 in unspent Health Care Flexible Spending Account funds from 2023 to the 2024 plan year. This means that Health Care flexible spending care account amounts you do not use during the 2023 year can be carried over to the 2024 year subject to the IRS maximum carry over of $610. You must remain in an benefits eligible employee status in order to access the carry-over funds. Requests to be reimbursed using the carryover funds for eligible expenses should be submitted to HealthEquity (formerly WageWorks). Plan your FSA contributions carefully. You could forfeit (lose) any money remaining in your FSAs at the end of the calendar year. Estimate your medical and dependent care expenses for 2024 before you enroll.
Flu Shot Coverage
Employees who have completed the Health Risk Assessment (HRA) will have a $0 co-payment for flu shots administered at an in-network pharmacy and billed to your prescription program.
Update Your Beneficiaries
A beneficiary is a person you choose to receive your life insurance and retirement benefits in the event of your death. It is very important for you to keep your beneficiary information up to date. The life insurance and accidental death and dismemberment beneficiaries are maintained in Firefly – Employee Self Service. Retirement plan beneficiaries are maintained with the plan vendors (TIAA and Fidelity).
Member Care Assistance Programs
Blue Cross and Blue Shield will be offering health plan participants access to new care management programs starting in 2024. Virta is a type 2 diabetes assistance program that helps members in managing their condition. With Virta, enrolled participants will receive a personalized treatment plan, medical supervision from a physician-led care team, one-on-one health coaching, educational tools, and access to a private online support community. Starting Jan. 1, 2024 members can enroll at NebraskaBlue.com/UNSystemVirta.
The nurse-supported care program can assist participants in achieving better health. Whether that is to reduce risk for illness, improve weight loss, or better manage a health condition or a complex health problem. To learn more about the program visit NebraskaBlue.com/Wellbeing. The program will be available starting Jan. 1 2024.
Allocation of tuition remission credits for the Spring Semester can now be entered and final submission is Friday, February 16, 2023. Allocate credits via Firefly/ESS, under Benefits, click “Employee & Dependent Scholarship”.
Please consider donating to the crisis leave program. This program allows any employee who earns vacation leave to donate up to five accumulated vacation days per calendar year. The donated leave goes to a pool of crisis leave hours that are used to help an employee who is experiencing a crisis and does not have sufficient leave to cover their absence period. Donation forms can be accessed through SAPPHIRE or the following link:
Please submit completed forms to the Human Resources Office.
There will be NO PARKING allowed in Lot 14A from midnight to 6:00 a.m., November 1st to April 1st. Snow Removal Lots will be enforced during all weekends, holidays, and breaks even when no snow is in the forecast.
In the event of accumulating snow during a time in which parking is allowed, a SNOW EMERGENCY may be declared. If this occurs, there will be NO PARKING in the emergency declared lots. Signs will be posted in designated lots. Faculty, Staff, and Students will be notified by email and other means, when possible. It is the responsibility of the driver of the vehicle to watch weather conditions and take appropriate steps.
Prepare your car for winter:
Store blankets to keep you warm in case you're stranded on the roads.
Keep your gas tank full.
Consider carrying a small shovel and kitty litter for traction to help free your car if stuck.
Other items to have along: Ice scraper, flashlight, coat, hat, gloves, cell phone and car charger.
Familiarize yourself with the terms that are used to identify winter weather:
Sleet is rain that turns to ice pellets before reaching the ground. Sleet also causes roads to freeze and become slippery.
Winter Weather Advisory means cold, ice and snow are expected.
Winter Storm Watch means severe weather such as heavy snow or ice is possible in the next day or two.
Winter Storm Warning means severe winter conditions have begun or will begin very soon.
Blizzard Warning means heavy snow and strong winds will produce a blinding snow, near zero visibility, deep drifts and life-threatening wind chill.
Frost/Freeze Warning means below freezing temperatures are expected.
Make A Plan
Plan to stay inside and make it on your own, at least for a period of time.
Have some food on hand in your room in case the residence halls are unable to provide food service.
Know of both a cell and land line phone you can use to call home if service is affected in one or the other.
Stay Informed
During winter weather season, notices concerning UNK's operation will appear on the home page. UNK Alerts will be sent to announce closings, be sure to register for text messages to receive this information.
Listen to NOAA Weather Radio to stay informed of winter weather watches and warnings.
Also monitor commercial radio, television and the Internet. For a full description of what to listen for, and an explanation of different weather terms, refer to the NWS guide.
Keep in mind that during a severe winter storm it could be hours, or even days, before emergency personnel are able to reach you.
Employees and Departments/Groups of Employees can be nominated for different awards. The awards are presented monthly during the Staff Senate meetings.
Please consider nominating a staff member or group who has demonstrated excellence. It’s time to show our colleagues how much we appreciate what they do and why we’re so very proud to be Lopers!!
