Economic Stimulus Bill Provides Tax
Benefit to USF Employees
Beginning with their April 10, 2009 paycheck, USF
employees will receive a tax benefit through a reduction
in the amount of federal income taxes withheld from
their pay for the remainder of 2009 and all of 2010.
This tax reduction is a key provision of the economic
stimulus bill (The American Recovery and Investment Act)
signed into law by President Obama on February 17,
2009. The Act provides tax benefits to individuals
under the “Making Work Pay” tax credit.
Making Work Pay provides an annual tax cut of $400 for
individual filers with an adjusted gross income of no
more than $75,000, and $800 to joint filers with an
adjusted gross income of no more than $150,000. The Act
provides for taxpayers to receive the entire annual
benefit ($400 or $800) during the remainder of 2009.
The
tax withholding reduction will take place
automatically. Employees are not required to complete a
new W-4 form to receive the benefit of the reduced
withholding. Employees may wish to consult their tax
advisor to confirm that their new withholding will cover
their tax liability. This may be especially important
if the employee and his/her spouse work and are eligible
for the reduction.
Additionally, the Earned Income Tax Credit will be
expanded to families with three or more children. For
additional information review the IRS Notice
here or contact Lena Collins or Brett Jordan in
Payroll at (813) 974-7955.
Foreign National/RightStart@USF Training
Offered
If
you are responsible for managing the hiring process for
international employees, International Services (IS) and
Human Resources are offering a one hour training
session, “Foreign National/RightStart@USF”, on Thursday,
April 9th from 2:00 to 3:00 PM in SVC 2070. The session
will be offered again on July 16 and November 12, 2009.
The
session includes an overview on the following topics:
Definition of Non-Resident Alien (NRA)
How
to Identify that the Employee is an NRA
RightStart@USF
Basic Immigration Documents
Common Visas Eligible to Work
Visas Not Eligible to Work
Ramifications of Hiring Employees with No Work
Authorization Documents
Register via
GEMS Self Service for “RightStart/Employing
Foreign”, course number BPC111. For questions, contact
Sandra Sheffield, HR Employment Center, at
sheffiel@admin.usf.edu or (813) 974-5486.
Faculty & Staff Golf Scramble
USF
faculty, staff and their families and guests are invited
to participate in the annual USF Faculty & Staff Golf
Scramble, sponsored by the A&P Council, on Saturday
April 25 at 12:45 PM at the USF Golf Course, 46th Street
and Fletcher Avenue. $55 covers greens fees, cart and
dinner, and includes a small bucket of balls at the
driving range prior to the start of the scramble. The
format is a shotgun start at 1 PM, with dinner, awards
and prize drawings to follow.
Entries are limited to 120 golfers.
Online registration is available through April 20 or
until all slots are filled. Sign up as an individual,
part of a team or as a foursome. Payment is required at
time of registration. Proceeds benefit USF
Scholarships. For questions contact Carl Musson at
(813) 974-4533 or Ken Short at (813) 974-3148.
Health Fair March 31
USF
employees and students are invited to participate in the
18th annual Health Fair sponsored by Student Health
Services on Tuesday March 31 from 10:30 AM to 2 PM,
inside Student Health Services and in the SVC
Breezeway. Free screenings include blood pressure,
glucose, vision and hearing. Other offerings and prizes
include massage, Rays tickets, restaurant gift
certificates, fitness assessments, museum tickets and
more. For information contact Student Health Services
at (813) 974-4936
Seminar on Deferred Compensation
and Saving for Retirement
One
of the benefits enjoyed by all USF employees is the
ability to save for retirement and shelter income from
taxes by participating in the State of Florida Deferred
Compensation Plan. You are invited to attend an
educational seminar to learn how the Plan can help you
prepare for your future.
Date: Thursday, March 12, 2009
Time: 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM
Location: TECO Room, David C. Anchin Center, College of
Education
This
is your opportunity to find out more about:
Keys
to retirement
Florida Retirement benefits
Social Security benefits
How Deferred Compensation works
Advantages of Deferred Compensation
Investment Provider options
How to choose an Investment Provider
Deferral Limits, and their catch-up provisions
Deferred Retirement Option Program (DROP)
Rolling other accounts into a Deferred Compensation
account
Asset allocation models
Keys to successful investing
The
seminar is presented by Austin Deeds, Florida Bureau of
Deferred Compensation. No reservations required.
For
information on the session contact Margaret Ogden in
Human Resources at (813) 974-5715 or
MOgden@admin.usf.edu. For more information on the
State of Florida’s Deferred Compensation program, click
here.
Faculty & Staff Softball Event
April 18
The 26th Annual USF Faculty & Staff Softball Event and
Taste of “Bulls Country” will be held on Saturday April
18 at the USF Intramural Softball fields on the east
side of the Tampa campus and under the oaks on the east
side of the soccer stadium. Softball games begin at 9
AM, and free food and beverages will be served by USF
Bulls Country vendors from 11 AM – 1:30 PM.
This
year’s Event T-Shirt has a special logo and is available
from Bulls Outfitter (order deadline April 3rd). You
can view the logo and print an order form
here
Register your team to play (competitive or fun division)
by April 3rd. The Captains’ meeting will be held April
13th. Click
here for more information or contact Renee Seay at
(813) 974-2959.
Children’s activities throughout the day include a
bounce house, face painting, games and more. Bring your
family to enjoy a fun-filled day.
For
event information, including a map to the event, the
list of participating Bulls Country vendors, and a
printable poster, visit the Event webpage
here. For questions contact Susan Boully at
sboully@admin.usf.edu or (813) 974-5711.
The Benefits Expert Tip
Did you know… you can get great discounts on massage
therapy, acupuncture, chiropractic services and other
types of alternative health care? Check out this
month’s
“The Benefits Expert Tip!”
Milestone Anniversaries
We’re delighted to recognize the length of service of
our employees and their ongoing commitment to USF. To
help us congratulate the following "Faces of USF" who
are celebrating anniversaries this month, click
here.
Flexible Spending Accounts Deadline
March 15th
Flexible Spending Accounts, or FSAs, have a "use it or
lose it" policy, which means you must use any money you
contribute to a Medical Reimbursement Account or a
Dependent Care Reimbursement Account for expenses
incurred or the money will be forfeited. If you
contributed to a Flexible Spending Account for Medical
or Child Care coverage during 2008, you have until March
15, 2009 to use the money, and until April 15, 2009 to
submit your reimbursement requests. Use this
form to submit your claims. For questions, contact
a
Benefits Representative on your campus.
USF Night with the Tampa Bay Rays
August 1st
The
second annual USF Night with the Tampa Bay Rays at
Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg will be on Saturday,
August 1, 2009, when the 2008 AL Champion Rays will take
on the Kansas City Royals (game time TBA). USF alumnus
and Broadway star Quentin Darrington will be on hand to
sing the National Anthem
Receive a black flex-fit limited edition Rays hat with
the USF Bulls logo (while supplies last) and enjoy a
free post-game concert.
If
you book a group of 20 or more, you’ll receive your
limited edition flex-fit hats in advance, preferred
seating, a scoreboard welcome and additional
discounts. Group tickets can be ordered by calling
727-825-3391.
Individual tickets are available exclusively online
through
www.raysbaseball.com/usf. If you purchase
individual tickets through this website, you will
receive your limited edition hat on the day of the game.
Last year’s game was a sellout, so order your tickets
early to join USF faculty, staff, alumni and students
for this fabulous event! Event information is
here. For the most current and up to date
information, email
tmincey@raysbaseball.com.
Special Open Enrollment for Life
Insurance
USF
full-time and part-time (.75 FTE or greater) employees
in benefit-eligible positions may enroll for Universal
Life Extra coverage during a special open enrollment
period, February 2 through May 29, 2009, without
evidence of insurability.
Offered by the Gabor Agency, this permanent life
insurance is guaranteed for the life of the insured as
long as the level premiums are paid and may be continued
after retirement or termination of employment with no
additional premium or reduction of coverage. Employees
up to age 65 may apply for up to four times their salary
($250,000 maximum), and employees between the ages of 66
and 70 are eligible for up to $25,000 of coverage.
Spouses are eligible for up to $25,000 coverage.
Click
here to review a brochure outlining available
benefit amounts and eligibility requirements. Larger
coverage amounts are available to employees, spouses and
eligible children on the same rate basis with evidence
of insurability. For more information, including
premium quotations, or to apply for coverage, contact
the Gabor Agency at (850) 894-9611, Ext. 6.
Payroll Insurance Deductions for
Summer Coverage for 9-Month Faculty
Nine-month faculty employees who are regularly employed
for less than twelve months (appointed on an academic
contract) are entitled to the State/University
contribution while off the payroll (up to four months).
To ensure continual insurance coverage during the summer
break, double payroll deductions for insurance premiums
are taken throughout spring semester. Normal deductions
resume with the September 12, 2009 paycheck. For
questions, contact Betty Fontaine or Laura Greco in
University Payroll at (813) 974-7955.
Sick Pool Open Enrollment in April
Open
Enrollment for the USF Sick Leave Pool is April 1
through April 30, 2009, with an effective date of
membership of June 1, 2009. The Sick Leave Pool enables
an employee to remain in a paid status when they
experience a serious short-term medical condition
rendering them unable to perform assigned duties and
causing them to deplete all of their accrued sick and
annual leave. Click
here for information on how to enroll, or contact
your Departmental Attendance & Leave Coordinator or
Beverly Jerry, USF Attendance & Leave Administrator at
(813) 974-5717 or
bjerry@admin.usf.edu.
Health Insurance Premiums
Effective June 2009, State of Florida health insurance
premiums are increasing. For full-time employees, this
rate increase will be assumed by the university and will
not result in an increase in employee contributions.
Employees with an appointment of less than 1.0 FTE will
see an increase in the pro-rated premiums for which they
are responsible. As a result of double deductions for
summer coverage, nine-month faculty with less than 1.0
FTE will see the increased rate deducted from their
paychecks, starting on March 27, 2009. Because premiums
are paid in advance, the rate changes take effect in
May. If you have any questions, contact a member of the
HR Benefits Team at (813) 974-2970.
Inside HR
John
Stephen Henderson has joined HR as the Classification &
Compensation Manager. Holding a Masters Degree in
Public Administration and a Bachelor’s degree in
Criminal Justice,
John
Stephen has created, managed and
administered innovative compensation programs for The
Ohio State University as well as for employers in the
private sector. With more than a decade of compensation
experience, he has held leadership roles from Manager to
Assistant Vice President and brings to USF expertise in
strategic planning, assessment and analysis, program
development and delivery.
John
Stephen may be reached at (813)
974-2970.
Lori
Withrow has moved to the position of HR Service Center
Consultant. Lori has been with Human Resources for more
than 4 1/2 years, working with the Employment Center,
Recruiting, Compensation & Classification, HR Operations
and USF Health HR. She holds a Bachelor’s degree from
USF in Business Management. Prior to joining the
university, Lori worked in retail management and the
professional liability insurance industry specializing
in human resources and underwriting. She will continue
to serve as Project Manager for Careers@USF, our new
online recruiting system scheduled to roll out in late
spring. Lori may be reached at
lwithrow@admin.usf.edu.
HR Manager Beverly Douglas has assumed
responsibility for the HR Benefits department, reporting
to Brett Jordan, Director of Payroll, in addition to her
role overseeing HR Communications and HR Administration
special projects. Beverly joined the USF Division of
Human Resources in 2007 as HR Manager at USF Health HR.
She has a BS from The University of Florida in Public
Relations, an MBA from USF and holds the SPHR
designation, the highest level certification from the
Society for Human Resource Management. Beverly can be
reached at
bdouglas@admin.usf.edu.
