October 2007
Flu Shots
Starting Tuesday, October 23, 2007, USF Student
Health Services will once again offer flu shots
to students and faculty/staff (with USF ID),
Tuesday through Friday from 10:00am to 3:00pm.
The cost is $15 for students and $25 for
faculty/staff. SHS accepts Visa or MasterCard as
payment. Flu shot clinics will run on a
first-come, first-serve basis (until supply is
exhausted) at USF Student Health Services (next
to the USF Bookstore).
2007 Legislative One-Time Lump-Sum Bonus
The Florida
Legislature has granted a one-time, lump-sum bonus
payment of $1,000 less applicable taxes and
withholdings to all eligible employees (prorated for
part-time employees). The bonus will be paid Friday,
November 2, 2007 to eligible Faculty, Administration
and Staff employees via direct deposit or through a
paper check if a direct deposit account has not been
established (paper checks will be available November
2nd, 10:00 am - 4:30 pm in University
Payroll, SVC 0067). OPS staff (including GAs, TAs,
RAs and Adjuncts) are not eligible for this bonus.
To be eligible employees must meet the following criteria on
November 1, 2007:
-
Must have been employed at USF on an established position on
or before July 1, 2007 and continuously employed
through November 1, 2007.
-
Must currently meet required performance standards or
expectations. Absent a performance evaluation
stating otherwise, performance will be
considered to be “Achieves”. For Faculty, the
performance standard criterion means
satisfactory or higher on the most recent
evaluation in the majority of assigned FTE.
-
Must not have received a notice of dismissal or
non-reappointment.
For questions,
contact Brian Allman in Human Resources at (813)
974-5384.
New HR Process for Establishing and Classifying
New Positions
Are you
are responsible for establishing new positions in your
department? Human Resources has introduced the Position
Action Form (PAF) to request position numbers and
establish, reclassify or update positions, along with an
updated Position Description form. The Position
Description (PD) replaces the old Position Description
Questionnaire (PDQ).
The HR Classification & Compensation department has
assumed responsibility for assigning position numbers as
part of a streamlined process for establishing
positions. Previously, the step of assigning new
position numbers was done by Budget & Policy Analysis.
The Budget & Policy Analysis
website
will continue to have a link called “New Position
Request” which will link to the new procedures on the HR
website.
“We’re
delighted to be able to offer ‘one-stop shopping’ to USF
departments establishing or updating positions,” said
Michael Stephens, Director of Human Resources. “Our
goal is to make life easier for our HR partners
throughout the University.”
If you
are creating a new position, upon receipt of the PAF, HR
will create the position number, classify the position,
and provide you with a competitive salary
recommendation. Staff and Administration positions will
continue to require a Position Description (PD), along
with the PAF. For Faculty position, only the PAF will
be required, and includes a “Primary Purpose of
Position” statement. Rate Reserve Positions also
require only the PAF. Once the position has been
established, your HR Classification Analyst will notify
you and you’ll be able to move forward advertising the
position, if appropriate.
You’ll find more information and the streamlined
procedures
on the HR website, along with links to the new
Position
Action Form and the updated
Position
Description.
For more information, contact your
Classification Analyst.
New Length of
Service Recognition Program
USF’s
new Length of Service recognition program features
quality, all USF-logo items from the USF Bookstore. At
the ceremonies held in each VP area, each employee
celebrating a milestone anniversary (5, 10, 15, etc.
years of service) in 2007 will receive a USF
congratulations card containing a gift certificate to
redeem at the USF Bookstore on their campus for their
choice of gift from their milestone anniversary year
selections. Employees may also choose a gift from a
milestone group that precedes their award year if they
desire. (USF Lakeland employees may redeem their gift
certificate by mail or in person on a designated day
when Bookstore personnel visit the Lakeland campus.)
“We are
excited to roll out this new program,” said Sandy
Lovins, Associate Vice President, Division of Human
Resources. “We believe that USF logo items will prove to
be more meaningful and promote a sense of pride in our
University and the work our employees have contributed
over the years. This program honors our employees and
our University and, most importantly, offers a chance
for the University to say ‘thanks!’ to our dedicated
employees.”
Employees may preview gift selections on the Length of
Service website
here
and on display at the USF Bookstore. For questions
contact Judy Lowry, HR Communications, (813) 974-5484.
Adoption Benefit Program Extended through October
31, 2007
The
application period to apply for the Adoption Benefit
Program has been extended until October 31, 2007. If
you adopted a child on or after October 1, 2000 and you
are currently a State, Public University, Community
College, School District, or Water Management District
employee, you may be eligible for adoption benefits if
your child meets certain criteria. Apply using the
application
here
or
call 850-488-8762. (The payment of
these benefits will depend on legislative funding for
fiscal year 2008-09)
Leave Available for
Victims of Domestic Violence
USF employees are eligible to take up to 3 days of leave
(prorated, based on employee’s FTE)
in a 12-month period if they (or a member of their
household) are a victim of domestic violence.
New
Florida law effective July 1, 2007 requires employers in
Florida who employ 50 or more employees, to provide this
leave. Florida is one of only a few states that require
leave to protect victims of domestic violence.
Colorado, Illinois, and North Carolina have similar
laws.
Leave
may be taken for specific activities including:
▪
seeking an injunction for protection against
domestic violence or repeat violence, dating violence,
or sexual violence;
▪
obtaining medical care or mental health counseling or both
for the employee or a family or household member to
address injuries resulting from domestic violence;
▪
obtaining services from victims services organizations such
as a domestic violence shelter or rape crisis center;
▪
making the employee's home secure from the perpetrator of
domestic violence or finding a new home to escape the
perpetrator;
▪
seeking legal assistance to address issues arising from
domestic violence or attending or preparing for court
related proceedings arising from the act of
domestic violence.
The
employee must provide advanced notice of the leave to
their employer except in cases of imminent danger to the
health or safety of the employee or their family
member.
The
employee is required to use accrued leave first. In the
event that the employee does not have sufficient leave
to cover the event, the domestic violence leave will be
unpaid.
The employer is required to keep all information
relating to leave for domestic violence confidential,
and may not take any disciplinary action against an
employee related to the use of domestic violence leave.
The full leave policy may be found on the HR website
here.
For more
information contact Rob Liddell, HR Employee Relations,
at (813) 974-5396.
2007 United Way
Campaign
USF’s 2007 United Way Campaign (Tampa Campus) runs now
through November 30th. The USF United Way Campaign
website is available for online pledges
via payroll deduction or you can print a paper form to
pledge by cash, check or credit card. For more
information contact Judy Lowry, HR Communications, (813)
974-5484 or
jlowry@admin.usf.edu
Open Enrollment for
Your 2008 Employee Benefits
Open Enrollment is that time each year when employees
can make changes to their benefits selections. Open
Enrollment for the State Group Insurance Program Plan
Year 2008 runs through 5:30 PM, Eastern Time, October
26, 2007. Below you will find more details on how
to enroll and make changes, and what has changed in USF
Employee Benefits for 2008. These are valuable benefits
for you, so be sure to take full advantage of them.
Click
here for a People First
Newsletter on Open Enrollment.
For
questions, contact a Benefits Representatives in USF HR
Services at (813) 974-2970.
Open Enrollment
Important Dates & Actions
You should have received an open
enrollment benefits package in the mail. Be sure to read
your benefits statement carefully; it will show you the
plans and coverage levels you will have beginning
January 1, 2008, if you take no action.
Password Reset
If you need to have your
password reset, call the People First Service Center
toll free at 866-663-4735. TTY users, call
866-221-0268.
How to Log In to
People First
To logon to the
People First
system, you must have your 6-digit People First
employee user ID number and your 7-digit password.
If you have never logged on before, your password
will be zero (0) followed by your birth date (e.g.,
0031262).
Type your ID in the user ID field.
Type your password in the password
field.
Click LOGON.
On your People First home page click
the “Process Benefits Elections” link.
Open Enrollment
Period: October
1—October 26. In People First you can:
Enroll in plans for the 2008 plan
year.
Change your coverage levels.
Drop coverage.
You have three ways to enroll in,
change, or cancel your benefit elections through People
First Service. (Note: the Interactive Voice Response (IVR)
system will not be available to process elections
this year. The IVR will be available only for inquiry.)
1. Online
enrollment – You can access the
online
system at any time.
2. People
First Service Center – You can speak with a Service Center
Specialist by calling 1-866-ONEHRFL (1-866-663-4735), Monday
through Friday, 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM, Eastern Time.
3. Paper
Enrollment Forms – You can request forms from a Service
Center Specialist by calling 1-866-ONEHRFL (1-866-663-4735)
or access enrollment forms online.
Correction
Period: October 29—November 9. As in years past, Benefit
Confirmation Statements will be mailed only to employees who
made election changes. Individuals will have until 5:30 PM,
Eastern Time, Friday, November 9, 2007, to make corrections to
those Confirmation Statements.
If you have
questions, call the People First Service Center at 866-663-4735
Monday-Friday 8:30 AM-5:30 PM Eastern Time, or contact a Benefits
Representatives in USF HR Services at (813) 974-2970.
Changes to Employee
Benefits for 2008
Below you’ll find
updates and changes to USF Employee Benefits for 2008.
STATE GROUP HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM
Good news --
the premium contributions for health insurance for active
employees remain the same with no increase in cost to employees
for 2008.
The TRICARE
Supplement Plan will not be offered for 2008.
Health Savings
Account
The employer
contribution continues to be up to $500 annually if enrolled
with Individual coverage and up to $1000 annually if enrolled
with Family coverage.
The total
maximum annual contribution is no longer limited to the annual
health plan deductible amount. Maximum annual total contribution
limits for 2008 are $2900 (Individual) and $5800 (Family).
For 2008,
“catch-up” contributions of up to an additional $900 are
permitted for those ages 55 and older.
Premiums will
increase for Medicare-eligible retirees enrolled in one of the
HMO plans effective December 1, 2007, for January 2008 coverage.
STATE GROUP LIFE INSURANCE PLAN
Minnesota Life
Insurance Company has replaced Prudential and will be the
carrier for coverage effective January 1, 2008. If you are
enrolled in Prudential, you will be automatically transferred to
Minnesota Life with no action on your part. However:
Benefit design
is unchanged.
Active
Employee Basic Life Insurance – Employee contribution rate is
decreasing.
Retiree Life
Insurance Premiums – For coverage effective January 1, 2008:
▪ The
premium for the $2,500 benefit will increase to $7.41.
▪ The
premium for the $10,000 benefit will decrease to $29.65.
You must
update your beneficiaries with Minnesota Life. Your current
beneficiary designation will not be valid after December 31,
2007.
Access Minnesota Life’s
web site
to make a beneficiary designation. Employees whose records have been
transmitted to Minnesota Life will do the following:
Enter their
People First ID Number
Enter their
Date of Birth
Enter the last
four digits of their social security number
Any Beneficiary
Designations forwarded to Minnesota Life in a paper format will be
maintained on file for the 1-1-08 contract effective date and then
they will be entered if the enrollee includes the proper
identification information. There will be additional file transfers
to Minnesota Life following open enrollment in November & December.
New Hires selecting an 11/1/07 or a 12/1/07 will be enrolled with
Prudential; however, their records will be transmitted to Minnesota
Life in December. If an employee does not have a People First ID
number, they will not be able to access the beneficiary form, so a
paper form will be necessary.
PRE-TAX PREMIUM WAIVER
For employees
who executed a Pre-Tax Premium Waiver Form for Plan Year 2007,
the waiver will continue to be applicable for 2008.
SUPPLEMENTAL INSURANCE PRODUCTS
Dental
Benefits.
New enrollment
tiers.
Employee Only
Employee + Spouse
Employee + Child(ren)
Employee + Spouse + Child(ren) coverage.
IMPORTANT: Employees already enrolled with
Employee + 1, Employee + 2 or more, or Family coverage will be
automatically enrolled under the Employee + Spouse + Child(ren)
coverage tier unless another election is made during open
enrollment. Be sure to review and update your enrollment selection.
Dental
HMO/Pre-Paid
Oral
Health Services will not be a carrier offered for 2008.
CompBenefits and UnitedHealthcare Dental have been added
as new contracted carriers.
Dental PPO
Oral
Health Services will not be a carrier offered for 2008.
CompBenefits is the replacement contracted carrier.
Dental
Indemnity
Ameritas has been added as a new contracted carrier.
Vision
Benefits
There
will be no supplemental vision product offered for Plan
Year 2008 during open enrollment. You may wish to review
your health insurance plan to determine vision coverage
available. You may also want to consider a flexible
spending account to cover vision care expenses for 2008.
You’ll find more information below.
Supplemental Vision Benefit Not Offered for 2008
If you have
supplemental vision coverage through CompBenefits, this information
is for you. The Florida Division of State Group Insurance will not
be offering a supplemental vision product for Plan Year 2008 during
the fall 2007 annual open enrollment period. Existing coverage will
terminate at midnight, December 31, 2007 for those enrolled through
the State Group Insurance Program under the CompBenefits VisionCare
Plan. All State Group Health Insurance Program participants are
encouraged to take advantage of vision benefits and any available
discount programs offered through their health insurance plans.
Blue Cross Blue
Shield of Florida, Inc. (BCBSF), the administrator of the State
Employees’ PPO Plan, provides for an annual eye exam from
participating providers at a cost of $40 through the BCBSF Enhanced
Vision Care program. The program also offers discounts on frames,
lenses and corrective surgeries. More information can be obtained by
going to the “BlueComplements” information sheet on the
Members website or by calling
(800) 825-2583.
The
state-contracted HMO plans cover annual eye exams as part of the
preventive benefit package. Some HMOs also offer discounts on
frames, lenses and corrective surgeries. Participants can contact
the HMOs in their area to get details on available vision care
discounts.
For questions,
contact a Benefits Representatives in USF HR Services at (813)
974-2970.
Changes to ORP and 403(b) Retirement Plans
If you participate
in the Optional Retirement Plan and/or a 403(b) Tax Sheltered
Annuity Plan with USF, this information is for you. New IRS
regulations affect transfers between 403(b) accounts.
If you participate
in USF Optional Retirement Plan (ORP), click
here to read a memo from the Florida Division of Retirement.
After September 25, 2007, transfers can only be made between five
(5) approved ORP provider companies: AIG Valic, ING USA, Jefferson
National, MetLife Investors and TIAA_CREF. A failure to comply with
the new regulations can cause serious consequences, including the
loss of the tax-qualified status for any affected retirement
account.
If you participate
in a 403(b), transfers made after September 25, 2007 may only be
made with a 403(b) provider that is a part of USF’s 403(b) plan and
with which USF has an agreement on file allowing transfers. USF is
working with the 403(b) providers on these changes. Notification
will be posted on the USF retirement web site
here once this has been put in place. The USF 403(b) provider
companies are aware of these IRS changes.
For more
information, visit the State Division of Retirement’s
website and USF’s retirement website. For questions, contact
Sonya Techton, Retirement Coordinator, HR Services, (813) 974-5718
or
stechton@admin.usf.edu
Additional Benefits Fairs This Year
Did you miss USF’s
Benefits Fair on September 18th? You can still meet and talk with
State Benefits Vendors at other State Benefits Fairs in Tampa:
For more information, contact a
Benefits Representatives in USF HR Services at (813) 974-2970.
Meeting with Your HR Benefits Representative
Over the next few months, the HR
Benefits department is anticipating a large influx of employee
traffic. To ensure the greatest level of customer satisfaction
and that all visitors are handled expeditiously, employees are urged
to schedule appointments during this busy time. HR is open
from 8 AM – 5 PM. Appointments can be scheduled during those
hours or outside of normal business hours, if necessary.
Guests without appointments may experience lengthy and extended
waits while their Benefits Representatives are busy with other
employees. To schedule an appointment with a Benefits
Representative, employees can contact Kris Dotson, HR Assistant, at
(813) 974-5487 or by visiting the Human Resources Office located in
SVC 2172. USF Health and Regional Campus employees can contact their
Benefits representatives.
Update Your Emergency Contact Information
for Hurricane Season
With hurricane
season upon us, all employees are encouraged to update their
emergency contact information via
GEMS Self Service. Please take a moment and update
your information today!
Veteran’s Preference
If you are a US
Veteran or the spouse of veteran, or responsible for hiring within
your department, the laws regarding Veteran’s Preference for
employment have changed. Effective July 1, 2007:
Preference eligibility no longer expires upon appointment of
the eligible person to a position with the state or any political
subdivision in the state.
Persons who were previously ineligible for preference because
they held or are currently holding a job with a public employer are
now eligible to use their veteran's preference again with all
employers covered by law.
Persons who were previously ineligible for preference because
they did not serve during an eligible wartime period may now be
eligible for Veteran's Preference if they served during Operation
Enduring Freedom (beginning October 7, 2001 - present) or Operation
Iraqi Freedom (beginning March 19, 2003 - present).
For each employment search, qualified veteran applicants may claim
Veteran’s Preference for applicable Staff positions. The revised
Veteran’s Preference Claim form is in the RightSearch section on the
HR Forms list.
For additional information on Veteran's Preference, including
eligibility, visit the website of the Florida Department of Veterans
Affairs
here
or contact your
HR Representative.
FICA
Tax Exemption for Student Employees
Do you employ students in your
department? According to IRS regulations, student employees are
exempt from FICA taxes if they work less than 40 hours per week and
meet the following eligibility requirements:
Undergraduate
students must be degree seeking and registered for at least 6
credit hours per semester (or enrolled for thesis credits or
have applied for graduation in their final semester) and
appointed in job code 9190 (student assistant).
Graduate
students must be degree seeking and registered for at least 5
credit hours per semester (or enrolled for thesis credits or
have applied for graduation in their final semester) and
appointed in job codes 9181, 9182, 9183, 9184, 9185, 9550 (GA
job codes) or 9190 (student assistant).
Students are subject to FICA taxes
if they are scheduled to work 40 or more hours per week in one or
multiple appointments, or if appointed to any non-student position.
Each department is responsible for
determining if a student employee has more than one appointment, and
if the student’s combined appointments will equal 40 or more hours
per week. In that case, the student will pay FICA tax on all wages
and the departments will be charged for the corresponding FICA
matching expense.
Exceptions may apply to students
who are non-resident alien (NRA) employees. Residents in the medical
professions are subject to FICA taxes. Full time employees (40 hours
per week) are not eligible for the FICA exemption. Records are
audited each pay period by University Payroll to determine continued
eligibility for the FICA exemption.
For more information, contact Todd
St. John Ona in University Payroll at 813-974-7955 or
stodd@admin.usf.edu.
Faculty Staff Appreciation Football Event
November 17th
The Faculty &
Staff Appreciation Event Tailgate Party, hosted by President
Genshaft, will be held Saturday November 17th at Raymond James
Stadium, starting 3 hours before kickoff of the USF
Bulls-Louisville Cardinals football game. At this time, the
official game time is still undecided and will be announced 7-12
days prior to the game.
As we are
expecting a sellout crowd, we are working with Athletics to
create a lottery drawing for tickets to ensure a fair
distribution of limited tickets to our employees. Specific
ticket information will be released early next week. Please
keep checking the HR website
here
where information on the Event and tickets will be posted as
soon as it is available. For more information on the game,
visit the Athletics website
here.
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