Employee Benefits

As you may be aware, this is USF’s big “benefits” time of the year!  As a result, the next few months will be filled with important benefit events and timelines of interest to all employees.  The annual Benefits Fair is coming up on Tuesday, September 18^th (with Educational Sessions with benefit vendors on Monday, September 17^th).  Open Enrollment begins on October 1^st.  More details are below.

Benefits Fair Tuesday September 18, with Educational Session Monday September 17

The annual USF Benefits Fair will be held from 9 AM to 4 PM on Tuesday September 18^th at the Gibbons Alumni Center on the Tampa Campus.  State and other benefits providers plus USF Benefits Representatives will be available to talk with employees about benefits.  There will be door prizes, free health screenings, complimentary chair massages, along with representatives from USF departments and local vendors who provide services to USF employees.  A free shuttle will run continuously on Tuesday between ADM and the Alumni Center from 9-4.  (Parking is limited at the Alumni Center, with no parking on the grass.)

Benefits Educational Sessions will run Monday September 17, in two tracks, from 8:30 AM to 2:30 PM.  Breakfast and Lunch sessions require reservations in advance.  The Educational Sessions are also at the Alumni Center, in the Alumni Association Board Room or USF Ambassador’s Room, as noted.

8:30-9:30 AM                 BREAKFAST  Gabor Agency  “Protecting Your Estate with Long Term Care Insurance”  RSVP to Shane Isaac shanei@gaboragency.com or call 813-263-9107.  (Alumni Association Board Room)

10-11 AM                      Mass Mutual “403b Tax Sheltered Annuities – Don’t Wait, Participate” (Alumni Association Board Room)

10:30-11:30 AM             AvMed “AvMed Health Insurance Plan” (USF Ambassador’s Room)

12-1 PM                        LUNCH  AIG Valic.  “Introducing the Roth 403b”  RSVP to Judy Stokes at 813-269-3379.  (Alumni Association Board Room)

1:30-2:30 PM                 AvMed  “AvMed Health Insurance Plan”  (USF Ambassador’s Room)

For more information contact Judy Lowry, HR Communications & Marketing Officer, at 813-974-5484.

Fall 2007 Benefits Open Enrollment Period

Open Enrollment is that time each year when employees can make changes to their benefits selections.  The 2007 Open Enrollment for State Group Insurance Program Plan Year 2008 will take place from 8:30 AM, October 1, 2007 through 5:30 PM, Eastern Time, October 26, 2007.  Employee Benefit Statements will be mailed to employee home addresses beginning September 17, 2007.  The People First Service Center will be available to respond to inquiries regarding Open Enrollment on September 24, 2007.  The Service Center staff will be able to provide information and assistance in preparation for Open Enrollment at that time.  They will not be available to accept Open Enrollment elections or changes until October 1, 2007.

Beginning October 1, 2007 employees will have three ways to enroll in, change, or cancel their benefit elections through People First Service.  The Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system will not be used to process elections this year.  The IVR will be available only for inquiry.

Online enrollment – You can access the online system at https://peoplefirst.myflorida.com any time.

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.

Paper Enrollment Forms – You can request forms from a Service Center Specialist by

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. 

For questions, contact HR Benefits at 974-2970.

GEMS 8.9 Upgrade

Are you a GEMS user?  On Thursday, September 13, 2007 at 5 PM GEMS will go offline and the cutover for the GEMS 8.9 upgrade will begin.  The upgrade is anticipated to take four days to complete.  GEMS will come back up on Tuesday September 18 at 8 AM.  While the changes you’ll see will be minimal, the upgraded version will provide GEMS users with some new features and an updated appearance. There are substantial benefits behind the scenes for USF, including improved reporting and enhanced functionality, but most of the changes are in the background and won’t affect the end user.

Want to know what’s new and different about GEMS 8.9?  You’ll find a quick, interactive online training here.  For more information and a link to all GEMS training, visit the GEMS website.

GEMS Upgrade – Saving Your Favorites

If you use GEMS and have a list of “My Favorites” saved on your GEMS menu, be sure to print it out before the GEMS upgrade cutover on September 13, so you can quickly recreate your list of favorites after the upgrade.  For more help with this topic, see the online training Saving Your Favorites.

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:

1. Preference eligibility no longer expires upon appointment of the eligible person to a position with the state or any political subdivision in the state.

2. 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.

3. 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).

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.

Faculty Staff Appreciation Football Event November 17th

President Genshaft has announced that the next Faculty Staff Appreciation Football Event will be held Saturday November 17^th in conjunction with the USF Bulls-Louisville Cardinals football game.  Ticket information and additional details will be released later this month, so keep watching for more information on this unBULLievable event to celebrate the USF employees!

New Faces in HR

Beverly Douglas is the new HR Manager at USF Health HR, managing the day to day operations of the office.  She has a bachelor's degree from UF, an MBA from USF, and over 8 years of HR experience, including working as a consultant with local governments.

Dana West has joined the HR Operations Team as a Sr. HRIS Analyst.  Dana is the primary project representative and system analyst supporting GEMS for the HR Division and the point of contact for all GEMS system functionality, error reports, IT work requests, business requirements, testing and implementation coordination.  Dana is a USF graduate with two Bachelors Degrees in History and Political Science.   She has expertise in business analysis, design, development, testing and implementation as well as process improvement and has lead several HR systems product upgrades.

Ahad Diba and Beverlyn Samuels have joined the Employment Center as HR Recruiters. 

Both Ahad and Beverlyn will be instrumental in broadening HR’s recruiting services throughout the University and help raise USF’s profile as an employer of choice within the local Tampa Bay business arena.  Ahad has more than ten years of experience in employment, recruitment and selection.  He has demonstrated expertise in cultivating strategic partnerships with local businesses and community agencies to help place job seekers with local employers.   He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Literature and Sociology and a Master’s in Political Science and International Relations.   As a seasoned HR Manager, Beverlyn has more than 10 years of experience in full cycle recruitment and employment in both the public and private sectors.  She has a proven track record of establishing successful strategic partnerships with local employers.   Beverlyn holds a Bachelor’s degree in Interior Design.