The Resource

In This Issue

Events
SafeCampus
Career Development
WorkLife
Wellness
Home Loan Program
Retirement Planning
Community

Published: May 8, 2013

Compensation at the University of Washington goes beyond salary. The UW offers a vast range of benefits—from the traditional to those offered by other premier employers to those that are truly unique to working at the UW. The Resource—UWHR's e-newsletter—keeps you informed of all of these offerings so that you can make the most out of your UW employment.

Events  
 
 

Bike to Campus Events
It's not too late to join in the fun with other bike commuters and cyclers participating in “Bike to Campus.” Transportation Services and UW bikespace are sponsoring these fun events: “Bike to Work Day” on May 17, UW Trail Party on May 23, Adobe's Commute Challenge including prize giveaways, and the following UW bikespace classes and webinars:

  • Rules of the Road (May 14)
  • Fix-A-Flat Lab (May 21)
  • Basics of Bike Camping and Touring (May 28)

Access event information and registration at the Bike to Campus website.

 

UW Night with the Mariners
Tickets are available now for the UW Alumni Association’s annual UW Night with the Mariners on July 12 when the Ms host the LA Angels. The UWAA has discounted seats for UW alumni, faculty, staff, and friends, and a portion of every ticket sold goes toward UW student scholarship programs. All attendees receive a free UW Night with the Mariners tote at the game!

When: Friday, July 12, 7:10 p.m.
Where: Safeco Field
Cost: $20 view level (normally $23), $35 main level (normally $40)

To purchase tickets, visit the UWAA site.

SafeCampus  
 
 

Special Training: How to Respond to an Active Shooter Situation on Campus
Even though active shooter situations are rare, knowing how to react could mean the difference between safety and serious physical injury. Join UW Police and the Violence Prevention & Response Program for this special session on Wednesday, May 22, at 10 a.m. in the UW Tower Auditorium. Register for this session by visiting our website, www.uw.edu/safecampus.

   

Helping Those Affected by Sexual Violence
If someone close to you discloses that he or she has been the victim of sexual violence, there are many ways you can help. Start by listening to and believing the person. Acts of sexual violence take away power from those affected. Empowering a victim to make choices about where and how to seek help, engagement with law enforcement or student conduct officials, and measures to stay safe give victims back control. Other ways to help are:

  • Call 911 if you or someone else is in danger or needs emergency medical help.
  • If the victim wants specialized medical services, Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANE) nurses are located at Harborview Medical Center.
  • Contact SafeCampus at 206-685-SAFE (7233) for information on campus and community resources.
  • Encourage the victim to discuss safety planning and reporting options with UW Victim Advocate Natalie Dolci. Natalie is available at 206-543-9337 or dolcin@uw.edu.
Career Development  
 
 

Professional & Organizational Development (POD) courses are open to all UW employees, subject to supervisor/budgetary approval and UW’s release time policy. Please view our policy page for additional information.

 

Aiming for a Sunnier Outlook this Spring?
This spring, POD is offering two different classes to help you retool your approach and put a more positive spin on challenges you may face at work and at home. Learned Optimism: Understanding Your Explanatory Style examines your personal explanatory style—how you explain events to yourself—and the impact that has on you and those around you. Turning Negative Emotions Into Positive Outcomes focuses on dealing with others’ negative statements and behaviors, as well as your own responses to frustrations and anxieties, and banishing negative thinking. View upcoming spring classes.

 

Designing the End-User Experience
This one-day course introduces experience storyboarding, an approach that organizes the service experience for students, patients, donors, clients, or other recipients of your department’s services. Learn how to provide your end-users with optimum value by delivering experiences that are more personal, meaningful, and memorable. Access course information and registration.

 

Spring Webinars are in Full Bloom
April showers are behind us, and May and June are bursting with POD Webinars. Spring offerings include Accomplishing More With Less, Microsoft Excel Techniques, Microsoft Visio Techniques, and Emerging Collaboration Technologies: Blogs, Wikis, SharePoint, and More! To optimize learning, these dynamic live webinars include advance distribution of the slides via email and a link to a recording of the webinar afterward. Access webinar listings and registration.

 

"Spring Clean" Your Career through One-on-One Counseling
Is it time to dust off your résumé and toss out your old ideas about your career? Training and Organizational Development Consultant Susan Templeton can help you polish your job-search and interviewing skills, unearth your unique skillset, and add some sparkle to your success and satisfaction at work. Sessions are $95 per one-hour session if paid with a UW budget number (with supervisor approval) or $109.82 if paid with cash, check, or credit card (due to a mandatory institutional overhead fee). Learn more about this service

WorkLife  
 
 

Tips to Get Active at Work
This month, UW CareLink offers tips for changing your attitude toward active living. Instead of thinking of ways to organize your day around fitness, try building physical activity into your existing tasks. For instance:

  • Park at the far end of the parking lot
  • Take the stairs
  • Find a daily errand that you can walk or ride your bike to
   

Staying Fit at Work Webinar
As working adults, staying fit can be a challenge. Adding a little more exercise to your daily routine can have great health benefits. However, between duties at work and obligations at home, it’s hard to find the time. Our tools and information can help you find ways to get your heart pumping no matter how busy your schedule. Learn tips to add exercise and healthy eating to your workday with “Staying Fit at Work,” UW CareLink’s one-hour webinar, on May 21 at 9:00 and 11:00 a.m. PST.

In order to participate in the webinar you must pre-register at least one hour before the presentation. Go to apshelplink.com (use UW as company code) and visit the “Online Seminars” section. Select the presentation and then register by clicking on the first or second session option.

Remember that UWellness provides services, activities, programs, and groups within the University of Washington that support your health and wellbeing.

   

Dealing with People who are Difficult Workshop
Whether we are at work, home, or school, we will clash with people who are unreasonable, who do not agree with our ideas, or who challenge us. While many individuals we work with may be quite pleasant, others can be extremely difficult. In some instances, the situation may escalate into disruptive behavior. This session looks at how to stay composed, defuse situations, and effectively manage these challenging relationships. Wednesday, May 22, 12:00-1 p.m., UW Tower Auditorium. Feel free to bring your lunch.

   

Reminder: Back-up Care is Here for You!
The Bright Horizons Back-Up Care Advantage Program© is available to all UW faculty, staff, and students for use when your regular caregiver is unavailable, you are transitioning back to work after leave, or your child's regular school is closed. Bright Horizons has numerous centers in the area ready to provide for your needs and, in some instances, care can be reserved up to one month in advance.

Pre-register now so you can easily take advantage of this service when you need it at www.backup.brighthorizons.com. The username is UnivWA and the password is 4Backup.

Once you’re registered, you may find back-up care by logging into your Bright Horizons account or calling 877-242-2737. Be prepared to show your current UW Husky card at time of drop-off. The cost is $100 per day, paid by the UW faculty, staff, or student.

Wellness  
 
 

Step Aboard the Mammovan
Women ages 40 years and older know it's not always easy to find time to get a routine mammogram to screen for breast cancer. Thanks to the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance (SCCA) mobile mammography service, now there's a faster and more convenient way to get it done. Step aboard the "MammoVan" that will be parked near the UW Tower between 12th Avenue NE and NE 43rd Street on June 26. Schedule your appointment today!

Note: Women 40+ who are enrolled in a Uniform Medical or Group Health plan are allowed one free mammogram screening per calendar year when seeing an in-network provider like SCCA. Because it's covered at 100% and not subject to the medical deductible, you pay nothing.

 

Weight Watchers Online for Men
Here’s a plan that’s customized for men and can be followed completely online. You’ll get the Weight Watchers 360-degree program, packed with solid strategies to help you stay on plan in any situation and reach your weight-loss goals. Learn more about this plan.

Weight Watchers is a UWellness partner, helping you manage your weight, be well, and lead a healthier life. Check out Weight Watchers at Work.

 

Smokers: Do You Have a Quit Date?
Anyone who has tried to quit tobacco on their own knows it can be a hard-fought battle. But did you know that quitting tobacco is much more likely to be successful when supported by a smoking cessation program? As a state employee, your medical plan allows you to have free access to the personalized “Quit for Life” plan. Don’t wait! Learn more about smoking cessation programs.

Home Loan Program  
 
 

Homeownership Brown Bag Seminars
Our Hometown Home Loan Program offers the following free seminars to UW faculty and staff:

  • Refinancing & Using Home Equity: When is the right time to refinance a home? Learn the advantages of using cash from your home, how to consolidate or avoid consumer debt, and how to distinguish the difference between a home equity loan and line of credit. Register to attend on May 14 at Seattle’s UW Tower or on May 16 at UW Bothell.
  • Sell Your Home in Today’s Market: Once your home is ship-shape, you’ll want to assemble your sales team and learn pricing strategies, determine which fixes to make, and what special tricks make great first impressions to potential buyers. Register to attend on June 18 at Seattle’s UW Tower or on July 25 at South Lake Union.
  • Buying a Home: Ready to buy a home? Be sure you understand the mortgage application process&starting with pre-qualifications all the way through home inspections and appraisals. Register to attend on June 20 at Health Sciences or on August 20 at Seattle’s UW Tower.
  • Home Remodeling and Renovation: Thinking of selling your home? Find out what improvements add value to your home, how to start and manage a construction project, and whether to do it yourself or hire a contractor. Register to attend on July 16 at Seattle’s UW Tower.

Access event information and registration at the HomeStreet site.

   

Homeownership: Dream to Reality
The Hometown Home Loan Program can help make your dream of homeownership a reality. Schedule a free, private, half-hour, one-on-one counseling appointment with a HomeStreet Affinity Loan Officer to discuss your homeownership options. Spouses, partners, and anyone else who might be on the loan are welcome to attend with you. HomeStreet is scheduled to visit various campus locations: Seattle, Bothell, Tacoma, South Lake Union, Harborview, and Health Sciences. View schedule and register for an appointment now.

Retirement Planning  
 
 

UWRP/VIP Brown Bag Seminar
Do you have questions for the Fund Review Committee (FRC) of the UW Retirement Plan and Voluntary Investment Program? Please join members of the FRC and an investment consultant from Hewitt EnnisKnupp on Wednesday, May 29, 12:30 – 2:00 p.m. in Turner Auditorium (D-209), Health Sciences Building, for a market update; discussion of trends in higher education 403(b) retirement plans; and an open forum for your questions. No registration is required.

   

Help With Changing Needs
As your life grows and evolves, your financial needs may change, too. Fidelity can help guide you along the path to—and through—retirement offering education, insight, and answers to your top questions, now and at every stage of your life.

  • Starting out: In the first ten years of your career, time is on your side. Make the right moves with your money—right from the start.
  • Life events: While you're focusing on the details that events like changing jobs or having children involve, Fidelity can help guide you through key financial transitions.
  • Building wealth: When you have your retirement savings strategy in place and your debt under control, it may be time to create a plan to help build lifetime financial security and save for multiple goals.
  • Getting ready to retire: Retire on your own terms—get guidance to help you create a better retirement strategy.

No matter where you are in life, Fidelity can provide guidance, tools, and services to help you prepare for retirement on your terms. Read more about changing needs, or contact Fidelity directly at 800-642-7131.

   

Preparing to Retire?
If you’re thinking of retiring within the next 12 months, consider attending a preparing-to-retire workshop to gather information aimed at a sound retirement strategy. The following workshops are free and based on your current retirement plan and/or eligibility:

  • Retiring from UW Retirement Plan (UWRP)
  • Retiring from Public Employee Retirement System (PERS)

Access workshop information and free registration.

Remember, you must apply for PEBB retiree benefits (or deferral of your insurance) within 60 days after UW-paid or COBRA coverage ends. If you miss that deadline, you’ll have to go back to work to re-qualify for PEBB retiree coverage.

Community  
 
 

Interested in Volunteering? UW Combined Fund Drive is a Great Way to Give Back!
Although the fall UW Combined Fund Drive campaign is a few months away, recruitment for campaign coordinators has begun. More than 300 volunteers worked on last year’s award-winning, record-breaking campaign raising more than $2 million for charitable nonprofits around the globe. You can help make a difference this fall by volunteering to serve as your department’s campaign coordinator.

Organizing a fundraising campaign is rewarding, fun, and a great way to meet new people. Lorna Hamill, UWCFD volunteer from UWTV, explains what she likes most about serving as a coordinator: “I've been having a blast meeting people I didn't know before my involvement with UWCFD. I'm proud to be able to represent my department and help people find an organization they can support.” Contact your supervisor or the UW Combined Fund Drive office if you’d like to volunteer for the UW Combined Fund Drive campaign.

 

Spruce Up Your Car
Get your car ready for spring and summer travel! See how your U-PASS qualifies you to receive merchant discounts on items like auto parts, auto repair, tires, headlights, taillights, fog lights, and more. View a list of “Car Services" merchants at UW Commuter Services. View even more discounts at UW Discount Program.

   

Your Story Needed for Employee Recruitment
Why did you choose to work at UW? Perhaps because it's your alma mater. Maybe you heard from friends, like Kerri Everly did, about how great a place it is to work. It could be the hands-on research opportunities. Or, like A.J. Hartman, perhaps you chose UW because of its impact on the community. If you’re passionate about your job and willing to let us share your experience with prospective employees via social media, tell us your story.

 

Take a Break
As graduation looms it’s time to get your art on with the UW’s graduating art students. From May 14-24 students from the Center for Digital Arts and Experimental Media will show their work at the Jacob Lawrence Gallery. Gallery hours are normally Wednesday-Saturday, 12:00-4:00 p.m.

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