myHR: March 28, 2012

Benefits Open Enrollment is Almost Here!

Benefits Open Enrollment is less than two weeks away—and now's your chance to prepare.

The 2012–2013 Open Enrollment period will run from Monday, April 9–Friday, April 20. We're making several enhancements to our benefits for the new plan year, including changes to our medical, prescription, dental, vision and life insurance plans as well as our flexible spending accounts. Some of these changes may impact you even if you keep the same coverage for the new plan year.

Be sure to take advantage of the many tools to help you make the right health care elections for you and your family. Attend an Open Enrollment presentation for more information.

Or swing by the Open Enrollment and Health Fair on April 10 at Houston Hall. Take advantage of free health screenings and wellness information, and visit with representatives from Penn's health care providers to learn about our full array of health care benefits. You can also meet with health care representatives at the Open Enrollment Fair on April 11 at the New Bolton Center. Click here for complete details on our Open Enrollment Fairs.

For more information on Benefits Open Enrollment, including plan rates, comparison charts and instructions on how to enroll, visit the Open Enrollment website.

The Total Reward of Working at Penn

As part of the Penn family, you're surrounded by people with unique backgrounds and experiences. That diversity is one reason this is such a remarkable place to work. It's also why we offer a wide variety of programs and benefits—because each of you has your own needs, interests and goals.

Each year, we provide full-time faculty and staff with personalized Total Compensation Summaries to help you see the full picture of what Penn provides you. Salary is the most evident piece of your total compensation, but there's so much more. Penn offers generous retirement benefits, valuable educational benefits and comprehensive health and insurance options. You can also take advantage of many other benefits such as health promotion and wellness services, disability benefits and discount programs.

To view and/or print your 2011 Total Compensation Summary, click here.

Eat, Drink and Be Healthy at Penn

Fruits and vegetables are at the top of Donna Shuler's daily menu. She also hits the gym at least three days a week—whether it's taking a yoga class or working up a sweat while spinning—and makes it a point to walk on campus as often as she can.

Donna isn't a personal trainer or fitness guru. But she is one of the hundreds of Penn employees taking on the Penn Wellness Challenge.

"Health and wellness is really important to me, and the Penn Wellness Challenge keeps me on track with my goals," said Shuler, an administrative coordinator for Penn's International Relations Program.

The eight-week program, which began in February, helps you make small changes to your lifestyle that'll have a big impact on your health over time. Participants tackle a different challenge each week, like eating a healthy breakfast, trying new exercise activities or tracking how many fruits and vegetables you eat. By the end of the program, you'll have added dozens of new, healthy behaviors to your daily routine.

For Donna, that means keeping a closer eye on her calorie intake, drinking more water, and adding more strength-training to her workout routine.

"When you write down how much you eat, drink and exercise each day, you tend to think twice about it," she said.

And Donna would argue the payoff is worth it. Now in her sixth week of the program, she sees a big difference in her health.

"I'm sleeping better, I feel more refreshed, and it's become easier to maintain my weight," she said.

Want to see how the Penn Wellness Challenge can benefit you? Click here for complete details. Or take advantage of the many wellness programs at Penn to help you live a healthy lifestyle.

10 Ways to Make Your Boss Your Biggest Fan

In order to be successful in the workplace, it helps to have your supervisor on your side. But how do you guarantee your manager will support you for the long haul? We'll tell you!

In honor of Administrative Professionals Day on April 25, come learn 10 Tips to Make Your Boss Your Biggest Fan. We'll teach you how to make your supervisor's agenda your agenda and how to get (and stay) on the same team as your boss. By the end of the workshop, you'll be armed with the knowledge you need to have a positive and productive relationship with your manager.

For complete details and to register, click here.

Making Elder Care Easier

Being a caregiver isn't always easy. Whether you're supporting an aging parent or caring for another elderly family member, you may hit some financial and emotional roadblocks from time to time. But knowing how to navigate the system can make things a lot easier—and we'll tell you how!

Join us on April 12 for a free workshop on Easing the Financial Challenges of Elder Care. You'll learn the ins and outs of wills, power of attorney and advance directives. We'll also give you an overview of long-term care insurance and housing and property issues so you're better equipped to provide care for your loved ones.

For complete details and to register, click here.