myHR: April 11, 2012

Benefits Open Enrollment Ends April 20

Don't wait until the last minute to choose your benefits for the 2012–2013 plan year. Open Enrollment ends on Friday, April 20. That means you have just over one week to make changes to your health care elections for the new plan year.

Remember to take a look at the benefits enhancements we're making for the 2012–2013 plan year since some of these changes may impact you even if you keep the same coverage. Any changes made during Open Enrollment will be effective as of July 1, 2012.

If you need help choosing a medical plan that's right for you, take advantage of our medical plan cost estimator tool. It'll make it easier for you to select healthcare coverage that works best for you and your family.

To update your benefits coverage, simply use the online enrollment system. If you don't have Internet access or are having problems enrolling online, contact the Penn Benefits Center at 1–888–PENN–BEN (1–888–736–6236) from 8am–6pm, Monday–Friday.

Inspire Your Child with a Day of Fun and Learning at Penn

Bring your child to Penn for a day of education and exploration! Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day will be held on Thursday, April 26. Registration begins on April 16.

We'll inspire your kids with over a dozen learning activities, like how to make your own book, what it takes to be a millionaire, and an insider's look at law enforcement careers. Your child can even go on a scavenger hunt through the University Museum, be a dentist for a day, or conduct science experiments with the Society of Women Engineers.

You can also plan activities on your own to celebrate this special day with your kids. Click here for a list of ideas.

Pre-registration is required for this event. Click here for complete details, including a schedule of activities and important guidelines for the day.

Become a First-Class Communicator

Poor communication usually happens when people are unwilling to say exactly what they mean or get clarification of other people's intent. But with the right tools, you can easily overcome these obstacles—and we'll show you how!

Join us on May 2 for an in-depth look at Workplace Communication Skills. You'll learn the ins and outs of assertive communication and how to give (and receive) constructive criticism. We'll also teach you how to politely question people when something isn't clear.

Ready to amp up your workplace communication skills? Click here for complete details and to register.

A New Way to Quit Smoking

Are you fed up with trying—and failing—to quit smoking? Kicking the smoking habit can be difficult, especially when it seems like you've tried every strategy and still can't say goodbye to nicotine. But we have a new approach to help you kick the habit for good.

Join us on April 17 for a workshop on Smoking Cessation: Holistic Strategies for Making Small but Powerful Changes. You'll learn how to be more conscious of common triggers related to smoking and take a closer look at the connection between smoking and stress. You'll also have the opportunity to participate in a guided meditation that'll help you reduce stress and visualize yourself as a non-smoker. You'll leave this workshop with a better understanding of your own smoking habits and specific strategies to make small but powerful changes to your lifestyle.

You're welcome to bring a lunch to this free workshop. Click here for complete details and to register.

Celebrating Excellence at Penn

Penn staff members do amazing things every day, and it's time to honor some of the most impressive achievements from the past year. Join us for the 2012 Models of Excellence Awards Ceremony as we do just that!

The Models of Excellence Program celebrates staff members who make significant contributions to the University. This year's honorees—22 Models of Excellence honorees, 3 Model Supervisor finalists and a team of 28 Commitment to Excellence honorees—were chosen for various accomplishments that reflect creativity, initiative, leadership, collaboration and a deep commitment to service.

The achievements being honored include developing a new resource to support Penn's global initiatives, coordinating a sellout museum exhibit in a matter of weeks and standing out as top supervisors on a campus of over 20,000 employees. Click here to learn more.

Be sure to join us on April 24 from 4pm–6pm in Irvine Auditorium as we celebrate these accomplishments—and the people who made them possible—at the Models of Excellence Awards Ceremony and Reception. To RSVP, contact Human Resources at QOWL@hr.upenn.edu or 215-898-1012.