myHR: October 16, 2013

Be Rewarded for Being in the Know!

Penn wants to reward you for being “in the know” about your health status. You can learn about your health and receive a $100 cash incentive with just a few simple steps!

Last fall, we introduced a new wellness campaign at Penn called “Be in the Know “. This program helped faculty and staff gain better insight into their current health status and showed them how to maintain or improve their health.

More than 4,200 faculty and staff participated in last year’s Be in the Know program and earned rewards (both monetary and physical) for just a few minutes of their time. It was such a success, we’re bringing it back this year—and we’re introducing some new features, to make it even more beneficial for you. All it takes are four easy steps to better health. You must be benefits-eligible to participate.

Follow these steps and receive a $100 cash incentive (less applicable payroll taxes) for participating in this year’s Be in the Know program:

Step 1: Get a biometric screening (October 28 – December 6, 2013)—Get a free, confidential biometric screening on campus between October 28 and December 6. To register for your screening, click here and choose Health Screenings from the Browse by Category section. These convenient screening sessions will be held at more than 15 locations on campus over a four-week period. The screening measures your blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol. If you prefer, you can submit results from screenings conducted by your doctor.

Step 2: Understand your numbers (October 28 – December 6, 2013)—During your private, confidential biometric screening, health educators from AreUFit Health Services will go over your results with you. They’ll help you understand what your numbers mean and how you can improve or maintain your health.

Step 3: Take an online health assessment (January – February 2014)—After your biometric screening is done, your numbers will be added into your personal, secure online Health Assessment, administered by StayWell. Starting in January, log on to StayWell’s secure website (we’ll tell you more about that in coming months), answer a series of questions about your health history, and then you’ll receive your private Health Assessment report. It will provide valuable information about your health status, potential health risks, and action planning.

Step 4: See the rewards (Spring 2014)—Get rewarded for your steps to good health! Once you’ve completed steps 1-3, you’ll receive a $100 cash incentive (less applicable payroll taxes). Look for it in your pay in the Spring of 2014. Then, explore StayWell’s health portal, where you’ll find a wealth of information and resources to keep you on the path to wellness, from healthy living articles to personal health coaching. The portal can help you identify your highest priorities and track your progress toward your goals. Stay tuned for more details about the health portal later this fall.

Participation in the Be in the Know program is voluntary and strictly confidential. All of your personal health information will be held securely and confidentially by AreUFit and StayWell, third-party agencies specializing in health management. Penn will never see any individual data. We will get a report of aggregated data only, to help us design customized health promotion and benefits programs for the campus. 

Click here for more information about the Be in the Know program.

Models of Excellence Make a Difference

Promoting “electricity literacy”. Improving out-of-school-time programming for at-risk students. Bringing the history of the Holocaust to life. Helping local public and charter school students pursue a college degree.

What do these things have to do with Penn? Each one was accomplished thanks to the amazing efforts of Penn staff members, going above and beyond the call of their daily jobs and making a significant contribution to the University’s mission. And each one was deemed worthy of recognition through the 2013 Models of Excellence program.

Since 1999, the Models of Excellence Award has recognized notable staff member accomplishments that reflect initiative, leadership, increased efficiency, and a deep commitment to service. Both individuals and teams of staff members can be nominated.

Shine a spotlight on this year’s Models of Excellence by submitting a nomination by Monday, November 11! We know our staff members do extraordinary things every day—but we need help to learn the details.

Find complete details about the nomination process, including a Models of Excellence Nomination Preparation Guide. And save the date for the 2014 award ceremony and reception for all Models of Excellence program honorees on April 3, 2014 in Irvine Auditorium. For help with nominations or for more information about the award ceremony, contact Human Resources online or at 215-898-1012.

The Voice of Leadership

The world’s greatest leaders are also some of the world’s greatest communicators—and that’s not a coincidence. How can you turn your vision and strategies into reality if you can’t inspire others to follow your lead?

Join us for a two-day workshop that can show you practical ways to strengthen your leadership communication skills. On December 10 and 11 from 9am to 5pm, AMA's The Voice of Leadership: How Leaders Inspire, Influence, and Achieve Results will help you discover practical ways to shape your leadership messages, develop an authentic leadership voice, and engage in powerful conversations that achieve results.

Your department will be charged a nominal fee of $75 for this course. Click here for more information and to register.