myHR Archives

myHR: January 7, 2015

It's a New Year, Do You Know Who Your Beneficiaries Are?

stock-photo-36594362-parents-and-child-in-winter Who depends on you the most? What are the causes closest to your heart? Maybe you rang in the Near Year with them or sent them a tax-deductible donation for 2014. These are the people and organizations who should benefit from your life insurance policies or receive money from your retirement plan account if you aren’t around to use it. This year, be sure these important people are named as beneficiaries in your life insurance and retirement plan records just in case.

While choosing your beneficiaries takes serious thought, it only takes minutes to check your beneficiary designations and make sure they are up to date. Simply download this check list to make sure you have everything you need to get started and get finished!

If you’ve been putting off this task, you’re not alone. But by properly designating beneficiaries, you can rest assured that the people and organizations you care about will receive the right portion of money. Plus, you’ll avoid adding financial difficulties to the burden of their personal loss. If you don’t designate beneficiaries, your retirement plan or insurance policy money may get tied up or be distributed in ways you don’t want. Even after your loved ones receive their money, they may end up paying higher taxes on it than if you had named them properly in the first place.

They’re Worth It
It takes a little effort to make sure that your beneficiaries are on file with your life insurance and retirement plan providers, but it will pay off in peace of mind and the proper distribution of money to your loved ones.

For additional guidance on life insurance issues, contact the Penn Benefits Center at 1-888-PENNBEN (1-888-736-6236), Monday through Friday, 8am to 6m EST. For retirement planning assistance, contact Penn’s Retirement Call Center at 1-877-PENN-RET (1-877-736-6738), Monday through Friday, 8am to 5pm EST.

You can also receive free financial and legal counseling through Penn’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP). EAP is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-888-321-4433.

Resolutions and Your Career

iStock_000041599086small This is the time of the year when many of us make resolutions to do better, to be better. Some resolutions are about changing a bad habit, like quitting smoking. Others are about creating a positive habit, like going to the gym or being kinder to others. As you consider where to focus your efforts in 2015, Penn’s Learning and Education staff encourages you think about resolutions you can set for your career.

Why set a career resolution? The same reasons you resolve to make improvements in other parts of your life: to be positive and proactive. Think of it as preventative maintenance. You take preventative measures to ensure your health is strong or that your car runs efficiently. Shouldn’t you give your career the same care and consideration so that it can take you where you want to go?

Last month, Learning and Education held the Your Career@Penn conference, which featured presentations focused on making sure you are in control of your career. The key take away was that you can no longer expect someone else to guide your career for you – you have to be in the driver’s seat of your career.

One way to be in the driver’s seat is to take time for professional development. Learning and Education offers a variety of sessions and courses that can help you no matter where you are in your career. If you’re ready to move up, consider our leadership programs STEP UP or Essentials of Management. STEP UP is a pre-supervisory training program designed for motivated individuals who aspire to be supervisors or managers. The next program begins February 11 and seats are filling fast, so register online soon. If you’re a new manager, consider Essentials of Management, which can help you develop the knowledge and skills to effectively manage people. Learn more about Essentials of Management here.

Other opportunities to check out this month include:

Brown Bags

Communicating Your Value by Factoring Your Skills, (January 14)
Achieving Exemplary Staff Recognition (January 20)

Other Sessions

Communicating Up, Down and Across the Organization (January 28 – 29) See the article in this issue for more information.
Professional Networking – Growing Your Career and Business (January 30)

So set your career resolution, and visit KnowledgeLink today to reserve your spot in a class that will help you do better and be better. See you soon!

Holly Marrone,on behalf of HR Learning and Education
Holly is a Senior Training and Development Consultant in HR Learning and Education.

Communicate to Connect and Influence

iStock_000053808920Large You don’t have to be a gifted orator to present your
ideas or influence others. Using effective communication methods can help you be successful whether you’re talking to the boss or a group of colleagues.

If you want to learn how to better connect with
audiences and convey your ideas, register for the American Management Association’s “Communicating Up, Down and Across the Organization.” This two-day course will help you develop confidence as a communicator and understand how to target messages based on your audience and goals. You’ll also get tools and techniques to help you effectively influence decision makers and make an impact on your organization. Over the two days, you’ll learn how to build trust and rapport, analyze audiences, and create messages that speak to listeners’ hearts and minds. You’ll also get practice with various group presentation formats, including communicating a plan of action, motivating others and building a business case.

“Communicating Up, Down and Across the Organization” is set for January 28 and 29, from 9am to 5 pm in Penn’s Learning and Education Classroom at 3624 Market Street. Advanced registration is required and space is limited, so register online now. Your department will be charged $75 for the course when you register.

For more information on upcoming classes, workshops and other educational opportunities, visit the Learning and Development website.

Did You Know?

Through Penn’s Employee Assistance Program, you have access to a free, 30-minute legal consultation with a qualified legal professional, as well as referrals to local attorneys. Call 1-888-321-4433 or visit the Worklife Resources portal to schedule your consultation.