myHR: December 23, 2020

Guidance in Preparing for College

Is post-secondary education on the horizon for a teen or young adult in your family? Preparing for college can be an exciting and stressful time for parents and students. You have to consider the college search, tuition, applications, and campus visits, so it’s important that you find the right experts to help you navigate the process. Five workshops in the New Year led by Penn Undergraduate Admissions, MetLife, Student Financial Services and the Division of Human Resources will help benefits-eligible staff and faculty put their college-age dependents on the path to success.

Penn’s virtual workshops focused on preparing and planning for college will show parents and guardians how to make the most of a college campus visit, provide options on saving and paying for college, offer tips on applying to colleges and universities, and explore how to build a college-ready curriculum.  

Details about each of the sessions are listed below. Click on the workshop name to register today.

Navigating the Curricular Waters
January 13
12:30 p.m.-1:30 p.m.
It is time for your dependent to start picking classes for the next academic year. What recommendations and choices do they have at their school? How does course selection impact holistic and test-optional admission? Join this session to learn how to navigate these curricular waters and the admission process.

Applying to College 101
February 10
12:30 p.m.-1:30 p.m.
There are certain terms, timelines, and admissions information that you need to know to develop a college readiness guide that works for you and your college-age dependent. This session will give you the basics about applying to college whether the information is for the first or second teen in your life.

Planning for College
February 11
12 p.m.-1 p.m.
As all parents know, college has increasingly become more and more expensive, so it’s important to know all the available savings options. In this workshop, MetLife representatives will explore the following topics:

• 529 College Savings Plans
• Coverdell Education Savings and IRA Accounts and Uniform Gift/Transfers to Minors Act
• The main types of financial aid

Navigating Penn’s Tuition Benefit and Financial Aid for Your College Age Dependent
February 24
12:30 p.m.-1:30 p.m.
Staff from Penn’s Student Financial Services (SFS) and Human Resources Tuition Benefits will discuss the tuition benefit program for dependents and the financial aid process. The session will provide an overview of Penn’s two dependent child tuition benefit plans and clarify how the tuition benefit interacts with financial aid packages. This session will also offer tips for reading and comparing financial aid package components and communications with financial aid offices.

Maximizing the Campus Visit
April 28
12:30 p.m.-1:30 p.m.
Virtual or in person, the concept of information gathering about colleges and universities has changed during the pandemic. In this session, Admissions representatives will offer tips, suggestions and share resources for making the most of your college “visits” during this unprecedented time. 

Flexible Spending Account Deadlines Coming Soon 

If you participate in a Health Care Flexible Spending Account (HCFSA) or Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account (DCFSA) the deadline to incur expenses and submit claims for reimbursement from fiscal year 2020 is fast approaching. The last day to incur 2019-2020 expenses for HCFSA and DCFSA claims is December 31, 2020. The last day to submit claims for those expenses is January 31, 2021.

You can submit your claims online by logging in to the  WageWorks website and clicking the submit receipt or claim button to upload electronic copies of your receipts or Explanation of Benefits (EOBs). You can also use the WageWorks EZ receipts mobile app to manage your benefits. 

The rollover amount for Health Care FSAs has been increased from $500 to $550. If you participate in a Health Care FSA and have an unused balance below $550 on December 31, 2020, that money will be carried over for the current plan year after January 31, 2021. If you have an FSA balance above $550, you will forfeit those funds so be sure to estimate your expenses carefully. Rolling over funds does not change the maximum amount you can contribute for the following plan year.

If you have questions about your FSA or submitting a claim, call the Benefits Solution Center at Health Advocate at 1-866-799-2329.

For more information about FSAs, visit the Flexible Spending Accounts webpage.

Turn Complex Tasks into Successful Projects

Every team wants to execute successfully on stated goals and objectives, but without a solid plan to guide your efforts, your projects can go off the rails. In today’s work environment, complex tasks and initiatives are more common than ever. By using strategic planning skills, you can set your team up for success. Learn how to create strategies that will improve your results and strengthen your organization at the Fundamentals of Strategic Planning virtual workshop January 26, 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Strategic planning is a process of moving an organization forward toward a shared vision, through agreed-upon goals and objectives. In the workshop, participants will learn to identify the foundation for creating a strategic team, discover strategic values, participate in strategic planning efforts and avoid common pitfalls that derail strategic plans.

Workshop facilitator Bryant Kuehner says strategic planning is important because it helps organizations realize their purpose, identify where they want to go, and a create roadmap for getting there.

“Teams who don’t plan strategically are not future-focused or self-evaluative. They are not fully aware of the strengths and weaknesses that may help or hinder their efforts and they cannot recognize potential opportunities or threats in their environment that could impact their success,” says Kuehner, Training & Development Consultant, Talent Development.

“A team without a strategy is like a ship without sails, just drifting around aimlessly hoping to end up somewhere meaningful,” he says.

The workshop will cover eight basic steps of strategic planning:

1. Develop a shared vision.
2. Analyze the situation.
3. Create a strategic agenda.
4. Establish measurable goals.
5. Establish a strategic action plan.
6. Assign responsibilities and timelines.
7. Write and communicate an action plan.
8. Acknowledge completion and celebrate success.

This session also includes a pre-work module that will prepare participants for the discussion. The module isn’t required in order to finish the course; however, participants are encouraged to complete it as it provides foundational information that will not be covered in the workshop. The module takes about an hour and you can access it on Knowledge Link. 

Register today for the Fundamentals of Strategic Planning workshop and gather the information and resources you need to help create successful projects and teams.

For more professional development opportunities, visit the Learn and Grown section of the Human Resources website.

Changes Coming to Virgin Pulse Platform

When Be in the Know participants log into the Virgin Pulse website in the New Year, they will see a slightly different navigation at the top of the page. Virgin Pulse, Penn’s online wellness partner, has revamped its navigation to consolidate topics, take you where you want to go faster, and improve the overall user experience. 

Starting January 1, 2021, the top navigation will display four main domains instead of six. These four domains are: Home, Health, Programs, and Social. The Profile logo menu will continue to appear on the right of the screen and display the same options that currently exist.

Here is a breakdown of the topics under the new domains:

Mobile users will see a change when using the Virgin Pulse App. When using your smartphone (Apple or Android), you will see navigation at the bottom of the screen that displays the new domains and the Profile logo. When you click on a domain, the domain landing page will open displaying a sub navigation area with options for each feature in that domain. For example, if you click on “Health,” you will find “Coaching,” “My Care Checklist,” and “Health Risk Assessment.” The remainder of the landing page will show content relating to the features in that domain.

Both mobile and desktop users will also be able to quickly find programs using a simple search feature, save favorite programs, see associated rewards, and view detailed program descriptions.

An important page for Be in the Know participants is the “Rewards” page, now under the “Home” tab. All qualifying campaign activities are listed on the “Rewards” page. You’ll also find trackers that tally your current total points and Pulse Cash earned, and let you know how much in Pulse Cash is available to redeem.

The “Social” tab also offers valuable options to connect with your colleagues and the Penn community, especially in today’s virtual world. You’ll find a variety of challenges to help you focus on an area of well-being, the “Friends” and “Group” options for social connections, and more.

Under the “Health” tab you can browse various topics such as eating healthy and reducing stress, and you can connect with a coach to help you stay motivated. You will also find Journeys, which are daily, self-guided courses to encourage you to build healthy habits. 

Adjusting to the platform changes may be a challenge for some, so Virgin Pulse has built in an option for mobile users only to toggle between the old and new platform until March 31, 2021. If you are a new user, you will automatically see the new navigation. If you are a current Virgin Pulse member, when using the app, you will be able to try the new navigation or revert to the old experience. Just go to app settings within the Virgin Pulse app. Find “Enable New Navigation” at the bottom of the screen and toggle to the right if you want to use the new navigation or to the left to continue using the old navigation. 

If you still have questions, the Penn Healthy You team will provide access to another live demonstration of the Virgin Pulse wellness platform on January 12, 2021 from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. Virgin Pulse Client Success Manager Emma Doyle will discuss the new navigation changes as part of the demo so that you can optimize your Be in the Know experience. Register today for the Virgin Pulse webinar.

Virgin Pulse Web support is available at https://join.virginpulse.com/penn. Virgin Pulse Member Services is available by phone 1-855-920-2290 and live chat Monday-Friday, 2am-9pm, EST.

For more information about the 2020-2021 Be in the Know campaign, visit www.hr.upenn.edu/beintheknow.

Public Health Emergency Leave Extended for Temps

If you are a temporary worker and need to request time off for a public health emergency like COVID-19, Penn has news for you. The University is extending coverage for temporary employees under Paid Emergency Public Health Leave (PHEL) from December 31, 2020 to February 28, 2021. While the City of Philadelphia has yet to confirm its plans to grant an extension beyond its original deadline, Penn will provide an additional two months of coverage for temporary staff. 

PHEL is an amendment to the Promoting Healthy Families and Workplace Ordinance that provides two weeks of paid leave for workers who declare a public health emergency. Prior to this amendment, Penn has allowed full-time and part-time employees to adjust their sick time up to 80 hours for illness or other need for an absence related to the pandemic. During the time the ordinance is in effect, Penn temporary staff are also eligible for two weeks of paid emergency public health leave.

Penn-paid temporary employees who have worked at least 40 hours at any time during the preceding 12 months, and who are unable to work their schedules due to a COVID-19 related incident, may use up to two weeks or 80 hours of PHEL for their absence. The amount of PHEL available to a temp is intended to be consistent with the number of hours the employee regularly works during a two-week period.

A temporary worker may use PHEL for one of the following reasons: 

1. Care for self or family member advised to self-isolate by a healthcare provider;
2. Care for self or family member with symptoms related to COVID-19 and seeking a medical diagnosis; 
Care for self or family member during federal, state, or local quarantine or isolation order related to COVID-19; and 

3. Caring for a child whose school or childcare center has been closed or whose childcare provider is unavailable due to COVID-19. 

Temporary workers needing PHEL should request time off in Workday. When requesting time off related to COVID-19, select PHEL Sick instead of choosing sick leave.

This benefit is in addition to sick time granted to temps under the Temporary Staff on Penn’s Payroll (Extra Persons) policy.

Healthy Meals: Roasted Squash Farro Salad

This chewy, nutty roasted squash farro salad adds flavor, texture, and festive color to your holiday meals. Mixed greens are topped with a bright and tasty blend of pomegranate seeds, squash, sliced apples, and farro. Top with a homemade Tahini dressing.

Find the recipe here.

Click hereto send us your healthy recipes and tips

Did You Know: Human Resources Special Winter Vacation Hours

The Division of Human Resources will be closed Thursday, December 24, 2020 through Tuesday, January 5, 2021 during Penn’s Special Winter Vacation. However, many of our resources such as the Employee Assistance Program and Care.com Backup Care will still be available. Check the hours on our website.