myHR: May 18, 2022

Rack Up Your Be in the Know Points Soon

Before you know it, Penn’s Be in the Know 2021-2022 campaign year will come to a close. In the six remaining weeks, there’s still time for you to participate and earn up to $300* in rewards with wellness partner Virgin Pulse, plus a special recognition opportunity as a VIP.

The current campaign year continues through June 30 with opportunities to experience wellness programs, learn more about your health, participate in well-being challenges, and strive to feel your best. However, certain activities require you to act before the campaign year-end date to make sure they are completed and counted in time to add to your total points and reach the next reward level.

As you rack up points and enjoy Be in the Know activities that support your well-being, here are some important campaign details and deadlines to remember.

All 2021–2022 Be in the Know campaign activities must be completed by June 30, 2022.

This includes:

Completing the Health Check—the online health assessment from Virgin Pulse (the only required activity to receive any earned rewards this year). Once you complete the online health check, you’ll earn your first $50 and be able to earn additional rewards!

Completing other qualifying “Ways to Earn” activities — from a biometric screening to Bonus Actions – to earn additional points. As points accumulate, you earn rewards at certain point thresholds:

• Reach 5,000 total points → Earn another $50 (Level 1 reward)
• Reach 15,000 total points → Earn another $75 (Level 2 reward)
• Reach 30,000 total points → Earn another $125 (Level 3 reward)
• Reach 50,000 total points → Earn VIP recognition (Level 4 reward) Note: completion of a biometric screening is required for VIP achievement.

Biometric Screening Due Dates

If you wish to complete a biometric screening this year, LabCorp test vouchers and home test kits are available through the Virgin Pulse platform. To download your free voucher or request a kit, go to the Programs tab, look under Your Programs, then select the Biometric Screenings option. Be sure to take note of the special screening deadlines coming up weeks before the end of June.

LabCorp Voucher Program: Vouchers must be used by June 15, 2022.

Home Test Kit: Kits must be ordered by June 1, 2022. Completed home tests must be shipped to LabCorp, postmarked June 15, 2022.

Points and “Pulse Cash” rewards earned this campaign year (July 1, 2021–June 30, 2022):

Points earned this year will not roll over into next year. Your points balance will reset at zero on July 1, 2022.

Pulse Cash rewards earned this year but not redeemed by June 30 will roll over and be available next campaign year.

Be in the Know VIPs Notification

All confirmed Be in the Know VIPs for the 2021–2022 campaign year will be notified by Virgin Pulse email in early August 2022. This year’s VIPs will earn special recognition for achieving Level 4 reward and completing a biometric screening.

Get Ready for Be in the Know 2022-2023!

Penn will launch the 2022–2023 Be in the Know campaign year on July 1, 2022. The Human Resources Penn Healthy You team plans to bring back on-campus biometric screenings as a priority activity next year, plus continue to offer an array of options to support your overall well-being. Watch the Be in the Know web pages and your email inbox for upcoming details.

To access the Virgin Pulse wellness platform, sign in at https://join.virginpulse.com/penn.

If you have questions, please contact the Virgin Pulse Member Services Team using the green Live Chat button on the right side of the platform. You can also call Member Services at 1-855-920-2290, Monday-Friday, 8am-9pm ET.

*All Be in the Know rewards are subject to applicable payroll taxes at the time they are earned. Penn will process taxes on any earned rewards through participants’ paychecks on a quarterly basis. The final taxation cycle for the 2021–2022 campaign year will take place in July 2022, for activity completed between April 1 and June 30, 2022. All impacted participants will receive an email alert from Virgin Pulse, prior to taxes being processed. Please note that earned rewards can be redeemed in various methods, through the Virgin Pulse platform.

A Campus COVID-19 Protocol Reminder

Now that the indoor mask requirement has been lifted, except for healthcare spaces and on Penn Transit, you may be wondering whether to continue using PennOpen Pass. Though a Green Pass may not be required for entry into all campus buildings, staff and faculty should continue to use the daily symptom tracker every day. 

PennOpen Pass is designed to reduce the risk of COVID-19 spreading within the Penn community and continues to be a useful tool in the early detection of the virus by:

Identifying individuals whose health may be at risk or may pose health risks to others,

Supporting those individuals to receive assistance, which may include COVID-19 testing, self-isolation, contact tracing, medical care, and

Monitoring trends related to COVID-19 to enable timely allocation of resources for campus health and safety.

For a refresher on how PennOpen Pass works, answers to frequently asked questions, the privacy policy, and other resources visit the PennOpen Pass website.

All staff, faculty, post-docs, and students are also required to receive a booster vaccination. Staff, faculty, and post-docs should upload their booster documentation into Workday. You can view the Self-Service: Enter Vaccine Information tip sheet for step-by-step instructions. If you are not boosted, you are required to test twice weekly.

For more information about booster shots, visit the Vaccinations website. 

Campus Cycling Celebrations

Whether you want to save money at the gas pump or pump up your activity level, cycling to work makes more sense now than ever before. Penn celebrates bike commuting in many ways, from Be in the Know rewards to the return of the annual campus Bike to Work Day and Share the Road event this Friday.

Gear Up for Wellness

Eligible Penn faculty and staff can also earn up to 2,250 Be in the Know 2021-2022 points for biking to work regularly. Log in to the Virgin Pulse wellness portal, click my rewards, then select Bike to Work in the Participation section to see important requirements and submit your attestation forms before June 30, 2022.

Bike to Work Day Is Back

After a two-year absence, Penn’s Bike to Work Day returns to the University Friday, May 20 from 7:30 am to 9:30 am. During this event, Penn bicyclists are invited to stop by the Energizer Station near the Penn Museum Indego Bike Share Station at the corner of 33rd and South Streets to learn about various bike resources found on Penn’s campus.

Faculty and staff who pedal over to the Friday morning Penn’s Bike to Work Day event can:

• Learn how to use the Penn Bus bike rack;
• Register your bike for free with the Division of Public Safety (DPS);
• Obtain information about Penn Transportation and Parking’s Bike Commuter Expense Reimbursement Program; and
• Explore campus bike maps that pinpoint the locations of bike corrals and bike repair stations on campus.

Bike to Work Day at Penn is a collaboration between the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia, Penn’s Divisions of Business Services, Facilities and Real Estate Services, and Public Safety; Penn Museum, and Student Health Service. These participating organizations will offer giveaways, such as snacks and beverages, along with bike lights to the first 50 Bike to Work Day participants. There will even be chances to win cool bike gear! More event details are available at https://bicyclecoalition.org/events/bike-to-work-wherever-day-2022/.

Safety for All Commuters

All commuters can appreciate Penn’s Share the Road event, where DPS and their partners will connect with the Penn community, answer questions and provide support and resources about sharing the road. Walk, pedal, or roll to 36th and Walnut Streets (in front of the Penn Bookstore) on May 20 from 10 am to 12 pm for educational material, giveaways, and a raffle to encourage everyone to travel safely and to be courteous and respectful of their neighbors on the roads and sidewalks.

For more information about bicycle safety and the wellness rewards of cycling and outdoor activities, check out these webpages:

• Bicycle, Motor Vehicle, and Pedestrian Safety Information — Division of Public Safety
• Bike Your Way to Better Health — Health Advocate
• Exercise for Focus, Moods and More — Health Advocate Blog
• Summer Exercise: What to Know — Health Advocate Blog

Visit the Wellness and Work-life pages for more well-being resources.

Healthy Meals: Lemony Linguine with Spring Vegetables

Health Advocate Blog calls this recipe a one-pot wonder. In just 30 minutes, you can enjoy whole-wheat pasta in a silky, zesty sauce. Spinach, peas, and artichokes--from the garden or the freezer--add springtime flavor and nutrients to this easy dish. The spinach alone contains dozens of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Parmesan cheese makes Lemony Linguine a satisfying lunch or dinner for all seasons.

Find the recipe here.

Click here to send us your healthy recipes and tips.

For more tips and nutrition support, meet with a Corporate Wellness Nutrition Registered Dietitian today!

• One-on-One, virtual sessions you can schedule at any time that works for you
• 100% covered under many insurance plans and available to spouses and dependents
• Simple Sign Up Process — Visit Penn’s Corporate Wellness Nutrition’s Sign Up page, provide your information and a customer service team member will reach out in 1-2 business days to book your appointment.

Did You Know: Connecting with Coworkers Drawing

We’ve extended our Connecting with Coworkers drawing. You still have the opportunity to let us know what you do to strengthen friendships with other Penn professionals by completing this quick questionnaire before May 25 at 11:59 p.m. EST. Selected entries will be published in an upcoming issue of myHR. One Penn faculty or staff member’s entry will be selected at random to receive a gift package provided by Business Services and Shop Penn.