myHR: November 2, 2022

Penn Holds COVID-19 Booster Clinic

As staff, faculty, and students continue to readjust to working and learning on campus, it is important to stay up to date with the COVID-19 vaccine to help keep our campus and surrounding communities healthy and safe. That’s why Penn is holding a COVID-19 booster clinic on November 3 and 4 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Pottruck Health and Fitness Center, 3701 Walnut Street.

The entire University community and their families (16 years of age and older) can receive the Pfizer mRNA bivalent COVID-19 booster free of charge. To attend the clinic you must register and schedule an appointment. You must create an account prior to scheduling your appointment. For more information about the booster clinic, visit the Penn Cares COVID-19 Response website.

If you are unable to attend Penn’s booster clinic, you can find appointments for the mRNA bivalent COVID-19 booster at local pharmacies by visiting www.vaccines.gov.

The CDC recommends that people ages 5 years and older receive one updated (bivalent) booster if it has been at least two months since their last COVID-19 vaccine dose, whether that was their final primary series dose or an original (monovalent) booster. This new booster enhances the immune system’s response against both the original coronavirus strain and the newer omicron strains.

In addition to getting your booster, please continue to follow the University’s COVID-19 Public Health Guidance regarding testing on campus, isolation, masking, and what to do if you feel ill.

Other respiratory illnesses typically become more common in the fall and winter months, so remember to practice good hand and cough hygiene: wash your hands frequently and well for at least 20 seconds and use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol content, cough into your elbow instead of your hand, and wear a mask if you’re not feeling well.

As an additional layer of protection, get a flu shot. Faculty and staff who are enrolled in one of Penn’s health plans can get the flu vaccine at their local CVS pharmacy with no copay using their CVS Caremark card. If you have not yet received your flu shot, you can find available appointments at local pharmacies by visiting www.vaccines.gov. For more information about the upcoming flu season, visit www.cdc.gov/flu.

Opportunities to Build Your Retirement Savings

The IRS recently announced changes to retirement plan contribution limits and income limits for the Saver’s Credit. These record-high increases could give you an opportunity to save more for your retirement. Over time, even a slight increase in saving can make a significant difference in your investments, especially if you start soon.

The IRS contribution limit for 403(b) retirement plans will increase to $22,500 per person for 2023. If you are age 50 and over, you may make additional catch-up contributions up to $30,000 next year. The Annual Compensation limit for 403(b) plans will increase to $330,000 for 2022.

For traditional and Roth IRAs, the limit for annual contributions remains $6,500 per person. If you are at least 50 years old or turn 50 at any time in 2022, the limit is $7,500.

The 2023 income limits for the Saver's Credit (also known as the Retirement Savings Contributions Credit) are $73,000 for married couples filing jointly, up from $68,000; $54,750 for heads of household, up from $51,000; and $36,500 for singles and married individuals filing separately, up from $34,000.

For help determining the right weekly or monthly contribution amount to maximize your savings, visit the plan contributions web page or contact the Retirement Call Center at 1-877-PENN-RET (1-877-736-6738).

To review your Penn retirement savings plans, enroll, or make changes, sign on at Penn’s TIAA.org portal.

Staff Performance Review Process is Here

The staff performance review process has launched in Workday. As of November 1, eligible staff and their managers can use Workday to document past performance, assess current accomplishments, and plan for future goals. Using Workday for performance management builds on previous human resource processes to support staff talent development, grow our impact on Penn’s mission, and continue the momentum of facilitating ongoing conversations between employees and managers.

As you prepare to conduct your mid-year performance reviews, here is what you need to know:

• The mid-year performance review process is an opportunity for you and your manager to discuss goals and performance between May 1 and October 31, 2022, a six-month period.
• The review launch date is November 1 and completion date is January 27. Your school, center, or your department may have intermediate deadlines.
• All eligible staff received a Workday notification on November 1 to start their self-evaluation. Staff will also receive periodic reminders to complete the review process steps. Those staff who are covered by collective bargaining agreements, Penn Medicine clinicians, residents, interns, and staff who are on long-term disability as of November 1, are non-participants. Your school or center will determine if new staff hires, who are in the middle of their introductory periods, will go forward with their mid-year reviews.
• After the direct report completes the self-evaluation, the manager will receive a Workday notification to provide the manager evaluation which will be available to the direct report after the manager submits it. Managers and employees should discuss the mid-year review content. Each must acknowledge in Workday they have had this conversation.
• All reviews are completed in Workday, the University’s single system of record for human capital management.
• Help text is available throughout the process. A tip sheet with detailed  instructions, an overview of the process, and video resources are available on the Workday website.
• A short video in Knowledge Link is available to help you step through the process.

If you have any questions, please contact your manager, the HR representative in your school or center, or the Penn Employee Solution Center at solutioncenter@upenn.edu or by calling 215-898-7372.

Meet the Pet Parade

In the October 19 myHR, we invited fellow faculty and staff members to a virtual pet parade inspired by President Magill’s inauguration weekend walk with her dog, Olive. This Work and Family Month call recognizes the contribution our animal friends and family make to our work-life equation. Now, thanks to myHR readers, you can meet dozens of loveable Penn community creatures and learn how they support our well-being on www.hr.upenn.edu/petparade.

Reader response was so inspiring that our Work-life team selected four entries at random for the gift drawing instead of one. The pets’ caretakers will receive gift bags courtesy of Human Resources, the Division of Business Services, and Shop at Penn.

Prancer, Dasher, Cupid, and Vixen
presented by Elizabeth Featherman

Willie
presented by Therese Marmion

Tchoupitolous (a.k.a. Chop)
presented by Randy Kitchens

The aquarium team of Ethel, Lucy, Jack, Will, Elizabeth, Galaxy, Comet, Nebula, Eclipse, Sharky, Bruce, Lily, and Magnolia
presented by Emily Romanello

In our virtual pet parade, every creature is Best in Show.

Visit our work-life and wellness resources pages for more information on self-care, caregiving, and well-being support.

Connecting at the Campus Job and Career Fair

The University and Penn Medicine welcome local job seekers to attend a job and career fair on November 7 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Houston Hall’s Hall of Flags. Representatives from Facilities and Real Estate Services, the Division of Public Safety, Information Systems and Computing, the Provost Center, the Division of Business Services, Penn Vet, Penn Dental Medicine, and other areas will be there to interview job applicants for an array of entry- and mid-level positions. To register, apply to this special Workday job fair posting.

This on-campus recruiting event gives applicants the opportunity to meet face-to-face with hiring managers across Penn and University of Pennsylvania Health System to learn more about their departments and the positions available.

The Workday job fair posting highlights dozens of job openings for professionals in public safety, engineering, customer service, business systems, veterinary care, operations and maintenance, and more.

For a complete list of University job postings, visit Careers@Penn.

Accurate Numbers Count for Your Dependents

Dependents are a number 1 priority, so make sure their Social Security numbers are correct in Penn’s benefits records. To check the accuracy of your dependents’ records for this calendar year, log into Workday and verify your dependents’ Social Security numbers before December 31, 2022.

For tax reporting purposes, including the 1095-C form, Penn needs accurate dependent Social Security numbers. The IRS 1095-C form mailed to certain benefits-eligible faculty and staff includes information about the health insurance coverage offered to you by Penn and information for each of your family members enrolled under a Penn benefits plan. Blank or incorrect Social Security numbers for dependents may potentially affect their receiving a COBRA health coverage packet when they turn age 26, as well as the accuracy of your 1095-C form.

If you have questions, contact the Benefits Solution Center at 866-799-2329.

Only 8 More Be in the Know Biometric Screenings

Free on-campus biometric screenings are available through November 22. Register now on the Penn Health Advocate portal and be on your way to earning your first $50 for Penn’s Be in the Know 2022-2023 wellness campaign.

Only eight more screenings remain, including the last fall appointments in Houston Hall on November 10 and the November 14 screening at Morris Arboretum. Download the updated screenings schedule or visit the Penn Health Advocate portal to select appointments by location.

Don’t miss your chance to complete a free, convenient, and confidential on-campus screening this fall and learn critical health values, including blood pressure, total and HDL cholesterol, and blood sugar/glucose levels.

Please bring your PennCard or University ID card with photo to your biometric screening appointment.

Rewards Start with Your Biometric Screening

Penn’s Be in the Know wellness campaign, open to all benefits-eligible faculty and staff, is not only your opportunity to focus on your health and connect with the Penn community; you can also earn rewards of up to $300.

For the total Be in the Know experience, be sure to get a biometric screening on campus, or take advantage of other biometric screening options. The biometric screening is the only activity required to receive rewards for the points you earn between July 1, 2022 and June 30, 2023.

Once you complete your biometric screening, you earn $50 in Pulse Cash rewards redeemable on the Virgin Pulse wellness platform. Plus, you will qualify to earn an additional $250 when you complete your choice of qualifying well-being activities to reach higher point levels and move closer to your wellness goals. See the 2022-2023 Be in the Know Ways to Earn list for all qualifying activities.

For complete Be in the Know details, visit www.hr.upenn.edu/beintheknow.

Healthy Meals: Quick and Easy Energy Bites

These quick and easy balls of energy are a healthy way to start your morning and a great alternative to your regular caffeinated drink. Vitamin-filled and naturally sweetened, these no-bake oatmeal bites make a great grab and go snack. They are also freezer friendly, so you can store them for weeks and take them out when you and the family are ready for a tasty treat. 

Click here to send us your healthy recipes and tips.

Ingredients:

½ cup old fashioned oats

½ cup of quick cooking oats

¼ cup almond butter

¼ cup honey

¼ cup raisins

¼ cup chopped pecans

¼ cup toasted coconut

½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

dash of salt, optional

½ teaspoon vanilla, optional

Instructions:

Add all ingredients in a medium bowl and stir to combine. The mixture should be a bit sticky.

Place in the refrigerator for 15-30 minutes. Use a spoon or cookie scoop to put about a tablespoon of the cookie ball mixture into your hand and roll into a ball. Repeat with the remaining mixture to get roughly 12 oatmeal energy bites. Store in an air-tight container in the fridge for up to a week (or freeze for up to 3 months).

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.

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Did You Know: Models of Excellence Nominations Deadline Extended

Penn’s Models of Excellence Award program celebrates the extraordinary achievements of full- and part-time staff across the University's schools and centers. Now is your chance to nominate your coworkers for campus-wide recognition. All nomination materials are due by November 11, 2022. Download this year's brochure for general information or visit www.hr.upenn.edu/models.