myHR: July 2, 2025

Penn’s Be in the Know Campaign Welcomes WebMD

Penn’s Be in the Know 2025-2026 annual wellness campaign has officially launched. Now powered by its new trusted WebMD platform partner, Be in the Know is available to all benefits-eligible faculty, staff, and postdocs. You’ll discover fresh programs and resources to create a step-by-step blueprint for sustainable healthy habits, stronger connections, and feeling your best. Take advantage of free wellness tools that help with getting active, eating healthy, managing stress, practicing mindfulness, and focusing on what is most important to you. This year’s campaign also introduces a simplified rewards format, making it easier to prioritize your well-being and enhance your experience.

Through Penn’s Be in the Know and WebMD partnership, you’ll find support to create a framework for a healthy routine and feel your best with WebMD’s easy-to-use platform and “Wellness At Your Side” mobile app. Register on the WebMD platform today.

Design Healthful Habits with Be in the Know, 2025-2026

• Build your best self and earn rewards, up to $300: In addition to new WebMD online offerings, you can complete popular Be in the Know activities such as a biometric screening, preventative health options, and Penn wellness activities.
• Lay the groundwork: Kick off your Be in the Know and WebMD experience by completing the Health Assessment to personalize your homepage, see tool recommendations, and receive your health report.
• Enhance progress: Use the Daily Habits tool to set your goals, track progress, and get day-to-day reminders.
• Consult with an expert: Work with a WebMD Health Coach for professional advice and planning to help you achieve any well-being goal.
• Learn and grow: Explore WebMD’s trusted wellness content, including videos, podcasts, and article—plus RethinkCare’s emotional well-being video sessions and courses available starting July 7.
• Build a healthy community: Boost wellness and connect with your colleagues through Challenges, Side Quests, and the Community board.
• Simplify tracking: Visit the Device and App Connection Center to track and upload activity with a fitness device or app.
  

Earn Rewards with Be in the Know’s Simplified 2025-2026 Campaign

Invest in your health with this year’s streamlined campaign design and rewards structure, which makes it easier to focus on your well-being. Earn points by completing wellness activities that matter the most to you – with no required “gateway” activity to start earning rewards*. For every 1,000 points you earn, you’ll receive a $50 cash incentive. It’s simple: Do what supports your health, track your progress, and get rewarded. For 2025-2026, you can earn a maximum of $300 by reaching 6,000 points – and keep going to reach 9,000 points for VIP status and special recognition!

In this campaign year, all Be in the Know cash rewards will be added to your paycheck on a quarterly basis: October 2025 and January, April, and July 2026. Visit your WebMD Rewards page to learn about this year’s healthy activities and how to earn rewards.

Download WebMD’s App for Wellness on the Go

Stay engaged in your health and well-being with Be in the Know anytime, anywhere by downloading WebMD’s app.

1. Visit the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store and search for Wellness At Your Side.
2. Download the app and enter your connection code: Penn.
3. Register and personalize your experience by answering a few questions.
   

Get started today by enrolling on the new WebMD platform! Take advantage of this opportunity to enhance your overall well-being and earn up to $300 in cash incentives. This year’s Be in the Know campaign runs through June 30, 2026. For complete details, visit www.hr.upenn.edu/beintheknow.

*All Be in the Know rewards will be cash incentives added to your paycheck, less applicable payroll taxes. Rewards will be paid on a quarterly basis (end of October 2025 and January, April, and July 2026.) 

Support for Emotional Well-being

When life presents changes and challenges that affect your emotional well-being, rest assured that Penn offers both preventative and treatment services to you, your coworkers, and your family.

Penn community members have access to a range of support resources and benefits, from webinars and workshops to behavioral health care and addiction treatment.

There are many ways to connect with help. If you’re not sure where to start, look at these services:

24/7 Support

All Penn benefits-eligible faculty and staff have 24/7 access to masters-level intake counselors through the Employee Assistance Program. The EAP offers an array of confidential counseling services to help you manage challenges. In addition to in-person counseling, options via video, text, and chat include tele-behavioral health, therapy and medication management technology.

• Call 1-866-799-2329.
• Email eapinfo@healthadvocate.com
• Visit https://www.hr.upenn.edu/eap
• Schedule an EAP appointment through Penn Cobalt

Behavioral Health Benefits

Penn’s health plans include behavioral health coverage for you and your enrolled dependents. The coverage includes counseling and psychotherapy, medication therapy and management, in-patient care, and addiction treatment.

Provider networks are listed below. Select the network link to find and contact a licensed practitioner in your network.

• Aetna Choice POS II: Coverage provided through Aetna's behavioral health network.
• Aetna High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) with a Health Savings Account (HSA): Coverage provided through Aetna's behavioral health network.
• Keystone/AmeriHealth HMO: Coverage provided through IBX Behavioral Health.
• PennCare/Personal Choice PPO: Coverage provided through Quest.

Unsure Which Provider Is Yours?

To identify which plan you are enrolled in, log in to Workday, open your profile, then select Benefits from the menu.

For more guidance, please contact the Penn Benefits Solution Center, powered by Health Advocate, at (866) 799-2329.

We encourage you to reach out at any time. For additional resources, visit MindWell at Penn.

Your Retirement Savings Mid-Year Check-in

When was the last time you reviewed your choices for the retirement savings plan? For some of us, those choices are a distant memory and may not reflect our current situation. If you have just received a change in pay or experienced some other financial modification, now is a good time to review and maybe renew your choices.

Consider your contribution amount

If you’re eligible for the Matching Plan, and if you chose to make less than a 5% contribution each pay period, do you now have the financial space to increase your contribution so you can receive the full employer match? As a reminder, Penn matches any contributions to the Matching Plan dollar-for-dollar.* Would additional contributions to the Supplemental Plan help you realize your retirement savings goal?

Create or refresh a retirement savings goal

If you don’t have a retirement savings goal, or if you do but haven’t reviewed it in a long time, TIAA retirement plan consultants are available on campus to help you create or update your plan. You can schedule an appointment at TIAA.org/schedulenow or 800-732-8353. TIAA also offers a variety of retirement calculators and financial tools on its website.

Weigh whether current investments are still appropriate for you

If you chose your retirement plan investments many years ago, is the risk level still appropriate for you now that you’re closer to retirement? Ask a TIAA retirement plan consultant to help you figure out what’s best for your current situation.

Update your name, contact information, and beneficiaries

Name changes on Penn’s system don’t automatically update at TIAA; you’ll need to contact them directly to update your name. If you’ve changed your name or contact information in the past few years, log in to your TIAA account at TIAA.org to ensure your information is current. While you’re there, check your beneficiary designations. If you need help updating your information, call the TIAA Retirement Call Center at 877-736-6738.

*Employer contributions begin in the month after the month in which a new employee is hired.

Brief Summer Hiatus for myHR

The myHR newsletter will take a short break from bi-weekly publication now through August 20. During this time, please watch for news and announcements and 3 Things to Start Your Week at www.hr.upenn.edu.

During the break, the Division of Human Resources will keep faculty and staff informed about programs and activities through direct email announcements. Human Resources may publish special myHR bulletins as needed to keep you up to date on workplace-related events and information that may arise before the start of the fall term. We look forward to resuming our regular publication schedule on August 20.

Healthy Meals: Chopped Peaches with Stovetop Granola & Yogurt

This simple dish brings together the natural sweetness of ripe peaches, the satisfying crunch of homemade granola, and the creamy tang of yogurt. You can add a sprinkle of cinnamon or a drizzle of vanilla to elevate the flavors. This summer treat is perfect for breakfast, a midday snack, or a light dessert.

Click here to send us your healthy recipes and tips.

Ingredients

• 3 peaches
• 1 tablespoon light brown sugar or coconut sugar, divided
• 1/2-3/4 teaspoon cinnamon, divided
• 1 cup rolled oats
• 1/2-1 tablespoon butter or oil of choice (coconut, olive or canola)
• 1/4 cup nut of choice (almonds, pecans, walnuts, etc.)
• 1 tablespoon maple syrup or honey
• Pinch salt
• Plain 2% Greek yogurt
• Optional mix-ins for leftover granola: ¼cup dried fruit, coconut flakes or both

Directions

1. Halve, pit, and chop peaches; place in a large bowl.
2. Mix sugar and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, then sprinkle over peaches.
   
3. Heat butter/oil in a pan over medium-high. Add oats, nuts, remaining cinnamon, salt, and maple syrup; toss to coat.
4. Cook 5–10 minutes, stirring often, until golden and fragrant. Reduce heat if it browns too fast.
5. Transfer to a bowl or sheet to cool and crisp.
6. To serve: Add 2 tablespoons peaches, 1–2 tablespoons granola, and 1–2 tablespoons yogurt to a dish –or divide into 25 cups.
7. Store extra granola with dried fruit or mix-ins; enjoy with fruit, milk, or yogurt.
   

Meet With a Registered Dietitian Today!

• One-on-one, virtual sessions you can schedule at any time that works for you
• 100% covered under many insurance plans
• Available to spouses and dependents
• Fill out the Ramp Health Nutrition Counseling Sign Up Form or call 800-484-7720.
  

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Did You Know: UPennAlert Emergency Notification System Changes

As part of a systems improvement effort, the University is changing its mass notification provider. Expect three changes starting August 5. Faculty, staff, and postdocs will manage their UPennAlert contact information in their Workday profile; until then, you may make changes as needed in the Penn Directory. UPennAlert text messages will be sent from a different short code. Also, the look of UPennAlert posting on the Public Safety website will change. For details and instructions on confirming your UPennAlert contact information, visit the Division of Public Safety UPennAlert pages.