myHR: September 18, 2024

Register for Be in the Know On-Campus Biometric Screenings

Penn’s annual Be in the Know wellness campaign is available for all benefits-eligible faculty, staff, and postdoctoral researchers and fellows eligible for the Penn Postdoc Benefits Plan. It provides an array of wellness tools, programs, resources, and rewards to support your health and feel your best – including options for a biometric screening.

The Penn Healthy You team is pleased to offer free biometric screenings at convenient University locations October 8 through November 26. Complete a screening to earn $75 in Pulse cash rewards.

Sign up for your appointment online at the Health Advocate website using your PennKey and password. Click the HEALTH tab at the top, then Health Screenings. Look for Schedule an Onsite Health Screening – click Schedule Now. Select your preferred location and follow the steps to schedule your appointment. You will receive an email from Health Advocate confirming your appointment.

What You’ll Learn at the Biometric Screening

Quick, convenient, and confidential biometric screenings provide key indicators about your health status. Your privacy is strictly protected. Penn will never know your individual screening results, health assessment answers, or personal health goals.

At these non-fasting, on-campus biometric screenings, Health Advocate personnel will measure your:

• Blood pressure
• Lipids, including total, HDL, and LDL cholesterol and triglycerides
• Blood sugar/glucose

Be in the Know Rewards Start with Your Biometric Screening

A biometric screening is the perfect kickoff to Be in the Know and the only required activity to receive any earned Pulse Cash rewards for the 2024-2025 campaign year, which runs July 1, 2024-June 30, 2025. Once your on-campus screening has been completed, Health Advocate will automatically send credit to the Virgin Pulse wellness platform – and you’ll earn $75 in Pulse Cash rewards! Please allow a few weeks for screening credit and Pulse Cash rewards to appear on Virgin Pulse.

Beyond a biometric screening, complete other qualifying "Ways to Earn 2024-2025" wellness activities to earn up to an additional $225 Pulse Cash rewards – for a total of $300 Pulse Cash rewards this year! Redeem your earned Pulse Cash on the Virgin Pulse platform Rewards page, choosing from gift cards, wellness items, and charitable donations.

Not enrolled on the Virgin Pulse platform? Get started at https://join.virginpulse.com/penn.

More Biometric Screening Options

If you are unable to make an on-campus biometric screening, there are additional no-cost, convenient options available to learn valuable health information and earn biometric screening credit. Review the Biometric Screening Options 2024-2025 flyer for details. 

For complete details about the 2024-2025 Be in the Know wellness campaign, visit www.hr.upenn.edu/beintheknow.

*Per IRS guidelines, all Be in the Know rewards are subject to applicable payroll taxes at the time they are earned and rewarded to participants - even if rewards have not yet been redeemed (i.e., spent). Penn will process taxes on any earned rewards through participants’ paychecks on a quarterly basis (October 2024 and January, April, and July 2025.)

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Fall Retirement Readiness Information Sessions

Are you considering retirement soon? To help you prepare for the next phase of your life, Penn will host a series of live Thinking About Retirement webinars on October 10, 15, and 31 from 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. ET. To register for the presentations, just click on session titles below or visit www.hr.upenn.edu/thinkretirement.

The three different Thinking About Retirement sessions are specially designed for Penn staff and faculty. Each 90-minute presentation covers an important aspect of retirement benefits:

Penn Retiree Benefits & Medicare, October 10, 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.

5 Steps to Creating Your Retirement Income Plan, October 15, 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Social Security Benefits Planning, October 31, 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.

At the Penn Retiree Benefits & Medicare session, representatives from the Health Advocate and Benefits specialists from Human Resources, will explain the Rule of 75, retiree healthcare options, and how they integrate with Medicare.

During the 5 Steps to Creating your Retirement Income Plan session, a TIAA retirement plan counselor will discuss such topics as budgeting in retirement, income options, and investments to help you get the most out of your 403(b) plan.

The Social Security Benefits Planning session, led by a TIAA representative, provides valuable details about how this program impacts your plans for retirement. You will also get an overview of Social Security benefits, eligibility rules, how to apply, benefits for your spouse, and more.

Each session will include time for Q&A, and benefits specialists will be available via chat to answer general questions.

For more information about retirement, visit the Retiree Benefits webpage.

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Communicating Effectively with Email

Are you sending emails full of jargon? Do you have trouble writing emails that communicate clearly and get attention? If you answered yes to either of these questions, register for the Writing Emails that Get to the Point workshop on November 12 from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.

In this free, virtual workshop program managers will discuss effective email writing. From understanding your audience to crafting straightforward and professional prose, Writing Emails that Get to the Point will equip you with the tools to navigate the digital landscape with confidence.

Whether you’ve been writing emails for decades or you’ve been direct messaging since grade school, Writing Emails that Get to the Point can help you get the most out of this familiar communications tool.

If you love email, hate it, or you’re just indifferent, strengthening your email writing skills will save time, increase understanding, and improve your relationships with your coworkers. 

Register today for this engaging session and learn how to quickly create powerful messages with your specific audience and goals in mind. 

For more information about Penn’s Talent Development programs, visit the Learn and Grow webpages on the HR website.

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Healthy Meals: Chicken Lime Bowl

This EatingWell recipe will introduce you to delicious and easy-to-make burrito bowls at home. Skip takeout and have  healthy meals to pack for work throughout the week.

Click here to send us your healthy recipes and tips.

Ingredients

• 1 cup cooked quinoa
• 1 cup cooked brown rice
• 1 pound cooked Chili-Lime Chicken
• 1 cup julienned jicama
• 1 cup frozen corn, thawed
• 1 cup pico de gallo
• 1 avocado, diced
• 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
• Lime wedges
• Hot sauce, such as Cholula

Directions

1. Combine quinoa and rice; divide among 4 single-serving containers with lids. Top with chicken, jicama, corn, pico de gallo and cilantro, dividing evenly. Seal the containers and refrigerate for up to 4 days. Serve with diced avocado, lime wedges, and hot sauce.

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.
  

Did You Know: Penn Friends and Family Day on September 28

Penn will host its 30th Friends and Family Day celebration on Saturday, September 28. Faculty, staff, postdocs, and their friends and family are invited to Shoemaker Green and Franklin Field for games, sports, ice skating, cultural activities, and more. You can order up to four free tickets per person for the Lunch and Tailgate Party and the football game. Additional tickets are $8 each. Please order tickets at the Penn Athletics website by September 23. For additional information, please contact the Ticket Office at (215) 898-6151.