November 14, 2005

• Open Enrollment for Benefits Continues
• New Payroll Deductions for 2006
• Health Fair a Success
• United Way Campaign Video Available
• HR Development

Open Enrollment for Benefits Continues

It’s time to choose the benefits that will be in effect for you and your eligible dependents for calendar year 2006.

Open enrollment for benefits began Nov. 1, and all employees should review their benefits and make changes as needed by Nov. 30. If you do not want to make any changes in your medical, dental or vision insurance elections, no action is necessary. However, you must take action if you want to participate in BamaFlex for 2006.

For the coming year, several changes have been made to premiums and plan provisions for medical insurance and BamaFlex. No provision changes were made to the vision or dental insurance plans. However, MetLife is now the service provider for dental insurance, and those premiums will decrease. Employees will receive new dental identification cards in the mail.

Also, the federal government has issued a ruling which will allow BamaFlex participants to have a grace period of two and a half months after each plan year. So, even though 2005 BamaFlex deductions will stop in December 2005, this extension will allow current BamaFlex participants to incur expenses until March 15, 2006, and claim those expenses from their 2005 BamaFlex plan. Participants will have three months after March 15, 2006, until June 15, 2006, to submit claims against their 2005 deductions for the BamaFlex plan. Even those who are currently enrolled in BamaFlex must complete a new election form to continue in 2006.

Group meetings have been scheduled to provide detailed information about the changes in BamaFlex and the medical, dental and vision plans. The meetings will be held in G-54 Rose Administration Building as follows:

Friday, Nov. 18 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Monday, Nov. 28 4 p.m.

To enroll or make changes you must return completed forms to the Human Resources Service Center by Wednesday, Nov. 30. Faxed forms will not be accepted. Please contact the service center if you have any questions or concerns. Information and forms may be obtained online at: http://www.bama.ua.edu/~hr/benefits, by visiting the HR Service Center (G-69 Rose Administration Building), or by calling the HR Service Center at 348-7732.

New Payroll Deductions for 2006

Health Fair a Success

Approximately 1,250 people attended the 10th Annual UA Employee Health Fair held Oct. 19 at the UA Recreation Center’s south gymnasium.

The grand door prize winner of a free, one-year single membership to the University Recreation Center was John Burroughs, manager of Web development for financial affairs. Burroughs donated blood and served as a volunteer.

Approximately 40 volunteers helped with the fair, including several members of the Professional Staff Assembly, The University of Alabama Retirees Association, the UA department of human resources, the UA coaching staff, and other campus departments.

United Way Campaign Video Available

The University’s United Way campaign concludes on Dec. 7 and campus wide participation is needed. To learn more about the importance of supporting the United Way, employees may watch a brief streaming video about the impact made on our communities by United Way.

For a Windows version (.wmv) of the video, please visit mms://web2.ua-net.ua.edu/united_way2.wmv. For a Quicktime version (.mov) of the video, visit http://frcsecure.ua.edu/webctstreaming/webctmovie.axp?webct_movie_name=united_way. For more information about the campaign, contact Dr. Pruitt, vice president for community affairs, at 348-8376.

HR Development

To register for a class contact Bridget Busby at 348-9700 or bbusby@fa.ua.edu
To access class descriptions and view the training schedule visit:http://bama.ua.edu/~hr/st-dev/index.htm

NEW EMPLOYEE ORIENTATION AND BENEFITS ENROLLMENT

• New employees must attend orientation as soon as possible after beginning employment.
• Current employees with a status change should attend orientation as soon as possible following the date of their change of status.
• Please contact HRD at 348-9700 or email Bridget Busby at bbusby@fa.ua.edu to register for your New Employee Orientation session.

Upcoming Orientation Session Dates
Nov. 21-22
Dec. 5-6

PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT and PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

First Level Supervision Series – Teresa Faulkner, HRD
Nov. 21-22, 1 p.m.-4:30 p.m.
The Management Project – Course Modules for Fall 2005
Performance Management and Development , Nov. 14 and 17
Customer Service and Quality Principles, Dec. 1
Collaborative Work Environments, Dec. 8 and 9
The Professional Development Series – Course Modules for Fall 2005
The “Business of Work”, Nov. 30
Teamwork and Partnerships, Dec. 13

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

E-Course for Windows, Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Access – HRD
Dec. 14-16, 1:30-4:30 p.m.

Word
Nov. 15-16

UA POLICY AND PROCEDURE

On-line Purchasing System Procedures – Susan Petty and Judy Voss, UA Purchasing
Dec. 7, 9 a.m.-11 a.m.

Independent Contractor Procedures – Michelle L’Etang – Financial Accounting
Nov. 29, 9 a.m.-11 a.m.

UA Home | Dialog Extra | UA News | Faculty/Staff Links | Legislative Updates

Copyright © 2005 The University of Alabama | Text Only | Disclaimer | Contact: webmaster@ur.ua.edu