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Reminder: Benefits Open Enrollment ends October 31

Published on October 27, 2015 by MSU Human ResourcesLeave a comment

Benefits_OE_Masthead_purple_web — Enjoy Halloween knowing you have completed Open Enrollment!

You have had the month of October to look over and sign up for benefits options. Benefits Open Enrollment ends Saturday, October 31. You will not be able to change most plan options for the 2016 after this date.

To complete Open Enrollment, log in to the EBS Portal. Read all you need to know about Open Enrollment in our 2016 guide, which includes cost of benefits, coverage summaries, new and important information this year and details about the various plans and benefits options offered through MSU.

If you have not enrolled, now is the time! Many important decisions about health insurance, dental insurance, flexible spending accounts and much more need to be made before October 31. It’s also important that you complete the Health Care Affidavit to ensure 2016 coverage for your spouse or Other Eligible Individual.

If you have questions, please do not hesitate to contact the HR Solutions Center. This team is prepared to help faculty and staff during the Open Enrollment period. Email your questions to SolutionsCenter@hr.msu.edu or call 517-353-4434. Computer help is available through Friday from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. each day in the Nisbet Building.

Reminder: Upcoming award nomination deadlines

Published on October 22, 2015 by MSU Human ResourcesLeave a comment

Every weekday, thousands of MSU employees come to work to maintain and improve the university’s top tier programs, athletics, services and more. The following two awards recognize the stand-out individuals who go above and beyond in their work.Continue Reading… Reminder: Upcoming award nomination deadlines

National Retirement Security Week

Published on October 21, 2015 by MSU Human ResourcesLeave a comment

Man standing at laptop computer with paper documents — It’s estimated that retired households spend about 80% of what working households spend. Photo courtesy of TIAA-CREF.

Retirement may be late in the future, but the time to save for it is now. This week, formerly known as National Save for Retirement Week, is an important reminder to assess your savings progress. Are you where you should be?

Retirement vendor TIAA-CREF has prepared a checklist that details all of the important tasks you can complete this week to help secure your retirement.

Planning for retirement involves making a variety of important decisions early on about investment options, portfolio assets, amount of monthly contributions, beneficiaries and much more. Making the right decisions now will determine your security and comfort during retirement.

Both Fidelity and TIAA-CREF offer online resources, retirement savings plans and advising sessions.

Benefits Open Enrollment is a time of planning for 2016, but it can also be an opportunity to look forward to your future and consider your options for retirement. Establish some peace of mind during National Retirement Security Week by completing the checklist and securing your future!

Reminder: Open Enrollment Benefits Fairs occur Oct. 20–22

Published on October 20, 2015 by MSU Human ResourcesLeave a comment

After several weeks of Open Enrollment, MSU faculty, staff and retirees should be familiar with the plans and options available to them. The Open Enrollment Benefits Fairs are here to help with MSU Human Resources and vendor representatives available to answer questions.

The following are the dates and times of the Benefits Fairs:

October 20, noon to 6 p.m.

October 21, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

October 22, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

While at the fair, eligible employees and retirees can receive a free flu shot. Find out more here.

You can also take some time to relax in a free 10-minute chair massage. Read about the times these are offered, which vendors are attending the fair and directions and parking information here.

Sign up for benefits during Open Enrollment

Published on October 6, 2015 by MSU Human ResourcesLeave a comment

Benefits Open Enrollment for MSU staff and faculty is going on now!

Sign up for health insurance, dental insurance, life insurance, flexible spending accounts and other benefits offered through MSU before Saturday, October 31, 2015. This annual month-long enrollment period is crucial in determining your benefits coverage for the 2016 year.

Read all you need to know about Open Enrollment in our 2016 guide, which includes cost of benefits, coverage summaries, new and important information this year and details about the various plans and benefits options offered through MSU.

Remember to attend the Benefits Fairs October 20-22 at Breslin Center to talk to vendors and MSU Human Resources Benefits staff members.

Open Enrollment is completed online through the Employee Self Service option in Enterprise Business System for health, dental, life and flexible spending accounts. Find detailed enrollment instructions in the Open Enrollment guide.

Celebrate Spartan excellence at fun homecoming events

Published on September 30, 2015 by MSU Human ResourcesLeave a comment

MSU homecoming 2015 graphic — MSU takes on Purdue in the homecoming game

Spartans take the stage at this year’s homecoming with a theme focusing on the university alumni who have gone on to live extraordinary lives and grace the world’s stages. The grand marshal is Tony Award-winning composer William Brohn.

The parade, beginning at 6 p.m., is just one of many events scheduled for the week preceding the homecoming game. Listen to live music performed by Desmond Jones on Thursday, October 1, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Summer Circle Theater by the Kresge Art Center and enjoy free Dairy Store ice cream while supplies last at the Rock on Farm Lane on Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

There is plenty to do before kickoff, as well. The Green & White Homecoming Brunch starts at 8:30 a.m. before the game and includes special guests President Lou Ann K. Simon, head coach Mark Dantonio, athletic director Mark Hollis and more. Registration is required for this event. Many colleges are also hosting tailgates for alumni.

Don’t forget go Glow Green this week! You have the chance to win a $100 Spartan Bookstore gift card by participating in the photo contest.

Join the fun this week by showing off your Spartan Spirit!

Your feedback needed for HR’s customer experience survey

Published on September 9, 2015 by MSU Human ResourcesLeave a comment

Our previous customer experience survey helped MSU Human Resources understand what areas it needed to improve in order to better serve faculty and staff.

customer experience survey graphic in sheild — Your honest feedback benefits all staff and faculty at MSU.

We need your input once more in our new customer experience survey, which will be sent out Monday, September 14 to your MSU NetID email address. The survey features questions such as which area of HR is contacted the most, how employees contact HR for questions, how fast our response time was and how easy it was to have questions answered. It should take about 15-20 minutes to complete.

Since the completion of the survey in 2013, HR has opened the Solutions Center as a central point of contact for all faculty and staff questions. Your honest feedback is vital in the evaluation of the effectiveness of our reorganization.

You can read the results of the 2013 customer experience survey here.

Thank you for helping MSU Human Resources in our pursuit of excellence.

MSU Benefits Open Enrollment begins October 1

Published on September 8, 2015 by MSU Human ResourcesLeave a comment

It’s that time of year again!

Open Enrollment graphic element — The plans selected in October will go into effect in January.

Mark your calendars for MSU Benefits Open Enrollment, which runs October 1–31. The Benefits Open Enrollment period allows eligible MSU faculty and staff to change their desired benefits plans, such as health, dental, life insurance, flexible spending accounts and voluntary MSU Benefits Plus programs.

Benefits Fairs will take place at the Breslin Center on October 20 from noon to 6 p.m., October 21 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and October 22 from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. They feature Open Enrollment sign-up assistance and health, dental, retirement, life, flexible spending account and MSU Benefits Plus vendors. Some other MSU units will be in attendance, such as the Clinical Center, which will offer flu shots again this year.

Now is a good time to re-evaluate your benefits needs to prepare for the October enrollment period. Find more information and resources relating to Benefits Open Enrollment here.

Donate school supplies to Fill the Bus!

Published on August 31, 2015 by MSU Human ResourcesLeave a comment

Children deserve high-quality education, and that requires basic educational resources such as pencils and notebooks. Unfortunately, families and schools cannot always afford these essential tools.

Fill the Bus graphic — Small donations make big impacts. Picture courtesy of Center for Service-Learning and Civic Engagement.

You can help students in Greater Lansing by participating in the 7th annual MSU Fill the Bus event, which runs from August 30 to September 4.

If your department has already registered as a team, donation bins should be set up where you work. Other donation sites are already placed in all of the residential neighborhoods and at the Union.

The following items are needed the most: crayons, pens, pencils, dry-erase markers and erasers, notebooks, loose-leaf paper, pencil sharpeners, glue sticks, folders, rulers, protractors, compasses, tissues, hand sanitizer, backpacks and colored construction paper.

Show your Spartan spirit by making a positive difference in your community!

Reminder: University holiday on September 7

Published on August 26, 2015 by MSU Human ResourcesLeave a comment

Kayaks on Lake Lansing — Lake Lansing is a great nearby location for Labor Day activities. Photo courtesy of Communications and Brand Strategy.

End the summer right with a day off work and in the sunshine. Labor Day falls on Monday, September 7 this year. Regular working hours resume the next day.

At MSU, classes always begin the Wednesday before Labor Day, so prepare for the return of thousands of students as well.

If you haven’t already, make fun plans for the long weekend to celebrate all the hard work you do!

Enjoy the day off!