Happy Holidays

December 24 (Christmas Eve) and December 31 (New Year's Eve) fall on Saturdays in 2005.  A floating legal holiday will be added to your leave account during the pay period in which the holidays fall.

• Classified staff must use these floating legal holidays prior to December 31 or they will be lost (leave  records are credited on a calendar year basis).

• Unclassified staff must use the floating legal holidays by June 30, 2006 (leave records are credited on a fiscal year basis).

December 25 (Christmas Day) and January 1 (New Year's Day) fall on Sundays this holiday season.  The university is closed on the Monday following a Sunday holiday.  Consequently, the university will be closed on Monday, December 26, 2005 and Monday, January 2, 2006.

All Employees

The annual data review was recently sent to all employees.  Please verify your information and make any corrections by contacting Human Resources at 36-2513.  To make address changes online, visit https://web.uwec.edu/emp.htm.

Campus Directory Information

It is very important to periodically review your beneficiary information.  If you are uncertain whom you have named as beneficiary, you may want to contact the insurance company and verify your benefit information.  Information is available in the Human Resources office or at http://www.uwec.edu/hr/forms.htm in the "Beneficiary Forms" section.

W2 statements will be mailed to all employees at the end of January 2006.  The statements will be sent to employees' permanent addresses.  Please verify that your permanent address is accurate to avoid any delay in receiving your statement.  Unclassified, Classified, and Limited Term employees may check their data review (Employee Information form) that was recently e-mailed to all employees.  Students may check their personal information in the Blugold System.

UW-Eau Claire employees who are prepaying their 2006 State Tax Withholding will receive a document from the Department of Revenue.  This form must be forwarded to Human Resources no later than December 15, 2005 to assure that state tax will not be withheld from 2006 wages on the employee's first paycheck in 2006.

Paying Too Much State and Federal Taxes?

Consider taking advantage of pretax benefits by participating in a Tax Shelter Annuity (403b) or Wisconsin Deferred Compensation (457g) program.  For more information on these supplemental retirement programs, please contact Amy TeBeest at 836-2513 or e-mail tebeesas@uwec.edu.

The minimum contribution is $8.00 per bi-weekly pay check, or $20.00 per month.

 

TSA
Maximum	$15,000.00
Over age 50 catch-up	$5,000.00 (additional)
Total	$20,000.00
WDC
Maximum	$15,000.00
Over age 50 catch up	$5,000.00 (additional)
Total	$20,000.00

Catch-up based on 15 years of service

If you are eligible for the catch-up based on 15 years of service, you may also contribute $3,000.00 per year in addition to the above amounts.

For a list of participating vendors or for more information, visit the UW-TSA Web site at: http://www.uwsa.edu/hr/benefits/retsav/tsa.htm.

Navitus Health Solutions (www.navitushealth.com) is the State of Wisconsin's pharmacy (prescription drug) benefit manager.  All employees who carry health insurance through UW-Eau Claire are automatically enrolled in Navitus Health Solutions without additional premiums.

If you changed health insurance plans for 2006 coverage, you will receive a health insurance card reflecting your new coverage.  You will also be receiving a new card from Navitus Health Solutions.  Please verify all information on both cards.  Any corrections must be reported to the appropriate vendor.

2005 Charitable Campaign

For all who contributed, a big THANK YOU from the campus campaign committee.  It is not too late to contribute.  If you wish to make a contribution but have lost your pledge card, call us at 36-3871 and we will gladly send you another one.  Send your contribution before December 31 for calendar year 2005 tax deductions.

Classified Staff News

Unclassified Staff News

Paycheck Distribution

Because of tax implications, the January 1, 2006 paychecks cannot be distributed prior to January 1.  Electronic deposits will be in employees' accounts on Tuesday, January 3, 2006.

Social Security Taxable Wage

The Social Security taxable wage base will be $94,200 next year, up from the current figure of $90,000.  The Social Security tax rate (6.2%), however, will remain the same.  There will be no maximum income ceiling for Medicare taxes.  The Medicare tax rate (1.45%) will apply to all earned income.  The combined tax rate for Social Security and Medicare will remain unchanged at 7.65%.

 Unclassified Leave Statements/Reports

Unclassified Leave Statements are distributed early each month.  In order to comply with the requirements of Unclassified Personnel Guideline #10 http://www.uwsa.edu/hr/upgs/upg10rev_oct7_2005.pdf  (Section 10.10), all unclassified employees who are eligible for retirement must submit a leave statement each month reporting any paid leave time they have used (sick leave, vacation, etc.) Even if there was no paid leave time used, according to UPG 10, the statement must be completed, signed by the employee's supervisor, and submitted to Human Resources each month.  The reports are due in Human Resources by the 10^th day of each month.

The UW Board of Regents is reviewing the sick leave usage policies.  Consequently, we are in the process of auditing our leave records and are asking employees to submit any outstanding leave statements.  If you have received a request from us for any outstanding leave statements and have not yet responded, please complete and return the outstanding statements to Human Resources as soon as possible so we may remain in compliance with UPG 10.

Student Payroll News

 Early Timesheet Deadline

Questions regarding student payroll may be directed to Staci Moyer at 836-5260 or moyers@uwec.edu. 

 Student Employment Eligibility

Students who graduate from UW-Eau Claire in December can continue to be employed as students (non-federal work study only) through the end of Winterim (January 20).  Students who will graduate in May or August may continue to be employed as students through the Summer Session eligibility period (August 26, 2006).

Students may start using 2nd semester work study allocation with hours worked December 18, 2005.

W-2 statements will be mailed directly from Madison.  They will be mailed to students' permanent address.  Students can view their address information on the Blugold System used for registration by using option #3 - "View Your Personal Data" on the main menu.  Any changes should be submitted to the Registration Office, 128 Schofield Hall, prior to December 15, 2005.