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Professional Staff Organization

Category: Faculty Councils

End of 2021 benefits updates and reminders

Since 2021 is drawing to a close, it鈥檚 a good time to review your 91探花retirement benefits. We are sharing the Annual Benefits Letter from the Faculty Council on Benefits and Retirement (FBCR).听 It鈥檚 packed with good links and information that is relevant to professional staff. Below, we highlight a few upcoming benefit changes and information about a review of the 91探花Retirement Plan (UWRP):

  • WA Cares Fund: Starting in 2022, all employees in Washington State must contribute to the WA Cares Fund, a new mandatory long-term care insurance operated by the State. If you have private LTC insurance, for instructions on how to obtain an exemption.
  • Long-Term Disability (LTD) Insurance: Also starting in 2022, all 91探花employees will be . You can .
  • Possible Errors in UWRP Contributions: Several faculty members have alerted 91探花about possible errors in past contributions to the UWRP. See here for a recording of an FBCR meeting about this topic. The 91探花Administration has agreed to conduct an outside review of the UWRP for the years 2017 to 2021 and to determine corrective measures based on the review. We will keep you updated on the status of this review.

We have to dig into more information about retirement benefits and options.

We want to thank FBCR for sharing the document with us and allowing us to excerpt portions of the letter in our newsletter on our website. As you may know, the PSO board has representatives on Faculty and University Councils to stay informed about issues on campus and represent professional staff interests.

WA Cares Fund: details and resources

Washington State鈥檚 new mandatory long-term care (LTC) insurance under the will pay for long-term care expenses (up to $36,500 in total) for those who reside in Washington State when they require long-term care. The WA Cares Fund will be funded by a new payroll tax, starting January 2, 2022, of 0.58% of gross wages. The tax will affect all employees in听 the state unless they take action to opt out.

Washington State allows individuals that have purchased听qualifying private LTC insurance before November 1, 2021, to opt out of the WA Cares Fund. Private LTC insurance ranges with respect to coverage and premiums, as compared to the WA Cares Fund and attendant payroll tax. Two typical differences:

  1. Private LTC insurance typically provides coverage in all U.S. states rather than just Washington State, and in some cases outside the U.S. as well.
  2. Private LTC premiums typically must be paid beyond retirement, until claim or death.

As a state institution, 91探花is not authorized by the Health Care Authority (HCA) to offer group-based long term care insurance programs. The PSO encourages all professional staff to learn about the WA Cares Fund and to decide what option is best for their individual circumstances.

For more information:

  • Faculty Council for Benefits and Retirement, which has been evaluating this initiative from the faculty perspective and has generously made available their findings.
  • A list of insurance companies approved to sell LTC insurance in Washington State
  • Geekwire explainer:

Event: Promoting Equity and Justice for Caregivers at UW

The Faculty Council on Women in Academia will host a discussion of current realities, polices, practices, and support during COVID-19 and beyond. (Event website)

Friday, October 30, 2020 from 12:00 pm 鈥� 1:30 pm (PST)

Open to all 91探花 caregivers.

Join the event on听:

One tap mobile: +12063379723,,5608294138# US (SEATTLE),
+12532158782,,5608294138# US (TACOMA)

Zoom meeting ID: 560 829 4138

 

Notes from University Facilities and Services (FCUFS) meeting

Notes from University Facilities and Services (FCUFS) meeting听Meeting Oct 1st听

COVID and back to work planning

  • 91探花Employees returning to on-campus work are encouraged to voluntarily enroll in the Seattle Flu Study.听 听听
  • Daily attestation in Workday requirements remain in place.
  • Covid testing site in ground floor of Odegaard library.听听
  • 91探花Employee up-to-date Covid-19 information here:听/coronavirus/employees/
  • EH&S is doing campus contact tracing with limited resources & is concerned a large outbreak could overwhelm capacity.
  • HVAC systems across campus have been brought up to date on maintenance and air filters replaced – but not emphasizing because mask use and hand washing are primary protective activities – i.e. 鈥淕ood HVAC鈥� is no substitute for either, so not part of primary messaging.
  • Heat may be turned off this winter in building that are 鈥渃losed鈥� – your building coordinator might be a good place to start if concerned听

Some Covid-related notes about Students returning to campus:

  • Facilities related to students and COVID19: Opening day was really light.听 Residence hall have 10K capacity, but only 3500 have moved in,听 only 750 (of those 3500) have in-person classes.听听
  • Prime student concerns include having a 鈥済ood place to study鈥� outside their residence. South campus center and the HUB ballroom are the two designated places to study and are husky-card controlled, masks required.听听
  • 91探花Student life has no jurisdiction over greek system, where spread and mask use concerns continue. Fraternities/sororities are only subject to king county public health rules, not 91探花rules.
  • 91探花Libraries are not open