HR Newsletter October 2024
Finding Joy Through Hobbies Hawk Your Vote! In this issue Curbing Emotional Spending 2025 Open Enrollment 04 06 05 October Spotlight 10 EAP Tip Sheet New Nighthawks 11 September 2024 New Hires 03 Voter Education & Resources Live Well UNG American Red Cross 07 08 Giving blood through your local provider Benefit Information and Enrollment Dates We Are Hiring UNG Careers EAP Tip Sheet Well-Being & Benefit Fairs Well-Being Rewards & UNG Fair Information 09 Chili Cook-Off 12 October 28 - Oconee Campus email: hr@ung.edu phone: 706.864.1440 dah: downtown office building gvl: administration building
Sponsored by SGA, the Division of Student Engagement & Success, the Constitution Day Committee and the Political Science Student Association (PSSA) October 7-11, 2024 Look for Tabling on all UNG Campuses National VoterEducation Week Scan here for Voting Resources https://ung.edu/voting
The contents of this article and referenced websites, such as text, graphics, images, and other material contained on the site are for informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Reliance on any information provided by these websites is solely at your own risk. Acentra™ Health is not responsible for the contents of any “off- site” web page referenced from this server. Acentra Health. All rights reserved. Employee Assistance Program Tip Sheet Curbing Emotional Spending Your Employee Assistance Program Anytime, any day, you have access to mental health professionals available to connect you with free and confidential services and resources to help you be your best. Simply call to get started today. Emotional spending occurs when feelings trigger purchases. Feelings of anger, sadness, excitement, insecurity, stress, or fear can result in spending that might not happen otherwise. If left unchecked this habit can negatively impact long-term financial health. Keep reading for some tips related to ways to guard again this type of spending. Developing awareness around emotions and how they play into financial decisions can be used to manage feelings and guide behavior. Evaluate your spending habits. Do you tend to make purchases when triggered by emotions? What is your financial situation, or in other words, can you afford to make these decisions? Plan out a budget that you refer to before making future decisions. If you find yourself struggling to rein in emotional spending, develop a plan for what to do in the future when you are about to make a decision that involves money. Ask yourself: how am I feeling in this moment; and is it possible that this feeling is leading to my desire to make this purchase? Establish a plan for what to do in the moment if you determine you are feeling emotional. Can you call a friend? Go for a walk? Delay the spending decision until a time when you’re feeling calm and grounded. For assistance with emotional spending, or any other financial guidance you need, reach out to the EAP for a free financial consultation with a highly experienced Money Coach. Reference: Marter, J. “The Psychology of Emotional Spending”. Psychology Today. Accessed November 20, 2023 from https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/mental-wealth/202305/the-psychology-of-emotional-spending Scan this QR code using your phone camera to go directly to the EAP website 24/7/365 PHONE: 1.844.243.4440 WEBSITE: usg.mylifeexpert.com Code: USGCares
The contents of this article and referenced websites, such as text, graphics, images, and other material contained on the site are for informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Reliance on any information provided by these websites is solely at your own risk. Acentra™ Health is not responsible for the contents of any “off- site” web page referenced from this server. Acentra Health. All rights reserved. Employee Assistance Program Tip Sheet Finding Joy Through Hobbies Taking part in enjoyable activities has a direct impact on wellbeing. When we engage in special interests or hobbies, our brain releases dopamine, a feel-good chemical that improves mental health and generally makes us feel pleasure and joy. Anytime, any day, you have access to mental health professionals available to connect you with free and confidential services and resources to help you be your best. Simply call to get started today. Your Employee Assistance Program Hobbies have many other benefits, including improving physical health if the pursuit is active in nature or providing a way to connect with others leading to decreased feelings of isolation. Interests such as: Engaging in puzzles and reading can help guard against developing dementia. Playing musical instruments have been found to help with memory. A study conducted by the University of Essex found that taking part in hobbies resulted in an 8% increase in wellbeing and a 10% reduction in stress and anxiety. Those who prioritized achievement over enjoyment were less happy the next day. If you’re looking to find more joy in your life, try engaging in a new hobby or activity that you enjoy. Having a hard time finding happiness in your life? Reach out to the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) today. The EAP can also help connect you with clubs, classes, and other resources. Reference: “The Science Behind Why Hobbies Can Improve Our Mental Health”. Accessed July 21, 2024 from https://neurosciencenews.com/hobby-mental-health-17765/ Scan this QR code using your phone camera to go directly to the EAP website 24/7/365 PHONE: 1.844.243.4440 WEBSITE: usg.mylifeexpert.com Code: USGCares
OCTOBER SPOTLIGHT BREAST CANCER AWARNESS MONTH Take time to educate ourselves about the importance of early detection. Have you scheduled your mammogram? Early screenings can detect breast cancer before symptoms arise, significantly improving treatment success. Encourage your friends and family to prioritize their health. Share resources and support each other in getting screened. SCREENINGS SAVE LIVES As we step into October, it’s time to prioritize your health and well-being. This month brings an important reminder: screenings save lives. Whether it’s routine health checks or specific screenings, taking proactive steps can make a significant difference in your overall wellness. OCTOBER 2024 DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARNESS MONTH October is also Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Awareness is crucial for prevention. If you or someone you know is in an unsafe situation, don’t hesitate to seek help. Many universities offer confidential resources and support services for those in need. Remember, awareness leads to action, and your safety is paramount. MORE LIVE WELL UNG RESOURCES
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OPEN Enrollment Dates - October 28 through November 8 New Health Care cards for Anthem and Kaiser will be issued for all enrolled. The OneUSG Benefits Call Center has updated the Open Enrollment process to make things easier and more user friendly for USG employees. During your process you will notice updated pages with more explanations. ACTIVE Open Enrollment – All fulltime benefitted employees are required to actively participate in open enrollment to address any surcharge questions and to ensure your benefits are accurate and up-to-date. Any employee that may be enrolled in a Flex Spending Account and would like to participate for the year 2025, must re-enroll during this period. Cessation – This is a 90-day period where an employee is actively participating in a program to discontinue tobacco usage. An employee must contact OneUSG Benefits Call Center to discuss further action once the program is completed. If no contact is made within the 90-day period, the surcharge will once again continue again on one’s payroll. An employee will receive reminder notices during the 90-day period. Click here for policy. Beneficiary - Review beneficiary designations for your benefits. Your beneficiaries are individuals who would receive the benefits if something were to happen to you. It is important to ensure that your beneficiary information is up-to-date to reflect any changes in your personal life, such as: · Marriage or divorce · Birth or adoption of a child · Changes in your estate plan Shared Sick Leave Pool – Click here for the policy. For a transfer from another Institution, they must re-enroll with UNG. Annual participation is required in order to remain a member of the pool. Unpaid Leave – If an employee is on unpaid leave during Open Enrollment, they will need to contact the OneUSG Benefits Call Center directly in order to make any changes or to remain in the currently enrolled plan.
Employees and spouses enrolled in a USG healthcare plan each have the opportunity to earn $100.00 in rewards for completing well-being activities. The earning period starts January 1, 2024 and ends December 31, 2024. You’ll get your well-being program incentives right away as a gift card as you earn them. This means no more waiting until fall to receive your rewards! Keep in mind these rewards will not roll over. You must earn and redeem your rewards within the calendar year you earn them. The USG Well-being Rewards Program and activities are managed through your USG healthcare plan provider — Anthem or Kaiser. Anthem members download and register on the Sydney app via the App Store or Google Play. Kaiser members sign up through your Kaiser Permanente app. Click here for more information. Please be aware that because gift cards are considered a taxable benefit by the IRS, the value of your gift card will be added to your earnings. This means you’ll have FICA and Medicare taxes withheld from the incentive amount. If you leave UNG before we can adjust your final paycheck, you will receive a bill for the taxes owed on your rewards. We encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity to improve your well-being and earn extra money! WELL-BEING Rewards Fairs BENEFIT & WELLNESS Dahlonega Friday, November 1 10:00 am until 2:00 pm Hoag Student Center Gainesville Wednesday, October 30 10:00 am until 2:00 pm Robinson Ballroom Oconee Friday, October 18 10:00 am until 1:00 pm Information Technology Services (ITS) 2500 Daniells Bridge Road, Building 300
For more information and to apply visit: go.ung.edu/jobs Please note: the University of North Georgia career board updates daily and job postings are subject to be removed when closed or filled. WE ARE HIRING Accreditation Analyst Job ID 276925 Administrative Assistant II, Student Engagement Job ID 277035 Assistant Director of Assessment Job ID 276492 Assistant Director of Student Health Services Job ID 272547 Associate VP Real Estate & Auxiliary Services Job ID 277272 Police Officer I Job ID 269954 Administrative Assistant III, Student Affairs Job ID 277290 Assistant Director, Outreach & Community, HEP Job ID 276287 Regional Recruiter Job ID 276426 Technical Support Associate II Job ID 277216
Sterling Bishir Education Abroad Advisor, Center for Global Engagement, Dahlonega DeeDee Cudjoe Admissions Coordinator for Visitor Experience, Undergraduate Recruitment, Dahlonega Patsy Folds C-Print Captionist, Student Accessibility Services, Gainesville Kenneth Higgins Groundskeeper, Facilities North-Landscape & Grounds, Dahlonega Marta Khiev Custodian, Facilities South-Custodial, Gainesville Jeramy Milligan Custodian, Facilities North-Custodial, Dahlonega Crystal Moon Custodial Supervisor, Facilities South-Custodial, Gainesville Brooke O’Hair Softball Head Coach, Athletics, Dahlonega Kyle Ranalli Police Officer I, Public Safety, Gainesville David Trotter Director of Creative Services, Athletics, Dahlonega Robin Walsh Lecturer, USG eCore, UNG Online Kallan Williams Assistant Director of Undergraduate Recruitment, Undergraduate Recruitment, Dahlonega NEW NIGHTHAWKS Blue Ridge Cumming Dahlonega Gainesville Oconee
Questions? Please email Brooke.Owenby@ung.edu. Oconee Campus
If you need this form in an additional format, please reach out to Michael McLeod Visit MyUNG for previous issues of the HR newsletters
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