News

UPS and HR Design Delayed Until 2015

Per the 2013-15 State of Wisconsin Budget, implementation of the University Personnel System (UPS) and the HR Design project at UW-Madison has been delayed until July 1, 2015.

Until that time, when the new personnel systems are passed, unclassified human resources will continue to be administered according to chapter 36 of the Wisconsin Statutes, applicable Wisconsin Administrative Code and procedures established through shared governance, and classified human resources will be administered by chapter 230 of the Wisconsin Statutes, applicable Wisconsin Administrative Code and procedures established by the Office of State Employment Relations (OSER).

It is important to note that this is a delay, and not an end to this important project. The implementation date change will simply give UW System employees more time to contemplate and refine recommended personnel systems that will meet the diverse and unique needs of UW System universities, colleges, and extension.

Annual Benefit Enrollment (ABE) Period is Coming!

The Annual Benefit Enrollment (ABE) period is your annual opportunity to enroll and/or make changes to your current benefits. ABE begins on October 7, 2013 and ends on November 1, 2013. All changes made during ABE take effect on January 1, 2014.

Benefit Changes Allowed During ABE:

You will be eligible to enroll in, make changes to or cancel the following benefit plans during the ABE period:

State Group Health Insurance
VSP Vision Insurance
EPIC Benefits+
Employee Reimbursement Account (ERA) Program - must re-enroll every year

The following plans allow you to make changes to your current coverage during the ABE period:

Dental Wisconsin – remove dependents or cancel coverage
Individual and Family Life Insurance – increase coverage level (maximum coverage levels increasing for 2014)

Read all about the ABE period at www.uwsa.edu/abe.

2014 WRS Contribution Rates Announced

The Department of Employee Trust Funds (ETF) announced the Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) contribution rates for 2014. Your contribution rate is determined by your WRS employment category. Most UW employees are covered by either the general or teacher WRS category. High level administrators (chancellors, president, vice presidents, provosts...) are covered by the executive category, and those whose main duties are related to law enforcement or the protection of the public (police officers, fire fighters...) are covered by the protective category.

WRS contribution rates are set on an annual basis. The 2014 contribution rates will apply to all paychecks paid in 2014 beginning on January 2, 2014 for unclassified employees paid monthly and January 9, 2014 for classified employees paid bi-weekly. As a reminder, WRS contributions are taken on a pre-tax basis for state and federal tax purposes.

2013 and 2014 WRS Contribution Rates
	General/Teacher		Executives		Protectives w/ Social Security
	2013	2014	2013	2014	2013	2014
Employee Contribution	6.65%	7.00%	7.00%	7.75%	6.65%	7.00%
Employer Contribution	6.65%	7.00%	7.00%	7.75%	9.75%	10.10%
Total	13.30%	14.00%	14.00%	15.50%	16.40%	17.10%

See the ETF press release for additional information about how contribution rates are set.

ETF Announces State-Wide WRS Presentations

ETF announced it will be offering two new WRS presentations across the state of Wisconsin. The first presentation is for new and mid-career employees (more than 5 years from retirement). This session will discuss how to enhance your retirement benefit, vesting requirements, contribution rates and much more.

The second session ETF will be offering is for employees nearing retirement. The information will include annuity options, retirement benefit calculations, annuity adjustments and more.