Becky Reif and Nathan Overberg, attorneys with Ahlers and Cooney, P.C., will provide an overview of employment laws on Nov. 2, from 9 to 11 a.m. in Parents Hall North. The session will focus on helping managers to avoid common missteps and explain when they should contact Human Resources. It will also highlight some laws presented last year, with additional topics that arise in the workplace. To RSVP for the session, email drake.managers@drake.edu. Participants will receive two credits towards the BUILD program.

—Debra Wiley, Human Resources

Social media has connected the world more than ever before. How do we represent ourselves in today’s digital world? Can you share those cat memes on Facebook but still position yourself as an expert in your field? Niki Smith, assistant director of public relations, will present how companies across the United States are enforcing social media policies and share the guidelines established at Drake on Oct. 31 from 9 to 11 a.m. in Olmsted Center, Room 310-311. Her presentation will explore ways to use digital media to improve your professional networking, defining the line between personal and professional. Attendees will receive two BUILD credits.

—Debra Wiley, Human Resources

The open enrollment period for employee benefits is taking place now. A special thanks to the University Benefits Committee, composed of a committed group of faculty and staff from a variety of areas across campus, for their work reviewing benefits and making benefits related recommendations.

The benefits committee works with Drake’s third party benefits consultants, Mark Becker and Associates, to review plan performance, benefit options, and market conditions. A good deal of work and meeting time is dedicated to this process and the committee should be commended for the seriousness with which they undertake their collective work. The committee will continue to meet throughout the year to discuss other benefits-related issues, and all staff and faculty are encouraged to reach out to committee members with questions or comments about employee benefit options.

To learn more about the work of the University Benefits Committee, plan to attend one of the following:

Annual Benefits and Wellness Fair
Nov. 10, 8:30¬–11:30 a.m., Olmsted Center, Room 310-313

Upcoming Informational Meetings
Oct. 26, 3 p.m., Olmsted Center, Room 310
Nov. 1, 12 p.m., Olmsted Center, Room 310
Nov. 14, 2 p.m., Olmsted Center, Room 310

University Benefits Committee Members:
Matt Dore, Chair, Professor of Law
Tricia Atterberg, Administrative Support Specialist, College of Arts & Sciences
Steven Blaylock, Special Skilled Maintenance Person, Facilities
Bruce Gilbert, Director, Library Operations & Technology, Professor of Librarianship
Michelle Krogulski, Associate Professor and Director of Student Teaching
John Stacy, Transport Lead Person, Facilities
Chrystal Stanley, Director, Professional and Career Development Services
Nora Stelter, Associate Professor of Pharmacy Practice
Tony Tyler, Director, Student Engagement Equity & Inclusion

Non-Voting Members:
Linda Feiden, Wellness and Recognition Specialist, HR
Marlene Heuertz, Benefits Specialist, HR
Gary Johnson, Director, HR Operations
Teresa Krejci, Chief Financial Officer, Finance & Administration
Venessa Macro, Chief Administration Officer, Finance & Administration

—Venessa Macro, Finance and Administration

For those faculty and staff who have completed their wellness screenings, don’t forget to complete your online assessment through Wellmark by Nov. 17. You must complete the online assessment in addition to the wellness screening to receive the wellness premium discount, which is a savings of approximately $300 in 2018.

To complete your online wellness assessment, log into wellmark.com, go to the Wellness Center, and click on Take Your Wellness Assessment or Retake Your Wellness Assessment.  If you don’t see either of these, click the Healthy Living tab at the top of the page and then click Wellness Assessment from the drop down menu options.

Questions may be directed to Linda Feiden at linda.feiden@drake.edu or 271-1880.

—Linda Feiden, Human Resources

An overview of upcoming benefit plan changes will be provided by Mark J. Becker, Drake benefit consultant, on Oct. 26 at 3 p.m. in Olmsted Center, Room 310. During the meeting, Wellmark representatives will also demonstrate how to conduct cost comparisons and prescription drug searches on the Wellmark website.

For more details on open enrollment, see the Oct. 17 article in OnCampus.

—Marlene Heuertz, Human Resources

This past year, Drake held a series of Did U Know classes that highlighted University departments and campus services. Based on positive feedback, Human Resources will be offering the class again with new topics.

The first presentation will be held Wednesday, Oct. 18, at 2 p.m., in Olmsted Center, Rooms 310/311. It will cover Public Safety, Event Management, Campus Mail Operations, and Card Operations. Scott Law, director of public safety and operational services; Matt Miller, university events manager for the office of conference and event services; Tim Reger, mail service manager of postal operations; and Sara Heijerman, student services center manager, will present.

Participants will earn BUILD (Bulldogs United in Learning Drake) credits and be entered into a drawing at the end of the semester.

Additional BUILD information, including an online registration form, is accessible under the blueView Employee tab, in the Learning & Development section of Human Resources.

Email Linda Feiden at linda.feiden@drake.edu for more information.

—Linda Feiden, Human Resources

The demands of work and family share importance in our lives but how do we budget our time? Join presenter Johanna Dunlevy from Employee and Family Resources on Wednesday, Oct. 25, at 10 a.m. in Olmsted Center, Rooms 310/311, as she shares how effective life skills can help to make informed decisions and manage stress. Attendess will learn how to develop a blueprint for time management and sort out what is and isn’t important in order to restore balance in everyday living.

Participants will earn BUILD (Bulldogs United in Learning Drake) credits and be entered into a drawing at the end of the semester.

Additional BUILD information, including an online registration form, is accessible under the blueView Employee tab, in the Learning & Development section of Human Resources.

Email Linda Feiden at linda.feiden@drake.edu for more information.

—Linda Feiden, Human Resources

Time is running out to participate in the Drake Wellness Incentive program. If you’re on Drake’s health plan and wish to save approximately $300 off your health insurance premium in 2018, you must complete a wellness screening and online wellness assessment.

Log into the UnityPoint Health online registration form with the username DRAKE and password SCREEN (in all CAPS). The only day left to receive an on-campus screening is Thursday, Oct. 19 between 6:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. in the lower level of the Olmsted Center. If the appointment schedule is full, contact Linda Feiden by Wednesday, Oct. 18. There will be no make-up dates­­––this is your last chance.

If you registered for an on-campus screening but don’t remember your appointment date and time, check your received, spam, or deleted email folders for an email confirmation from UnityPoint with the subject: Health Screen Confirmation. It would have been delivered to the email address you entered on your registration. Questions regarding the on-campus UnityPoint screenings should be sent to unitypointhealth.desmoines@gmail.com.

If you need to cancel an on-campus screening, send an email to jennifer.umphfleet@unitypoint.org with your name, date, and time of appointment you wish to cancel. You will need to re-register online for a new appointment. Changes can be made up to 48 hours prior to the appointment, if slots are still available.

If you have already completed your biometric screening, don’t forget to complete your online wellness assessment on wellmark.com by Nov. 17.

For questions, contact Linda Feiden at linda.feiden@drake.edu or 271-1880.

—Linda Feiden, Human Resources

The open enrollment period for employee benefits will begin Friday, Oct. 20. Look for an email from Human Resources on enrollment instructions for Drake’s medical, wellness, dental, and flexible spending account plans.

Medical and dental rates will remain unchanged again this year. In the current health care environment, this is certainly good news. Plan participants should be commended for taking care of their health, participating in wellness programming, and using their benefits wisely. Human Resources and the University Benefits Committee also deserve thanks for making key changes over the past several years, resulting in a more stable plan with less volatility and greater predictability.

The open enrollment period is a good opportunity to reflect on the guiding principles of Drake employee benefits, which is to provide:

• Quality benefits that are responsive to the needs of employee’s and their families
• A total benefit package that is competitive with our peers and other Iowa employers
• Straightforward, efficient benefits that maximize our resources for the most impact

One of the key features of the Drake medical plan is protection in the event of a catastrophic illness. For example, the out of pocket maximum that any participant will pay in any plan year is lower than the median of other institutions of higher education and Iowa employers. To hear more about plan features and decisions like these, plan to attend one of three informational meetings on:

• Oct. 26, at 3 p.m.
• Nov. 1, at 12 p.m.
• Nov. 14, at 2 p.m.

All three meetings will be held in Olmsted Center, Room 310.

—Venessa Macro, Finance and Administration

This past year, Drake held a series of Did U Know classes that highlighted University departments and campus services. Based on positive feedback, Human Resources will be offering the class again with new topics.

The first presentation will be held Wednesday, Oct. 18, at 2 p.m. in Olmsted Center, Room 310/311. It will cover Public Safety, Event Management, Campus Mail Operations, and Card Operations.

Participants will earn BUILD (Bulldogs United in Learning Drake) credits and be entered into a drawing at the end of the semester.

Additional BUILD information, including an online registration form, is accessible under the blueView Employee tab, in the Learning & Development section of Human Resources, or click here to access the form.

Email Linda Feiden at linda.feiden@drake.edu for more information.

—Linda Feiden, Human Resources