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Inside
this Issue:
IU Offers Tobacco Cessation Assistance
Fair Treatment: Rights, Privileges, and Benefits
2008 Open Enrollment Results
Tobacco Use and Health: Smoking and Oral Health
Revised Form I-9
Federal Minimum Wage Increase
2008 Holidays for Staff Employees
IU Notify
New Position Description Document for Staff Positions
Web Wise: Compliance Resources and New Staff Handbook
TDA Plan Amendment, Auto Enroll
Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
Annual Federal Notices
Investment Fund Performance
Fidelity Brokerage Name Change
Retirement Planning and Investment Counseling Sessions
The
Informed Employee is published 3-4 times a year by University
Human Resource Services for approximately 17,000 full-time appointed
staff and academic employees across the eight Indiana University
campuses.
University
Human Resource
Services
Indiana University
Poplars E165
400 E. 7th Street
Bloomington, IN
47405-3085 |
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IU Offers Tobacco Cessation Assistance
IU medical benefits were enhanced in November 2007 to cover the cost of tobacco cessation with the Free & Clear® Quit For Life™ Program.
The benefit is available to all full-time Academic and Staff employees and their family members 18 or older, even if they are not enrolled in an IU-sponsored medical plan. The plan is fully paid for by the university.
- Free & Clear’s Quit for Life Program includes:
- Telephone-based program accessible across all IU campuses
- An individualized cessation plan for each participant
- A “quit coach” assigned to each participant
- Phone counseling sessions to set and reach quit date
- Nicotine replacement therapy, as needed; and
- One year of follow-up phone and Web assistance to help participants stay tobacco-free.
During 2008 Open Enrollment, 242 employees pledged to go through the Quit for Life Program as a condition of IU’s Wellness Health Reimbursement Account (HRA) Plan. To date, 69 individuals have enrolled in the program.
To enroll, call 866-784-8454 (1-866-QUIT-4-LIFE) or visit www.freeclear.com/iu.
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Fair Treatment: Rights, Privileges, and Benefits
It is Indiana University policy that an employee who is expected to work 1,930 hours or more during a year should receive the same rights, privileges, and benefits as other full-time employees. As such, departments must:
- Only create Hourly positions for work that totals less than 1,930 hours in a year
- Establish a Staff or Academic position for work that will meet or exceed 1,930 hours during a year
It is Indiana University policy that an Hourly employee who is expected to work 1,000 hours or more during a year should receive retirement program and other benefits, such as PERF and the opportunity to enroll in supplemental retirement plans. This provision is also required under federal and Indiana state law. As such, departments must:
- Only create Hourly positions without retirement benefits for work that totals less than 1,000 hours in a year
- Establish an Hourly position with retirement benefits for work that will be between 1,000 to 1,929 hours during a year
Departments need to take affirmative steps to see that these policies are followed—to ensure the fair treatment of employees.
In preparation for FY 2008/2009 budgets, departments should review current and anticipated work hours of Hourly positions and make the above adjustments as appropriate.
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2008 Open Enrollment Results
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2008 Employee Enrollments |
| Medical Plans |
| IU PPO-Plus* |
644 |
| IU PPO $900 Deductible |
7,789 |
Blue Preferred Primary POS |
7,678 |
TOTAL |
16,111** |
| Dental Plan |
| CIGNA PPO Dental Plan |
15,741 |
| Tax Saver Benefit Plan |
| Health Care Reimbursement Account |
7,816 |
| Dependent Care Reimbursement Account |
899 |
| Other Plans |
| Tobacco Free Wellness HRA |
9,506 |
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* Will cease at end of 2008
** Total eligible population equals 17,165 full-time employees |
Tobacco Use and Health
Smoking and Oral Health
Diseases of the teeth and their supporting structures are a major public health issue with a significant impact on personal well-being. As the oral cavity is the first part of the human anatomy to be exposed to mainstream smoke in active smokers, smoking can lead to gingivitis, chronic periodontitis, and a variety of other oral health consequences such as, tooth discoloration, increased build up of bacterial dental plaque, bone loss within the jaw, and oral cancer. There is also evidence to suggest an association between cigarette smoking and tooth decay.
The best way to reduce serious risk to one’s oral health is to quit smoking. Also, regular dental check-ups, including an examination of the entire mouth, are essential in the early detection of oral cancer and dental diseases and conditions.
Adapted from the Health Consequences of Smoking:
A Report of the Surgeon General, 2004
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