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Benefits Bulletin February 2023

Welcome to the Benefits Bulletin!

Our goal with this monthly newsletter is to communicate benefit changes and keep you up-to-date and informed on approaching deadlines.

America Saves Week is coming up February 27th and March 4th. Stay tuned for communications on the importance of saving, paying off and reducing debt, and more!

February's Featured Benefit

This months featured benefit is...

Unclaimed Property

Did you know the Virginia Department of Treasury has a division dedicated to help you find unclaimed money? The Unclaimed Property Division is a state division which receives funds and property turned over by various companies when they lose track of the rightful owners. The division works hard to get these unclaimed monies back to the citizens of Virginia. So, do you have money waiting for you?! Find out at www.vamoneysearch.org.

Reminder!

Time and Attendance Records for Non-exempt Classified Employees Past Due

2022 - 2023 Time and Attendance Records for non-exempt classified employees were to be submitted electronically to benefits@jmu.edu no later than Friday, January 20. For those who have yet to submit a Time and Attendance record, please do so as soon as possible. The 2022/23 and 2023/24 Time and Attendance Record templates are located on the Time and Attendance Reporting website at https://www.jmu.edu/humanresources/benefits/leave/time-attendance.shtml.

Update to Annual Leave Policy (4.10) to affect Veterans

Effective 1/10/2023, the annual leave accrual rate for classified employees will now include a veteran’s service in the military, National Guard or Reserves. This change will be in effect starting on 1/10/2023 and will apply to current and new employees. This change will not be retroactive and will apply going forward. Service includes:

  • Active-duty military;
  • National Guard or Reserves active or inactive duty; or
  • Full-time State or Federal National Guard duty.

The annual leave accrual rate for classified employees who are veterans will be adjusted based on their total years of service in the military, National Guard or Reserve. Employees must submit Form DD-214 validating their years of service to Human Resources. Human Resources will calculate total years of service by adding to their current state service, the net active service, total prior active service and total prior inactive service from Form DD-214. Human Resources will adjust services dates accordingly based on information from the Form DD-214.

Adjustments to the Leave Eligibility Service Date do not result in service credit for retirement, short term disability, Parental Leave, Service Recognition, FMLA or the calculation of continuous state service.

To submit a Form DD-214 for adjustment of leave eligibility service date or for questions concerning this change to the annual leave policy, contact Reagan Neese, Leave Specialist.

Upcoming Training: What Every JMU Supervisor Needs to Know

The “What Every JMU Supervisor needs to Know” series consists of nine workshops that focuses on the human resources role, responsibility, and tasks you perform as a supervisor. Each session centers on a different function and will emphasize practical understanding and application for supervisors. The series is structured to allow networking and discussion of supervisory challenges as they pertain to each human resource topic.

Tuesday, March 21, 2023 through Tuesday, May 23, 2023 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Register for the in-person option with course number TD2104 in MyMadison

Contact Shakini Sachdev (sachd2sx@jmu.edu) for virtual options.

Service Recognition Leave

Classified and A&P faculty are awarded 40 hours of Service Recognition Leave upon completion of cumulative state service totaling one year, three years, five years, and every subsequent five-year anniversary.

A classified employee must have successfully completed the one-year probationary period in order to be eligible for the 40 hours of Service Recognition Leave.

Upon reaching the cumulative service milestone, the 40 hours of Service Recognition Leave will be credited to the employee’s leave record under Service Recognition Leave. This time may be used in any increment, with .25 hour being the minimum. Service Recognition Leave must be used for dates on or after it is awarded and must be used within 12 months. If hours are not used, they will be lost.

Employees who separate employment within the year of receipt of Service Recognition Leave would be eligible for a leave payout of any unused Service Recognition Leave hours.

Need to talk with an expert?

Would you like to thank a fellow duke for making your day a little better? Maybe you have a co-worker that helped you finish a project, or brought you a cup of coffee on a cold morning…..or maybe you have someone in your office that just makes coming to work a little better? Send them a Duke2Duke!

Duke2Duke is our peer recognition program giving faculty and staff members an opportunity to show gratitude towards their peers and acknowledge their positive behaviors and actions.

You can submit a Duke2Duke for any reason – and as many times as you’d like! Recipients will receive an email letting them know who nominated them and why they were nominated as well as a small gift as a token of appreciation.

Submit a Duke2Duke here!

THANK YOU FOR READING!

This bulletin has been brought to you by the JMU Benefits Team. If you have any questions or would like to reach out to us, please give us a call at 540-568-3593, visit us on the web at www.jmu.edu/humanresources/benefits, or email us at benefits@jmu.edu. Look for the Live Chat on our website and reach one of us instantly!

Credits:

Created with images by Swetlana Wall - "Winter sunset landscape with tree and snow field." • Sandra - "two happy dog present for valentine's day with a red ribbon on head and a heart shape diadem. isolated against white background." • kovop58 - "Wooden handmade heart in winter nature wit colorful pleasure colors of sunset light - valentine love wallpaper with space for your montage" • troyanphoto - "Toddler girl happy with snow day in winter. Playing outside on Christmas holiday" • kichigin19 - "winter snow frosty fun guy" • Lilya - "New year greeting card with copy-space.Happy snowman standing in christmas landscape.Snow background" • puhimec - "Background holiday, gift in a beautiful box with a heart ." • Pixel-Shot - "Warm gloves, scarf and earmuffs on light wooden background" • puhimec - "cozy winter composition with a cup and sweater" • IrisImages - "Happy Valentine's Day Calligraphy with Red Roses Over Rustic Wood Background"