Human Resources News Blog

Lunch & Learn: Understanding Your Blue Cross Blue Shield Explanation of Benefits (EOB)

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Please join us at noon on Tuesday, March 15th in the MUB as we welcome Molly Mikesch, Client Engagement Manager for Michigan Technological University from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan.  Molly will be discussing “How to Understand your Explanation of Benefits.”  During this discussion, Molly will go through how to set up an online account through BCBSM and how employees and members can see and better understand their explanation of benefits through BCBSM.  Please bring your device(s) as this will be an interactive session for all members. 

Please email benefits@mtu.edu to reserve your seat today!

This Lunch & Learn counts toward Option 2 in your Husky Health Checklist

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Lunch & Learn: Orthodontic Prevention: Oxymoron or Contemporary Paradigm?

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February is Children’s Dental Health month! Please join our dynamic and entertaining speaker, Dr. Darin Ward of UPWard Orthodontics, on Tuesday, February 15 at 12:00pm in the MUB Ballrooom B1 as he discusses preventative orthodontics. Dr. Ward will explore why so many kids (and adults) today are told that they “need braces.” Dr. Ward will present his thoughts on the causes of crooked teeth and less than ideal jaw growth/facial growth and what you can do about it. It is a lot simpler than you think and unfortunately like most simple things, it’s hard to do! Whether you are an adult considering orthodontics or the parent of a child whose smiles needs attention, this presentation and discussion is a must attend.

Please email benefits@mtu.edu to reserve your seat today!

This Lunch & Learn counts toward Option 2 in your Husky Health Checklist.

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Heart Health – Lunch & Learn

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Join Dr. Zachariah DeYoung from Upper Great Lakes Family Health Center on Tuesday, February 8 at 12:00pm for a Lunch & Learn in the MUB Ballroom B1 as we celebrate Heart Health Month.

Because there’s a movement for primary care doctors to focus more on outcomes that mean something to the patient rather than abnormal numbers on tests, health care providers are now encouraged to focus more on helping their patients get health and stay that way than the previous focus on “throwing pills at labs.”

Join DeYoung for a conversation on:
-How this is playing out in the prevention of cardiovascular disease
-Why you might be able to stop taking that daily aspirin
-How there’s no such thing as routine labs anymore

Please email benefits@mtu.edu to reserve your seat today!

This Lunch & Learn counts toward Option 2 in your Husky Health Checklist

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New Year/Healthier You: Ready – Set – Now What

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Join Angela Luskin, group exercise instructor at Portage Health, on Tuesday, January 18th in the MUB Ballroom B1/B2 at 12:00pm as she helps us start the new year in a healthier way.  If you are fired up and ready to start the week/ month/New Year off with a new exercise program, but not quite sure where to start this Lunch and Learn is for you. She will help you set up an exercise program and come up with new ideas to improve your physical activity. This interactive presentation is just what you need to start off 2022 on the right track! We’ll talk about how to get started, healthy goals and also try out some exercise we can do at home.

This presentation counts towards option 2 for your Husky Health Checklist!

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Minimum Wage Increasing January 1, 2022

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Effective January 1, 2022, minimum wage will increase from $9.65 to $9.87 per hour. Therefore, all employees who currently fall below this new hourly rate will see an automatic increase. Department generated EPAFs will not be needed.

For jobs starting after January 1, 2022, use the minimum wage of $9.87 per hour. This change will have an impact on departments that pay students and temporary employees less than this amount.

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Reminder: Husky Health Checklists

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Don’t forget to complete your Husky Health Checklists with the activities you completed between January 1, 2021 – December 31, 2021.

Monday, January 10, 2022 is the last day to submit your Husky Health Checklist for the reporting period of January 1, 2021 – December 31, 2021, to receive your Husky Health payout incentive in early 2022.

Check out the Husky Health website or follow us on Facebook at Michigan Tech Wellness for more information about Husky Health, Lunch and Learns, wellness tips and fitness programs that count toward the Husky Health incentive. To find out more about Husky Health and other wellness benefits, click here.

Questions? Contact the Benefits Office at benefits@mtu.edu or call 487-2517.

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Seasonal Days Payroll Time Reporting

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In the email from Renee Hiller, Director of Human Resources, on November 11, 2021: the 2021 December Holiday Schedule was revised to include three paid season days on December 27, 28 and 29, 2021. Those whose services are deemed necessary by their supervisor on these days will receive equal time off at a later date in coordination with their supervisor.

Time Reporting Instructions:
Both hourly and exempt employees should use earn code 320 – Seasonal Day when completing their timesheets for the seasonal days. This earn code will become available for use within the time reporting systems for Bi-weekly 01. Employees who are using equal time off at a later date should also report those hours under the 320 earnings code.

Please contact Payroll Services at 487-2130 or by email payroll@mtu.edu with any questions.

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Payroll Winter Holiday Schedule

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The University will be closed December 23 through December 31 in observance of the Winter Holidays. Below are the adjusted deadlines for the pay period December 12 through December 25 (bi-weekly 26). As a department timekeeper, it is your responsibility to share this information with all employees in your department.

Please be sure that all web time approvers have a designated PROXY set up.

  • Status Forms & EPAF Submissions Friday, 12/10/2021 at Noon
  • Deduction Forms Wednesday, 12/15/2021 at Noon
  • Time Sheets Sent to the Department Thursday, 12/16/2021 at 9:00am
  • Time Sheets due to Payroll Monday, 12/20/2021 at Noon
  • Electronic Time Submission Monday, 12/20/2021 at Noon
  • Web Time Entry Approval Monday, 12/20/2021 at 2:00pm

*There will NOT be an Off-Cycle or Reallocation batch the week of December 19, 2021 due to the holiday processing scheduling for Bi-weekly 26. Pay day for Bi-weekly 26 will be Friday, December 31, 2021. Status Form and EPAF Submissions for Bi-weekly 01 will be due Tuesday, December 28, 2021. Regular payroll processing schedules will resume on Monday, January 3, 2022.

Have a safe and Happy Holiday Season!

For instructions on how to set up a proxy, please visit:
https://www.mtu.edu/hr/supervisors-admins/payroll/docs/web-time-approver.pdf

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Payroll Communication: Salary Verifications and Federal Form W-4

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Salary Verifications

Salary verifications that are sent to payroll must be requested at least 48 hours in advance. The department requesting the salary verification must include individuals full name, M number, and position number. 

Federal Form W-4 

The information supplied on the Federal Form W-4 form is used to determine the amount of Federal income tax to withhold from your paychecks.  Failure to submit a Form W-4 or submitting an invalid form will default your W4 form to a status of single with no adjustments. This could result in  the incorrect amount of federal taxes being withheld from your paycheck. 

Form W-4 must be CURRENT year form. The W-4 form CANNOT be completed in pencil. The W-4 Form MUST be signed. If the W-4 Form is completed in pencil, is not the current year, or unsigned, it will be invalid. If W-4 is invalid the withholding amounts will be entered as a default setting of single with no adjustments until a valid form is received.

Form W-4 needs to be completed only once unless there is a change in address, tax status, or you claim exempt from federal withholding. Employees who claim exempt on their Federal W-4 will be asked to complete a new Federal Form W-4 before February 15 of each calendar year.

Basic Instructions – 

Step 1 -Personal Information – name- first, middle initial (if you have a middle name), last (family)

social security number (leave blank if you do not have one)

home address – this is NOT your home country address but your local address

Marital status – Employees who are married may select “married, but withhold at a higher Single rate

Step 2 – Multiple Jobs or Spouse Works – Complete this section if you hold more than one job or are married filing jointly and your spouse also works. Only complete this section if it applies to you. Otherwise leave this section blank.

Step 3 – Claim Dependents – Enter dependent information as instructed and put the total on line 3. Complete this section only if it applies to you.

Step 4 – Other Adjustments (optional)– a. enter other income; b. enter other deductions (use worksheet on page 3); c. enter extra withholding. Complete this section only if it applies to you. 

Step 5 – Sign and Date

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