Contents

Retirement

Retirement Plan Check-ups

How much have you socked away for retirement? How much more do you need to save? Representatives from our four fund sponsors are available to meet with you and your spouse—either by phone or in person—to provide general investment information, discuss your savings objectives, or review an existing account.

To schedule your free, in-person appointment with Calvert, Fidelity, TIAA-CREF or Vanguard:

Check our events calendar to find dates on which a fund sponsor will be coming to a location near you.
Note: These are shown as "appt" on the calendar.

Contact a representative of your choice to schedule a free appointment.

UW Discount Program

FREE & Discounted Husky Tickets

As a UW faculty or staff member, you are invited to take advantage of special discounts on Husky tickets. Enjoy discounts on season tickets for Husky football, soccer, and volleyball. Special UW faculty/staff events are also hosted at many Husky sporting events, which feature FREE or discounted admission.

For more information about these tickets and promotions, visit the UW faculty/staff page at gohuskies.com.

Update Your Information in ESS

Each fall, the Health Care Authority sends benefits information directly to employee home addresses listed in Employee Self Service (ESS). If you recently changed your name or address, be sure to update your contact information in ESS. It's fast and easy! First-time ESS users will enjoy the convenience of viewing their earnings, taxes, retirement, investments, and health plans—all in one place!

To update your name and address in other University systems, click here.

 

Benefits & WorkLife Update informs University of Washington faculty and staff of current news and events surrounding Benefits & WorkLife programs. It is published on the first and third Tuesday of the month. Comments and suggestions may be addressed to the editor at benefits@u.washington.edu

To see past issues, click here.

The UW Celebrates National Work and Family Month

Wherever You are in Life…We’re Here to Help

October is National Work and Family Month (NWFM) and the University of Washington is celebrating. The UW honors the progress made on its journey to creating a more inclusive, healthier, and flexible work environment while raising the bar to accomplish even more.

"Wherever you are in life …We’re here to help" is the theme that encompasses all our work-life areas like career development, workplace flexibility, wellness, parenting, eldercare, personal finance, having fun, planning for retirement, and community involvement.

Discover the robust offerings of programs and events designed to help you achieve success within and outside the University. Check our calendar of events for a host of activities available to all UW faculty and staff. Below is a sampling of the wide programming available to you during National Work and Family Month. All events are free unless otherwise indicated.

The National Work and Family month celebration is made possible through a collaboration of many campus partners across the University.

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Dollars and Sense

Understanding Credit

October 1 | Wednesday | Noon - 1:00 p.m. | Health Sciences | room to be specified upon registration

In this "Homeownership 101" seminar, you will learn how credit history is important when buying a home, how to clean up your credit report, and how to fix errors. Plus you will get a free credit report!

Contact the Affinity Lending Center at 206-628-0207. Please include your phone number. Presented by Hometown Home Loan Program partner, HomeStreet Bank.

Social Security: A Foundation for Planning Your Future

October 3 | Friday | 12:30 - 1:30 p.m. | Health Sciences RR 134 | Register here

What benefits can you expect from Social Security and when might they be available to you and your family? Attend this seminar to gain a better understanding of how the Social Security and Medicare systems work.

Family Matters

Becoming a Resilient Caregiver: When a Family Member Has Dementia

October 21 | Tuesday | Noon - 1:00 p.m. | HUB 309 | Register here

Caring for a person with dementia is a difficult and often overwhelming task. In addition to the inevitable decline in memory and physical function, many people with dementia develop one or more troublesome behavior problems. Caregivers need strategies that adapt as their loved one’s behaviors change.  Dr. Susan McCurry presents easy-to-remember tools for those who are living with an adult whose memory and self-care capacity are declining.  

Choosing Quality Childcare

October 22 | Wednesday | Noon - 1:00 p.m. | Harborview Medical Center | Research & Training Auditorium | Register here

Choosing childcare is one of the most important decisions parents make.  With long waiting lists and few vacancies, childcare is in short supply in the Seattle area.  Finding good care requires knowledge about options available and understanding of how to go about choosing the right fit for your child and family.  Join staff from the UW’s partner, Child Care Resources, for an informative and lively discussion about finding good childcare.

Fun

Henry Art Gallery Guided Tour

October 2 | Thursday | Noon - 1:00 p.m. | Henry Art Gallery | Reservations requested by September 27 (see below)

You are invited to a guided tour of the Henry Art Gallery to explore the architecture of the museum, the facilities and current collections.  Current exhibitions include Liz Magor: The Mouth and Other Storage Facilities, highlighting recent sculptural works that suggest a collision of domesticity with our wilder instincts as well as The Violet Hour, a temporal bridge from the clarity of daylight to the obscurity of night.  To a reserve a spot, please email mariareyna@henryart.org or call 206-616-9894 by September 27.

Cheerful Givers

November 13 | Thursday | Noon - 1:00 p.m. | HUB 200 ABC

Be a cheerful giver and participate in this lunchtime Birthday Bag Blitz by filling gift bags with new toys and celebrating National Philanthropy Day. The filled bags will be donated to 300 homeless and poverty-stricken children in our community who would not otherwise receive gifts on their special day. Learn more.

Health & Wellness

Tee Hee Hee Therapeutic Laughter Sessions

October 3 - November 7 | Fridays | 8 - 8:45 a.m. | Harborview | Free | more information

Welcome to the Harborview Laugh Club! For the past year, Harborview employees have been meeting briefly every Friday morning to laugh. The inventor of laugh clubs, Dr. Madan Kataria, an Indian physician, discovered that just the act of laughing enhances overall health.

Laughter Yoga

Come and experience the health benefits of laughter and discover the truth in the old saying "laughter is the best medicine." Laughter improves immune system function, vibrates and massages internal organs, provides a good cardiovascular workout, and relieves stress and tension. It can also enhance your ability to stay in high spirits when life throws up challenges. If the smiles seem hard to find lately in your life, come to a session guaranteed to jump start your laugh muscles!

October 7 | Tuesday | Noon - 1:00 p.m.| HUB 200C| Free | Register for Section A
October 21 | Tuesday | Noon - 1:00 p.m.| HUB 200C| Free | Register for Section B

 

For more wellness events, see our UWellness newsletter or the NWFM events calendar.

Lifelong Learning

Time Management

October 22 | Wednesday | Noon - 1:30 p.m. | HUB 106B | Register here

Do you want to feel more productive and less stressed at work and at home? In this special session, we will explore time management from the inside out and gain skills to improve your overall sense of balance.

Résumés the UW Way

October 23 | Thursday | Noon - 1:00 p.m. | Gerberding 142 | No registration needed

Develop an effective UW résumé—or improve the one you’ve got. This brown bag workshop will provide the key ingredients for making your résumé stand out from the rest! Topics will include:

  • The most effective résumé format for the UWHires system
  • How to identify and use keywords to your advantage
  • Tips for getting your résumé selected
  • Résumé and cover letter resources

Work and Life

A Comfortable Balance: Work and Home

October 14 | Tuesday | Noon - 1:00 p.m. | HUB 310 | Register here

How do you achieve a comfortable balance of life and work with all the commitments and obligations you face daily? Join this lively, interactive session providing practical suggestions for refocusing time and energy on what you value most in life.

UW Combined Fund Drive Charity Fair

October 15 | Wednesday | 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. | Mary Gates Hall Commons

Over 40 charitable organizations will be on hand to showcase their programs and share how they are making a difference in our community. There will also be a canned food drive to benefit Northwest Harvest, door prizes, and a raffle! No RSVP required, just show up!

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Hometown Home Loan Program

Prequalification Appointments

Get your mortgage questions answered! Free half-hour pre-qualification appointments, 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m., monthly at Seattle and quarterly at Bothell, Tacoma, and Harborview. Contact the Affinity Lending Center at 206-628-0207 to schedule an appointment.

The Hometown Home Loan Program offers reduced fees on mortgages for University of Washington employees buying or refinancing anywhere in the Puget Sound region. All benefits-eligible UW faculty and staff members may apply. Learn more.

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