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  December 2008

UNC Asheville

Employee Benefits ROUNDUP

 GROWING with your needs

 

Spotlight ON:

 Leave Options

Leave time varies for UNC Asheville employees according to position classification. Because benefits can differ significantly between classifications, employees are encouraged to call or stop by the Human Resources Department should they have any questions about leave options available to them.

For example, while employees subject to the State Personnel Act (SPA) earn vacation leave based on total years of experience, teaching faculty who have a nine-month employment contract do not earn leave. Non-faculty employees exempt from the State Personnel Act (EPA) earn leave according to a tiered system.

VACATION LEAVE -- May be used for vacation, religious observances, adverse weather, and any other personal reasons. Accrued hours in excess of 240 are converted to Sick Leave at end of the calendar year.

SICK LEAVE -- May be used for the employee’s illness or medical appointments or for the illness or death of a relative as defined in the policy. The policy allows for unlimited accumulation. One month of retirement service credit is allowed for each 20 days of unused sick leave but only for The Teachers’ and State Employees’ Retirement System participants.  

COMMUNITY SERVICE LEAVE -- All non-faculty full-time employees (EPA and SPA) are awarded up to 24 hours of Community Service leave each calendar year. This leave is available to use by parents for child involvement in schools or for volunteer activity in schools or in a community service organization. Up to 36 hours of community involvement leave is available to those who wish to participate in tutoring/mentoring programs. The 36 hours selection must be made each year in early January; otherwise, employees will be credited with 24 hours for the new year.

HOLIDAYS:  All permanent employees receive paid holidays. The State provides 11 paid holidays each year, and 12 during years that Christmas is on a Wednesday. In order to support the academic calendar at UNC Asheville, the Office of State Personnel has approved a flexible holiday schedule for UNC Asheville. The holiday schedule includes an extended winter break in December. This is a time period of approximately two weeks during the holidays during which the University encourages staff to take extra time away from work to spend with their families. A portion of this time is covered by holiday leave but the remaining time, usually four to six working days, will be charged to the employees’ vacation, comp, or bonus leave if they choose to take this time. Work will be made available for employees that choose not to take this extra time. It must also be noted that some offices on campus must work during this time as it is a peak work time for them. A holiday is considered 8 hours for a full-time permanent employee and is pro-rated for part-time employees. For more information about your holiday benefit, check the Employee Holiday Schedule on the Human Resource website

 Other types of leave awarded by UNC Asheville  including Family Medical, Disability, Shared, Workers Compensation and Adverse weather leave explanations and policies may be found by visiting the Human Resources website's Leave Page.

 

 

 
 

 

 

Status Report: The State Health Plan's Budget Shortfall:

UNC Asheville is continuing to monitor the anticipated budget shortfall for the State Health Plan.

Based on current projections released by Executive Administrator Jack W. Walker, the Health Plan's shortfall will be $300 million in the year ending June 30, 2009. The plan will need an infusion of cash by April 2009 and also anticipates a need for additional resources in the upcoming biennium.

While the plan continues to take steps to address the cash flow, nothing will be decided until the Legislature convenes and considers options and remedies.

"The Legislature, during the upcoming Long Session beginning in January 2009, will review a range of options, request additional research from the State Health Plan and, I envision, pursue the most prudent path to address member and taxpayer concerns and funding priorities," stated Walker in a recent Member Update.

"Working closely with the Legislature, and with input from our members, we will find the necessary remedies," Walker continued. "Meanwhile, we will also put in place a number of the strategies we discussed at our Nov. 18th Board meeting – strategies developed to make a significant difference in terms of saving money and improving the health of members."

Additional information about the State Health Plan and any current or past Member Updates may be found by visiting their website http://www.shpnc.org

 

...if you participate in the 403b plan beginning January 1st deductions must be through either TIAA-CREF or Fidelity Investments. See the Human Resource website for more information or learn about your investment options via the new UNC System 403b website

ROLL ON!

It's time to ROLLOVER your leave

Do you have over 240 hours of vacation leave? If so, it's time to roll all vacation hours over the 240 limit on over to sick leave. While the rollover process happens automatically, you will see the change reflected in your January Leave report.

In accordance with UNC Asheville's vacation leave policy, "On December 31st any employee with more than 240 hours of accumulated leave shall have the excess accumulation converted to sick leave so that only 240 hours are carried forward to January 1 of the next calendar year"

For many employees, the Winter Break is a good time to burn some of those vacation hours should they wish to reduce them prior to the rollover.

The 2008 Winter Break will include five scheduled holidays from December 22nd, 2008 through December 26th, 2008. As Departmental work plans allow, employees are encouraged to take advantage of an extended Winter Break through "Flex Scheduling." Flex Scheduling involves the use of Vacation Leave, Bonus Leave, or accrued Compensatory Time. This year's extended winter break includes December 21st as well as December 28th through January 2nd, 2009.

Watch your Mailboxes! The 2009 Preferred Drug List has been released!

Or click here for the website

  
 

 Clarification: State Health Plan Generic Prescription  Announcement 

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC) recently announced plans to waive copayments for all generic medications, beginning on January 1, 2009. This program does not pertain to State Health Plan members because their pharmacy benefits are not administered through BCBSNC. The State Health Plan Pharmacy Benefit Administrator is MEDCO.

State Health Plan members are always encouraged to shop around for their prescriptions and take advantage of one of the many available discounted generic programs. Many national and local retail pharmacies now offer generics at discounted prices. Generic medications may cost  as little as $4 for a one-month supply, or $10 for a three-month supply , depending on where you purchase them. Be sure to check the list of discounted generics at each pharmacy, as they often vary. 

State Health Plan members are always encouraged to shop around for their prescriptions and take advantage of one of the many available discounted generic programs. Many national and local retail pharmacies now offer generics at discounted prices. Generic medications may cost only $4 for a one-month supply, or $10 for a three-month supply. Be sure to check the list of discounted generics at each pharmacy, as they often vary. 

The State Health Plan is exploring opportunities to offer generics in certain drug classes at lower costs in the future, with the goal of promoting adherence to chronic medications and providing cost savings to members. We will keep you well informed of upcoming programs as they are developed.