| Human Resources Update |
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July 14, 2009,
Volume 56, No. 01
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New ID Cards for Aetna HMO Members
Faculty and staff enrolled in the Aetna HMO medical plan should have received new member ID cards for the plan year which started on July 1. Aetna HMO ID cards now include a third logo—either a Beech Street or Multiplan logo—in addition to the Aetna and Penn logos that were already on the ID cards. Any dependents covered under your plan should have received new ID cards as well.
The new logo was added to help ensure that your claims are processed accurately and quickly. Please note that your benefits will not be affected.
Members who already have the updated ID card with the new logo will not be receiving a new one. If you recently received a new card, remember to immediately destroy your old one. If you haven’t received an ID card with the new logo, please contact Aetna Member Services at 1-888-287-4296.
FMLA Extended to Family Members of Military Personnel
If you have a family member who serves in the military, you should be aware of some recent changes to the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) that may affect you. Two new types of FMLA leave—known as the military family leave entitlements—are now available. Eligible faculty and staff are now permitted to:
1. Take up to 26 weeks of FMLA leave to care for a spouse, child, parent, or next of kin if that person is a covered servicemember with a serious injury or illness incurred in the line of duty. A covered servicemember is a current member of the Armed Forces, including a member of the National Guard or Reserves.
2. Take up to 12 weeks of FMLA leave due to qualifying exigencies arising out of the fact that a spouse, parent, or child has either been called to or is currently serving on active duty in the National Guard or Reserves. This type of leave does not apply to the family of military members in the Regular Armed Forces.
The updated FMLA policy, along with a list of Frequently Asked Questions, can be found online at www.hr.upenn.edu/Policy/Policies/631.aspx. You can find specific information about the new FMLA rules on the US Department of Labor website at www.dol.gov/esa/whd/regs/compliance/whdfs28A.pdf.
New Child Policy
The name of Human Resources Policy 412 has been changed from “Maternity/Childrearing” to “New Child Policy.” The policy has been updated to more fully explain the University’s leave policy related to maternity, paternity, adoption and foster care. Visit the Human Resources website at www.hr.upenn.edu/Policy/Policies/412.aspx for more information.
“Did You Know” is a monthly series that includes valuable tips to help you get the most out of the benefits and services offered by the Division of Human Resources.
Get Your Family Off to the Right Start
Bringing home a new child is a special time in every parent’s life. But it’s also a time for making important decisions. From buying clothing to finding the perfect car seat to setting up child care, there’s a lot to consider when raising a family. That’s why it’s important to understand the full array of benefits Penn offers new parents. Not only are faculty and staff eligible for time off and health care benefits, you also have access to financial support and worklife balance information to help get your family off to the right start. Visit the new child benefits website at www.hr.upenn.edu/benefits/medical/newchild.aspx to learn more about the resources available to you when caring for a new child.
HR: Upcoming Programs
Getting Ahead: A Series for Young Professionals
Young professionals face a unique set of challenges in the workplace—and also have the opportunity to make tremendous strides. This summer, Human Resources is offering a new session in its ongoing program Getting Ahead: A Series for Young Professionals. To register, visit the online course catalog at www.hr.upenn.edu/coursecatalog or contact Learning and Education at (215) 898-3400.
Money Management—Intermediate and Advanced. August 5; noon–1:30 p.m.; free. Most of us know that financial planning is important to a happy, balanced lifestyle. This session will give you the opportunity to learn about finances particularly when it comes to housing—one of the biggest expenses people incur. If you attended any of the previous financial planning sessions in the Getting Ahead series, you’ve already started thinking about budgeting and savings. But even if you’re new to the series, this session will give you the opportunity to delve deeply into money matters. After a quick review of the essentials of daily money management, you’ll learn the ins and outs of owning a home, including buying versus renting, mortgages, the difference between pre-qualification and pre-approval, how lenders think, the range of loan programs available to you, and more.
Professional and Personal Development
Improve your skills and get ahead in your career by taking advantage of the many development opportunities provided by Human Resources! You can pre-register for programs by visiting the online course catalog at www.hr.upenn.edu/coursecatalog or by contacting Learning and Education at (215) 898-3400.
Brown Bag Matinee—It’s So Simple. August 12; noon–1 p.m.; free. Do you wonder about what it takes to excel in the workplace? Based on the experiences at Southwest Airlines, It’s So Simple will provide you with uncomplicated answers to this question and more. You’ll learn why a company is stronger when it’s bound by love rather than fear, and why effective leadership is about trust, confidence, and the ability to sometimes give up control.
Deadline to Apply for Summer Term Tuition Benefits
Are you or your dependents taking advantage of Penn’s tuition benefits for the Summer 2009 term? If so, be sure to request payment for the tuition benefit for the 6-week Summer Session II by August 15, 2009. It’s important to remember that if you don’t put in your request by the deadline, you will assume responsibility for any charges or penalties.
Even if you’re currently receiving tuition benefits, payments are not automatically made for future terms, so you need to apply online for tuition benefits each term. Use the online tuition management system on the Human Resources website at www.hr.upenn.edu/tuition to request tuition benefits, review current and past requests for payment, and view pending payments.
—Division of Human Resources
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