CEBC Agenda February 2004
In Attendance:
Ron Carda (Chair), Marcia Jezwinski, H. Adam Steinberg, Elizabeth Gall,
Jim Pavelko, Bill Steffenhagen, Greg Iaccarino, Karen Tusack, Tom
Achtor. Guests: Richard Laufenberg and Kathleen O'Rourke Benjamin
Meeting Location - Union South -
Meeting Time - 12:30 pm
I. Approval of the Agenda
Approved.
II. Approval of the Minutes for December 3, 2003
Approved.
III. Classified and unclassified benefits: Guest discussion with
Richard Laufenberg and Kathleen O'Rourke Benjamin
Background was given by Marcia Jezwinski on how discrepancies are
growing between classified and unclassified staff benefit packages.
a. Income Continuation Insurance (ICI)
Unclassified: within 30 days of hire, after 12 months, or after 1040
hrs of SL accrued with cost based on waiting period chosen. Deferred
enrollment with 1040 SL accrual by the end of the calendar year.
Important because: Classified can reach plateau at 520 hrs or about 4.5
years w/no premium cost
Classified: Have eligibility plateaus - costs goes down as they reach
plateaus or earn 80 hrs of sick leave a year. Cost are eventually
waived based on SL accrual.
Laufenberg and O'Rourke Benjamin's comments:
Unclassified almost never use ICI because they are required to use sick
leave first, Classified do use ICI because the waiting periods are
shorter. Because of this the two programs were designed to be
different. There has been discussion on combining the two plans. We
will give the CEBC committee the notes from the "consolidation"
meetings.
b. Sick Leave Earnings
Unclassified: 12 days per fiscal year (after initial allocation)
prorated based on appointment percentage.
Classified: Earned at .0625 hr for each hour in pay status, 130 hrs
year or 16.25 days per calendar year.
Important because: Earn more time so they can convert more time upon
retirement to pay for health insurance premiums.
Laufenberg and O'Rourke Benjamin's comments:
Faculty use very little sick leave, Academic Staff use some and
Classified use a lot. To those on the outside it looks like Faculty and
Academic Staff already get too much sick leave... If one looks at the
actual dollar value of the sick leave conversion at retirement the
numbers are large and looming.
c. Health Insurance
Unclassified: Immediate coverage.
Classified: 6 months until employer pays their portion.
Important because: Recruitment issue -- large expense for new employee
d. Health Insurance Premium
Unclassified: Different premium cost.
Classified: Different premium cost.
Important because: Difference in classified and unclassified payments.
Laufenberg and O'Rourke Benjamin's comments:
System is more than likely considering the different cost structures
between the two groups and will take this into consideration when
developing the next pay plan for faculty and academic staff.
e. Vacation
Unclassified: 176 hrs.
Classified: WPEC -professional staff - Upon hire, 120 hours and
increases each 5 years. Eventually can earn 200 hrs w/15 yrs svs/
while Academic Staff doesn't change.
Important because: Ability to bank more time in sabbatical which will
be paid out at a higher rate than earned or extend their time on the
payroll at retirement. Earn more vacation than Academic Staff (whose
does not increase) after 10 years.
Laufenberg and O'Rourke Benjamin's comments:
If one looks at the actual dollar value of the banked vacation time the
numbers are large and looming. Under the current budget restraints the
climate is unfavorable to change. Especially with the recent change of
the ability to now bank 80 hrs/year.
f. Sabbatical/Annual Leave Reserve Account
Unclassified: 40 hours after 10 years service; after 25 yrs can bank 80
(no cash payment any longer).
Classified: When they have 520 hour of accumulated sick leave (about
4.5 yrs) or earn 160 hrs vacation (prof staff at 5 yrs) they can bank
40 hours. At 15 years they can bank 80 hours (or bank 40 and get
paid-out for 40).
g. Reinstatement of benefits
Unclassified: Within 3 years of termination date.
Classified: Within 5 years of termination date.
The CEBC committee is working on changing this. Approximately 3% of the
current academic staff fall into the category of reinstatement of the
3
to 5 year period.
h. Holidays
Unclassified: 3.5 days of floating holiday.
Classified: Increased 8 hours, so now have 4.5 personal days (or
floating- same concept) holidays.
Laufenberg and O'Rourke Benjamin:
This is controlled by the Board of Regents. CEBC can make
recommendations to APO during the call for changes for the new
biennium. Can also lobby ASPRO to make changes.
IV. Announcements
V. ASEC & ASA Reports - December & January
After the February 9th meeting there will be an ASPRO event.
CEBC need to develop a "policy and procedure" statement. Karen
Tusack
will look at the other committee's statements and report back the
committee.
VI. ASEC Coverage for February and March
2/6 Bill Steffenhagen
2/13 Marcia Jezwinski
2/27 Jim Pavelko
3/5 Tom Achtor
3/12 Greg Iaccarino
3/26 Liz Gall
VII. Old Business
A. Update on promotions brochure - Pavelko
Bill Steffenhagen, Jim Pavelko and H. Adam Steinberg will continue to
work on the brochure. The ASEC committee had a number of good comments
for improvement.
VIII. New Business
A. Programming with EC&BS - Iaccarino/ Jezwinski
An email announcement will go out about the upcoming brown bag What you
don't know about your benefits can hurt you. Other possible programs in
discussion are for instructional staff, portability of benefits and
ICI-FMLA-WRS & SS disability, who, what, where, when.
What You Don't Know About Your Benefits Can Hurt You
Sponsored by the Compensation and Economic Benefits Committee (CEBC)
and
Employee Compensation & Benefits Services
Your benefits are an important part of your compensation package. When
was the last time you reviewed them? Remember your initial
introduction to the benefits plans you were eligible for?
Confusing....and since then, you've probably had a number of life
events that would change your need for different benefits -- Do you
know that what you don't know about your benefits can hurt you? Are you
still paying an insurance premium for your child who is no longer
eligible due to their age? Do you know the value of your sick leave
credits? Are you putting unused vacation into your sabbatical account?
Are you familiar with the tax sheltered annuities (TSA)? Are you aware
of your retirement benefits and how your sick leave credits and
sabbatical can compliment it?
The Academic Staff Assembly, Compensation and Economic Benefits
Committee (ECBC) is sponsoring a presentation for you to find out more
about your benefits.
When: February 26, 9:30-11:30
Where: Red Gym
On Wisconsin, Room ABC
Who: Dianne Saari from the campus EC&BS
Dianne Saari from the campus Employee Compensation and Benefits
Services office will
talk with us about our benefits and how to get the most out of them.
Join us!
Can't make it on February 26th?
ECBS presents a similar workshop on a regular basis. See the OHRD
website for scheduling. These are excellent workshops so be sure to
make a point to attend.
http://www.bussvc.wisc.edu/ecbs/emp-seminars.html
http://www.ohrd.wisc.edu
XI. Adjournment
2:13 pm