News from human resources

Smart Shopper Books 

The 2014 Smart Shopper Books are available for $16 in the Office of Human Resources. Please make checks payable to The Smart Shoppers Club.

Forms and Helpful Benefit-Related Telephone Numbers

Many frequently used forms such as Health Insurance, Dental, and Vision Care Claim forms; Retirement, Flex Spending, and Tuition Waiver forms, are available on the SUNYIT website at:  www.sunyit.edu/human_resources/forms.inc .

Also, helpful telephone numbers pertaining to benefits information can be found at:  www.sunyit.edu/pdf/hr_helpful_numbers.pdf .

B.J.’s Membership Application

The Inner Circle Corporate Membership is available to our employees and includes a $10 savings off the $50 annual membership, a free second card for a household member and three free months.  The cost of the 15-month membership, for two-household cards, is $43.50 and this offer expires March 31, 2014.

To apply for membership (both new and renewing), you must complete the application and mail the application and payment (if paying by check) to our BJ’s representative (address is on the application).  Please DO NOT bring application/payment to club location, it must be mailed to Tina Van Buren.

New Members– Your Membership Activation letter will arrive 1 week after your payment is received by Tina.  Bring the Activation Letter and photo ID to the Member Services Desk at a Club near you to receive your Membership Card.

Renewing Members– When completing the application be sure to enter your Membership Number.  Once application and payment is received by Tina, your Membership Card will be extended with the new expiration date (including 3 month bonus).  You will not receive a new membership card.

NYS-Balance Webinars

Celebrating Mid-life

March 20, 2014

Mid-life can be the best time of your life.  Learn how to find your passion, explore encore careers and deal with Empty Nest Syndrome and Boomerang Kids—all in an effort to prepare yourself for this exciting time. To make learning less complicated, NYS-Balance provides online training through the monthly webinar series. Sessions cover a range of practical work and life topics.

Click here to register for the Celebrating Mid-Life webinar. The 2014 webinar schedule is available here.

REGISTER IN ADVANCE OR VIEW LATER ONLINE For any webinar that you plan to attend, be sure to register in advance on the NYS-Balance website. To participate, you will need an Internet-connected PC and a phone. If the webinar is not scheduled during your break or lunch time, you can view it later online at your convenience.

NYS-Balance is a resource and referral program offered by Work-Life Services with funding provided by the negotiated agreements between the State and CSEA, PEF, UUP, DC-37, NYSCOPBA, GSEU, and Council 82, and by the Governor’s Office of Employee Relations for employees designated M/C.

2013 Flex Spending Account Reimbursement

Employees who participated in Flex Spending for 2013 have until March 31, 2014 to submit claim forms.  Forms as well as mailing instructions can be obtained from the Flex Spending website at http://www.flexspend.ny.gov/ .  There are no forms available in the Office of Human Resources.

The State of New York is aware that the IRS just announced changes to the Use-It-Or-Lose-It Rule for health flexible spending arrangements. The State of New York is currently reviewing the IRS ruling, so it has not made a decision to change the Health Care Spending Account rules at this time. Employees should NOT assume that the changes will be adopted when calculating their 2014 annual election amounts to enroll for the 2014 plan year.

 Empire Plan Enrollees 

Employees who are enrolled in the Empire Plan are reminded that any outstanding claims for 2013, with non-participating providers, must be submitted by March 31, 2014.  Claim forms, with appropriate bills attached, should be sent to United HealthCare, PO Box 1600, Kingston, NY  12402-1600.  Claim forms are available in the Office of Human Resources.

 Reminder – Leave for Breast & Prostrate Cancer Screening

The Civil Service Law entitles employees to take up to four hours of paid leave annually for screening for breast and prostate cancer screenings. The entire period of the leave of absence shall be excused leave and shall not be charged against any other leave the employee is otherwise entitled to.

Social Security

The Social Security Tax for 2014 will be calculated at 6.2% on the first $117,000 taxable wages for employers and 6.2% for employees.  This will result in a maximum employee deduction of $7,254.00 for the year.  The Medicare Tax will remain at 1.45% without a limit on the taxable wages.