August 2023 | HR Monthly Bulletin

Wellness Program Reminder

Physician screening forms due Oct. 15

Northwest no longer offers the annual, on-campus health risk assessment. Employees on the University health plan and hired prior to Aug. 1, 2023, must have an annual preventive visit and labs with a primary care provider. 

Employees must download and print a Physician Screening Form (PSF) from the A Healthier You portal and bring it with them to their preventive care appointment. Employees who do not return the PSF by Oct. 15, 2023, will be assessed a $50 per month premium differential beginning with the December 2023 paycheck. 

As a reminder, if you visit a Mosaic provider, identify yourself as a Northwest employee when calling to schedule your appointment and state your need to schedule a standalone wellness/preventive-only appointment and labs with your primary care provider. 

During the appointment:

• Ask whether any tests or treatments conducted during your appointment might not be considered preventive care.
• Ask during your appointment whether other health concerns that are not considered preventive care will lead to extra costs. If so, schedule a separate appointment to discuss your health concerns.

For additional information about the primary care provider wellness program, visit https://www.nwmissouri.edu/hr/Primary-Care-Provider-Wellness-Program.htm or call the Office of Human Resources at 660.562.1127.

Update to lab draw process at Mosaic Life Care

Northwest, Blue Cross Blue Shield and Mosaic Life Care have collaborated and reached a resolution on the lab draw process.

When registering for your appointment with Mosaic, employees should request that labs drawn for a non-wellness appointment be sent to Quest. Examples of a non-wellness appointment include routine lab draws for an existing diagnosis, labs drawn for a new illness, etc. Lab draws sent to Quest will result in a clinic lab charge for employees opposed to labs being charged at a much higher hospital rate.

As a reminder, labs drawn during a preventive-only health screening appointment should not be charged to Northwest employees. When scheduling a wellness or preventative-only appointment and labs with Mosaic, identify yourself as a Northwest employee and state your need to schedule a standalone wellness or preventative-only appointment and labs with your primary care provider.

Northwest employees who receive a bill from Mosaic for a lab draw completed during the preventative-only health screening appointment should contact Northwest’s Office of Human Resources.

For more information, contact the Office of Human Resources at 660.562.1127 or email hrwebpg@nwmissouri.edu.

Welcome our new Bearcats!

2023-2024 Holiday Schedule

To express gratitude for excellent performance and give our employees a chance to relax and celebrate with loved ones, Northwest will close for the following holidays. A complete listing also is accessible on the myNorthwest portal.

Please contact the payroll office at 660.562.1108 with questions regarding timesheet entry.

2023 holiday closings:

• Monday, Sept. 4: Labor Day
• Wednesday, Nov. 22, through Friday, Nov. 24: Thanksgiving break
• Friday, Dec. 22, through Sunday, Dec. 31: Winter break

2024 holiday closings:

• Monday, Jan. 1: New Year’s Day holiday (Employees should plan to return to work on Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2024.)
• Monday, Jan. 15: Martin Luther King Jr. Day
• Monday, March 11: Spring break holiday
• Monday, May 27: Memorial Day
• Wednesday, June 19: Juneteenth
• Thursday, July 4, through Friday, July 5: Independence Day
• Monday, Sept. 2: Labor Day
• Wednesday, Nov. 27, through Friday, Nov. 29: Thanksgiving break
• Monday, Dec. 23, through Tuesday, Dec. 31: Winter break
• Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025: New Year’s Day (Employees should plan to return to work on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025.)

2024 utility disruption schedule:

• Friday, May 17, through Thursday, May, 23: Additional details regarding impacts to facilities and operations will be provide once the scope of the work for this week is finalized.

We thank you for your endless contributions and dedication to Northwest and wish you the best of breaks and a great 2024!

Employee Anniversaries

Congratulations to these employees for their milestone years of service
in August 2023!

5 YEARS

10 YEARS

15 YEARS

20 YEARS

25 YEARS

30 YEARS

Upcoming Events

Flu Shot Clinic

Wellness Services will host a flu clinic for employees and students from 2 to 4 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 11, in Meeting Room A at the J.W. Jones Student Union. Employees must present their insurance card at the time of the vaccine.

Save the Date: Employee Appreciation Football Event

The employee appreciation football event will be Saturday, Oct. 7, at the Carl and Cheryl Hughes Fieldhouse. Additional information, including a link to RSVP, will provided via email in the coming weeks.

Parking Permits

Parking permits for fall 2023 will be available to purchase. Northwest 2022-23 permits are valid until Aug. 31. Temporary permits are available at the University Police Department 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Contact Lt. Amanda Cullin at acullin@nwmissouri.edu or 660.562.1254 for more information.

Mandatory Training

Upcoming Mandatory Training Deadlines

Northwest is using Vector/Safe Colleges to offer training courses online for your convenience. Below are upcoming mandatory trainings and deadlines:

• Diversity and Inclusion: Due Friday, Sept. 15
• Title IX and Sexual Harassment Prevention: Due Tuesday, Oct. 31

Personal and Professional Development Opportunities

Upcoming Career Pathing Sessions

Click here to register for an upcoming Career Pathing session.

Small Actions Big Consequences

Dr. Shalon Malone, Northwest assistant vice president of diversity and inclusion

Dates: Wednesday, Sept. 13
Time: 10 a.m., noon and 2 p.m. 
Length: 60 Minutes
Location: Student Union Boardroom

Microaggressions, stereotypes and biases are prevalent in our society. This workshop will define actions and provide tools to modify behavior, call people in to learn about harmful actions and how to create a welcoming environment for all. 

Emotional Intelligence

Michele Burch Reid, MS
Principal, Legacy Consulting Institute, LLC
Organizational Effectiveness and Personal Development Consultant
www.legacyconsultinginstitute.com 

Date: Monday, September 18
Time: 10 a.m., 1 p.m. or 3 p.m.  
Length: 60 minutes
Location: Student Union Boardroom

Emotional Intelligence refers to a distinct combination of emotional and social skills and competencies that influence our overall capability to cope effectively with the demands and pressures of work and life. It is divided into five important areas of emotional and social intelligence. Each of these five areas or categories consists of three emotional intelligence subscales, measuring a total of 15 Emotional Intelligence skills that influence the way we:

Opportunities to get involved

Northwest affinity groups

Affinity groups are designed to create safe spaces for members to share and process experiences. As allies, our affinity group also allows participants the opportunity to identify ways in which we can appropriately use our privilege to bring about social change. For more information, visit Northwest affinity groups.

Employee resource groups

These employee-led groups aim to foster a diverse, inclusive workplace. Contact each group individually. 

Diversity Groups

Staff Council

Northwest Staff Council represents a unified voice for all Northwest staff. To learn about staff, upcoming events or voice concerns, visit Northwest Staff Council.

The Staff Council Executive Board for FY24 is:

• Selena Foreman, chair
• Duane Havard, chair-elect
• Lisa Crater, secretary
• Melissa Chesnut, communication chair
• Troy Brady, past chair
• Darci Blackney, chair of Outreach Committee
• Colin McDonough, chair of Employee Engagement and Recognition Committee
• Jessie Peter, chair of Diversity and Inclusion Committee
• Taylor Suiter, chair of Policy Committee

The Staff Council T-Shirt fundraiser continues until Oct. 8. Proceeds go toward the Staff Council Scholarship Fund. Online orders will be submitted for print every two weeks. Allow 4-6 weeks to receive a shirt. Notifications will be sent to emails when shirt orders are ready.

To order T-shirts, visit https://www.nwmissouri.edu/staffcouncil/shirtorder.htm

Employee Engagement Action Tracker

Well-being and perks:

• The flexible work schedule policy was communicated to all employees to use as it meets the needs of individual departments.
• The 1905 Society Employee Appreciation Program sponsored by the Northwest Foundation is another way employees can be recognized. The Foundation has increased the amount of employee recognition funds given. Each NLT member is provided funds from the Foundation to divide among leaders to use for recognizing employees. Funds may be used to cover recognition or appreciation events that are not covered or allowed per the University Expense Procedure.
• For the 2023 football season, employees are eligible for discounted single-game tickets. The discount is applicable to any Northwest employee and immediate family members for up to six tickets per home game when purchased prior to game day. Discounted tickets are $10 per ticket in the Reserved - Northwest Employee (Section A) and $8 per ticket in Standing Room Only.

Health care:

• For the 2023 plan year:
  • Decreased deductible on the Qualified High Deductible Health Plan from $5,000 to $3,000
  • Decreased rates by 10 percent for employee + spouse, employee + child(ren), family and two Northwest family plans
  • No change to employee only rates
• Renewal discussions for the 2024 plan begin in August 2023

• The Board of Regents approved a 4 percent COLA for employees in July 2023.
• Evergreen has completed the total compensation study, and presentations to various campus stakeholder groups are underway. Evergreen will present to the Board of Regents on Sept. 7, and NLT will make decisions regarding the compensation philosophy in coming months.

Mental health and wellness resources

The Office of Human Resources highlights the following resources that employees may use as necessary. Mindful by BlueKC, the EAP and TAO are completely confidential.

Family Guidance partnership to assist employees

The University has established a partnership with Family Guidance Center to provide a crisis counselor on site. Holly McMillen, a certified licensed professional counselor, is available Monday through Friday to respond to any crisis or resource needs.

This service is confidential. Contact Holly directly to schedule an appointment at hmcmillen@fgcnow.org or 660.853.8196.

For more information, contact the Office of Human Resources at 660.562.1127.

Mindful by BlueKC

Mindful by BlueKC is a behavioral health initiative dedicated to reducing stigma around behavioral health in our communities while making care accessible and affordable for members. Mindful by Blue KC is a commitment to covering the health needs of the whole person and comes to life as a set of tools and resources to address stress, depression, anxiety, substance use and more. This ensures that members can access and afford the behavioral health care they need. 

Mindful Advocates are available 24/7 and are licensed behavioral health clinicians who match members to providers and guide care plans. Mindful Advocates may be contacted at 833.302.6463. For more information, visit Mindful by BlueKC initiative.

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

All Northwest employees are eligible to use Ability Assist Counseling Services sponsored by The Hartford. Click here to read about the benefits this program offers.

TAO-Therapy Assistance Online

This is a private online library of behavioral health resources. It is a free and confidential resource available to Northwest employees and students. For more information, visit TAO-Therapy Assistance Online. 

Wellness Services is offering a variety of online programing. Follow Wellness Services on Twitter and Instagram at @nw_wellness for updates.

New Directions resource program center

The center provides reliable information about a variety of mental and behavioral health topics. For more information, visit New Directions Health Resources.

For information about a specific substance use, visit New Directions Substance Use Disorders Center, or call the Substance Use Disorder Hotline at 877.326.2458.

If you have questions, email healthybearcat@nwmissouri.edu.

Benefits & Wellness Information

Employee Wellness

Bearcat Family 5k

The first inaugural 5k on the Bearcat Trail was a success! Thank you to all who volunteered and participated in the Bearcat Family 5k. We are looking forward to making this an annual event!

3-Part Mental Health Support Series

Northwest continues its three-part series on Mental Health Support on the new Employee Wellness website. The series includes information and resources on the topics of sleep, relationship health and financial wellness.

Part III of this series, “Financial Wellness,” will be published next week. It will include an informational video by MOSERS and links to upcoming MOSERS webinars as well as a recorded presentation, titled “Completing the Retirement Puzzle,” by David Gibson of Deferred Compensation. Visit the Financial Wellness page on the Employee Wellness website.

Fall Fitness Challenge

Be on the lookout for additional information in the coming weeks regarding a fall fitness challenge.

Blue KC Online Member Guide 

Now you can access your member guide online! Click here and scan the QR code to get instant access to your member guide all year long.

Benefits Resource Center

USI's Benefits Resource Center is a free resource service for employees and encourages you to reach out for any information, questions or help with insurance or benefits.

Click this link to download a flyer with more details and contact information. 

BlueKC SmartShopper

BlueKC is partnering with Sapphire Digital to offer SmartShopper, an incentive platform that can save members money on health care expenses every time they select a reward-eligible, lower-cost care for qualifying procedures such as MRIs, colonoscopies or blood work. 

SmartShopper is embedded within the provider finder and cost estimator tools in your mybluekc.com portal. Click here to watch a short video about SmartShopper.

MOSERS educational programs

MOSERS offers educational programs to help members learn information about their benefits as they progress through their career and experience different life events along the way. 

Newer Employees and MOSERS Webinars: Start learning about the state benefits administered by MOSERS.

• For employees who are newer to the state with at least six months but less than five years of service (not yet vested)
• Speakers include MOSERS and MO Deferred Comp
• Daytime and evening sessions available
• Sessions last approximately 90 minutes
• Register via GoTo Webinar for a daytime session or evening session.

Mid-Career Webinar: Learn how different career and life events may affect your pension benefit.

• For employees with at least five years of service (vested) and 10 or more years until retirement eligibility
• Speakers include MOSERS and MO Deferred Comp
• Daytime and evening sessions available
• Sessions last approximately two hours
• Register by following step-by-step instructions for enrolling in a webinar via myMOSERS and GoTo Webinar.

Ready to Retire Sessions: Learn about the retirement process and how different decisions may impact your pension benefit.

• For employees within five years of retirement eligibility
• Speakers include MOSERS, MO Deferred Comp, MCHCP and Social Security
• Daytime and evening sessions available
• Sessions are full-day or part-day or evening depending on the audience

Stay up to date and visit www.mosers.org/education frequently for more information, including schedules and how to register. 

MOSERS termination and reemployment rules

For employees in a MOSERS eligible position and nearing retirement, keep in mind the termination and reemployment rules. Those rules state that before receiving a benefit payment from MOSERS, IRS rules require a “bona fide termination” of a member’s employment. For purposes of MOSERS Board Rules, a "bona fide termination" occurs when:

• They have completely severed employment;
• They have not entered into a prearranged agreement (written or oral), prior to retirement, with the state of Missouri or any MOSERS-covered employer for subsequent employment on any basis (full-time, part-time, or other); and
• They are not subsequently employed with the state of Missouri or any MOSERS-covered employer on any basis (full-time, part-time, or other) within 30 days after their employment with their prior employer has ended.

For more information, please see MOSERS' FAQs on termination and reemployment rules and its termination and reemployment rules flyer.

Please note, if an employee does not have a bona fide separation of service, their retirement will be null and void, meaning they will not receive their pension payments.

MO Deferred Comp Retirement Plan

The MO Deferred Comp plan is a supplemental retirement savings option available to employees. Visit www.modeferredcomp.org to learn more about the plan, register for upcoming education sessions or find financial planning options.

MyBlueKC mobile app includes virtual care

Blue KC offers members digital tools to allow quick access to health insurance plan information to support them along their health journey.

Today, many members enjoy the convenience of Blue KC Virtual Care from their mobile device or laptop computer. Virtual care offers a fast, simple way to see a doctor 24/7 for sick care or to make an appointment with a behavioral health provider.

The Blue KC Virtual Care has moved from its own, standalone app to the MyBlueKC mobile app. This change means virtual care is now a feature in an app that members frequently use. With just a few taps, members can have a video visit with a doctor as well as get benefit information, view claims, download digital ID cards, and connect to health and wellness programs – all in one place. Make sure you have updated to the latest version of the MyBlueKC mobile app through your device settings for the virtual care functionality.

Click here for instructions on how to get the MyBlueKC app.

Beware of financial planning emails

Some employees have received emails from financial planning companies implying they are partnered with MOSERS. The content of the emails suggests that members must pay for a meeting with a retirement counselor and that they can learn how to increase their retirement savings. This is inaccurate. MOSERS has not authorized any outside financial planners to advise our members on their MOSERS benefits. 

As a reminder, the services offered through MOSERS and MO Deferred Comp are provided to MOSERS members at no cost. In regard to increasing their retirement savings, MOSERS members have the ability to meet with MO Deferred Comp financial education professionals to help make savings decisions as they prepare for retirement.

Northwest advises all MOSERS members to stay vigilant and double-check the addresses of email senders before clicking any links. 

A Healthier You (AHY)

The A Healthier You program gives you convenient online and mobile access to wellness tools that you can use to live your healthiest life. Plus, you’ll earn points that can be redeemed for chances to win gift cards to some popular retailers. For more information about the program, click here.

Blue365 deals

Blue365 is a free health and wellness discount program offered to Blue KC members for year-round discounts on gym memberships, fitness gear, healthy eating options and more. To register and browse available discounts, log in to your mybluekc.com portal and select Health Programs in the Health & Wellness menu. For more information about the program, click here.

Campus recreation offerings 

The Foster Fitness Center, Student Recreation Center and Hughes Fieldhouse walking track are free for all employees and spouses to use. Employees and spouses must complete the assumption of risk and waiver of liability form on CatPAWS in advance of using the Foster Fitness Center. 

The Hughes Fieldhouse walking track is available for employee use, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday and 7 to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Employees should enter through the south doors, and parking is available in the south lots. Kids are welcome but must be accompanied by an adult at all times while on the track. Click here to view a listing of when the walking track is not available.

Mosaic offerings

Mosaic Medical Center-Maryville offers a personalized weight management program called Healthy Lifestyles. The program is designed to help people of all ages and sizes achieve an improved quality of life through medical nutritional counseling, teaching and lifestyle changes. For additional information about the program, visit Healthy Lifestyles: Personalized Weight Management Program.

Employee Discounts

Discounted Bearcat Football Tickets

Northwest employees are eligible for discounted single-game football tickets during the 2023 season. This discount is applicable to any Northwest employee and immediate family members for up to six tickets per home game when purchased prior to game day.

The discounted ticket rate is available for seating in two sections at Bearcat Stadium:

• Reserved – Northwest Employee (Section A), $10 per ticket
• Standing Room Only (SRO) – Northwest Employee, $8 per ticket

Discounted employee tickets must be purchased online no later than 11:59 p.m. on the day prior to home games. Discounted employee tickets will not be sold on game days. 

How to purchase discounted tickets

Click here to purchase game tickets and select the game you want to attend.

To apply the employee discount, scroll down on the web page and click “Have a passcode?” Enter your 919 number to unlock the employee ticket discount and purchase up to six tickets per game.

Home Chef

Home Chef is recognizing our nation’s educators and school support personnel with a 50 percent discount on their first scheduled Home Chef meal kit and a $10 discount on five subsequent deliveries. Simply use code EDU50 at checkout to begin receiving your education discount.

Get Started with Home Chef

Home Chef makes home cooking simple. Their fresh, weekly meal kits are customized to your liking and delivered straight to your doorstep. Minimize your trips to the grocery store and distress your evenings with delicious, pre-planned meals starting at just $6.99 per serving. Here’s how it works:

• Select recipes each week that fit your preferences.
• Use their Customize feature to upgrade, swap, or double up on your favorite protein.
• Receive fresh, pre-portioned ingredients delivered to your door.
• Effortlessly create exciting dishes with step-by-step recipe cards.

Your education discount is available at //homechef.com/edu and, if you already are a customer, you can verify with ID.me on the payment page of your account to begin receiving 10 percent off all future orders.

Miscellaneous

Paperless billing

Beginning in May, all Northwest employees receive an e-bill to their University email, rather than a mailed paper bill. To opt out of an e-bill, complete the Paperless Billing Opt-Out form in MyNorthwest under Employee Resources -> Finance & Administration -> Billing.

https://www.nwmissouri.edu/intranet/employee/web/paperless-billing.htm

Bearcat Food Pantry

The mission of the Bearcat Food Pantry is to provide a source of food and necessities for Northwest students and employees experiencing food insecurity and hunger. The food pantry is located in the J.W. Jones Student Union and is accessible Tuesday, 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.; Thursday, 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.; Friday 10 a.m. to noon.

Northwest accepts food donations for the pantry at the Student Engagement Center and the Office of Student Affairs located on the second floor of the Student Union. For a list of most needed items, visit Bearcat Food Pantry. Monetary donations to support the food pantry should be directed to the Northwest Foundation and are tax-deductible.

Friends of International Students

Friends of International Students (FIS) is a community-based organization established to match interested area individuals and families (friends) with international students at Northwest. The program goals are to provide support to the students as they become adjusted to their new home and to promote friendship and understanding between people of different nationalities.

FIS is recruiting friends to connect with international students. Friends are asked to make contact with assigned students at least once a month during their year-long commitment to the program. Contact can take many forms, including family dinners, attending sporting events, pumpkin carving and various other activities involving two-way cultural tradition sharing. For more information or to apply, contact board members at FIS@nwmissouri.edu or visit www.nwmissouri.edu/international/services/friends/.

Does your department need office supplies?

Visit the “How to Purchase Office Supplies” guide. Various binders, hanging file folders and other office supplies are available at no cost to departments at Central Receiving.

Purchase requisition training videos

Purchasing has created instructional videos explaining how to create a purchase requisition and a Central Stores purchase requisition in Banner/INB. The videos are available in MyNorthwest, Employee Resources - Finance. 

Workstation safety guidelines

It is important for employees to apply good ergonomic practices. To view a complete list of ergonomic suggestions, visit Workstation safety guideline.