HR Pulse Fall 2020

Baker College System Human Resources 1020 S. Washington Street, Owosso, MI 48867 hr@baker.edu payroll@baker.edu

Inside This Issue

Employee Spotlight

What’s New to Benefit You?

o 2021 Open Enrollment- Around the Corner!

o Financial Wellness- The Focus is on You!

o New MassMutual App

o MassMutual HealthBridge Free Life Insurance

COVID-19- Staying the Course

o Tips for Balancing Work and Home

o Staying Connected When Working Remotely

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

o Upcoming Events

o Foundational Training Series

Human Resources Contact List

Fall is in the air and it is exciting that we have continued to be able to support students in their educational goals during this unprecedented time we are all experiencing. All Baker College employees have contributed to this effort and have done so with resilience and commitment. Resilience is a word that has been used often as we all figure out how to charter through what has been coined "the new normal." Resilience is the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties, sources of stress, adversity, change and adapt. The new normal here at BC involves more employees working remotely and communicating most often through written or virtual modalities versus working together in person. With this change comes new ways of communicating such as Zoom meetings and Google Hangouts. As we adapt to approaching our work differently and communicating with each other through various technologies, it is important to remember the purpose of what you are communicating and choose the best technology to meet that purpose. MIT Sloan's article, "Five Ways to Improve Communication in Virtual Teams" discusses ways in which to think about communication with each other in our current "new normal" of working virtually together. I appreciate the resilience that our employees have shown over the last few months and recognize that all of us need support and tools to expand our adaptability during this time. The HR team will continue to look for resources and tools to support our employees in the best way possible throughout the pandemic and days ahead.

A Note from Dr. Dana Clark

Click here for the Holiday Calendars

Page 2 Employee Spotlight

"... How do we build a culture of appreciation and recognition within our organization? Recognition has a unique way of making individuals feel valued. Can we develop a habit of recognizing each other for the good we are doing and call it out? Taking a little time to call out a job well done can mean so much to the person recognized and move us forward toward a culture of appreciating and valuing each other." As I read this piece, I could not help but think of my supervisor (she refers to herself as our 'team leader') Dr. Kristina Marshall, Program Director at the Owosso campus. Kristina

'wrote the book' on employee appreciation and recognition! She is readily available to her team nearly 24/7! Yes, I have received return messages from her as late (or early!) as 3:45 am! No issue is too insignificant for her. In addition, she holds regular GoMeet sessions for all of us. Some of them are program related and some simply provide a venue for us to share and talk about current events, i.e., our related feelings and reactions and how we can incorporate pertinent discussions into our upcoming classes. And, nothing keeps her away from her intended tasks! During this recent sequester, she lost computer power (it may have been due to a nearby tornado) during one of our sessions. Even "Mother Nature" knows better than to mess with Dr. Marshall! She simply called in on her cell phone and didn't miss a beat! Most importantly, Kristina never closes a conversation with me -- and I'm sure with others as well -- without sending along a kudos and her expression of gratitude for what we contribute to the Social Sciences team and to our students. Regardless of my state of mind when I contact her about a concern, I always leave our discussion feeling better and smiling. So, this is my reciprocal shout-out to Dr. Kristina Marshall!!! She is the epitome of Baker Proud! Kudos provided by Dr. Sandra Krug Scott, Ph.D!

Dr. Kristina Marshall

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Do you know an employee that continuously stands out by going above and beyond what is expected? Does your leader have strong team-building skills that

allows your team to propel forward? Does your coworker continuously make a positive impact on BC students and staff with their energetic personality?

If you would like to recognize an employee, publicly or anonymously, please

email hr@baker.edu so that they may be our Employee Spotlight in future HR Pulse Editions!

Recognizing Each Other

Year after year, one thing that a full-time employee should be familiar with is

Open Enrollment in October! This year is no different with the 2021 open

enrollment season beginning on October 1 and going through October 31. The

College will again use the Maxwell Health online benefit platform for all of your

2021 elections. Every full-time employee is required to access the platform and

enroll in their benefits to continue those into the 2021 calendar year.

As a reminder, the Maxwell Health system has a similar look and feel to an online

shopping experience. Full-time employees are required to elect their desired

benefits by adding them to their cart. Once all benefits are selected, an employee

must then review and finalize their cart to secure their benefit elections for 2021.

In order to make this process as seamless as possible for employees, System HR

and guests will be hosting two Zoom meetings to discuss the Maxwell Health

system and other important topics such as:

2021 Open Enrollment- Around the Corner!

Changes/Enhancements to Health Insurance Benefits Effective 1/1/2021 o New HPA Prescription Drug Assistant Program

o Co-Insurance Maximum Out-of-Pocket Amounts

o New Laboratory Benefit Incentive

o New Advanced Imaging Benefit Incentive

Open Enrollment Overview

Open Enrollment Zoom Meetings

Page 3 What’s New to Benefit You?

Did you know that Maxwell

Health has a free mobile app for

those on the go? Download it free

today!

Deanna Brandon from System HR and guests will be joining together to bring you two presentations around the 2021 benefit updates. Employees only need to attend one of the Zoom meetings to capture all of the information. Emails with the Zoom meeting information will be sent, separately, at a later date. Monday, September 28th at 2:00 p.m. Join Zoom: https://bakercollege.zoom.us/j/91334425510?pwd=WUJlVzBxS20xMzJVcW5GejVNN3B5Zz09 Meeting ID: 913 3442 5510 Passcode: @L089BWT Tuesday, September 29th at 9:00 a.m. Join Zoom: https://bakercollege.zoom.us/j/98368866173?pwd=SHoyeU5aUWdmVFJQR3hnLyt6dkRtUT09 Meeting ID: 983 6886 6173 Passcode: U2fe!905

Let’s give a shout out to those employees who virtually joined System HR and the Snider Financial team for the off-cycle Market Review meeting earlier this month! There were over 90 employees who took time out to focus on their personal financial wellness while hopefully easing some anxieties about the current market climate due to the pandemic.

Staying the course and again focusing on your personal financial wellness,

System HR is again joining with the Snider Team to bring you another Financial Wellness presentation. This year’s presentation will include guest speakers as we focus on ways to help you by addressing the areas below:

Will vs. Trust

College Savings Accounts for Kids

Social Security Benefits

Medicare Eligibility and Supplement Plans

Investment 101 All employees are encouraged to attend one of the presentations happening in October!

Financial Wellness-

The Focus is on YOU!

MassMutual has an app that will not only allow you to see the balance

in your MassMutual Pension through Baker College, but also any other

MassMutual product you may have including:

MassMutual Artistry 403(b) account

MassMutual@Work Whole Life products (BC Sponsored)

MassMutual Life Insurance Products (not affiliated with BC)

And more!

The MassMutual App is easy to use and safe to access from your

phone! Please remember that if you are currently using the

MassMutual RetireSmart website or app to access your Baker College

pension, you will not be using the same credentials for the

MassMutual App. You may need to register for the MassMutual app by

following a few easy steps, once you download the app. Check out

more information on the MassMutual App by visiting the website!

Don’t forget about the MassMutual RetireSmart mobile app that

focuses on your MassMutual Pension and includes special features.

Did you hear about the new

MassMutual App?

Page 4 What’s New to Benefit You?

Financial Wellness Zoom Meetings

Emails with the Zoom meeting

information will also be sent at a later date.

Tuesday, October 13th at 2:00 p.m.

Join Zoom: https://bakercollege.zoom.us/j/95613413190?pwd=YWpJM2ZGcHk1dENycDR

2TmxRYllNdz09 Meeting ID: 956 1341 3190

Passcode: w%kRY7M1

Thursday, October 15th at 9:00 a.m. Join Zoom:

https://bakercollege.zoom.us/j/97174785341?pwd=Z1lQU1NnSTkrRFhGTjZR

Q0xZR3RwUT09 Meeting ID: 971 7478 5341

Passcode: R+8sM83+

What’s New to

Benefit You?

Do you know someone who is a frontline healthcare worker who directly interacts with patients

fighting COVID-19? If so, make sure to tell them about the latest opportunity through MassMutual. MassMutual’s press release provides more details on the benefit; however, below is a snapshot view of the program summary:

Free no-cost life insurance program to eligible applicants. MassMutual pays the premiums. 3-year term life insurance program either at $25,000 of death benefit (for ages 18-50) or $10,000 of

death benefit (for ages 51-60). The program expires at the end of the 3-year term. In the event of a death within the 3-year term, the guaranteed-issue policy will be paid to a trust

fund, administered by MassMutual Trust Company, in the name of the designated beneficiaries. Once in the trust, the funds can be used by beneficiaries for expenses related to health, education, maintenance, and support.

Guaranteed issue – meaning that there’s no physical exam or lab testing required. As long as this person meets the eligibility criteria, health will not affect whether an approval is

received. Eligibility is as follows:

Live or work in the U.S. (not available in Puerto Rico or U.S. Virgin Islands). Be between the ages of 18-60. Have either a U.S. citizenship and residency or a permanent residency status.

Have annual income of no more than $250,000. Be recently actively employed or volunteering at least 10 hours per month at a healthcare or emergency

medical service provider that is testing, treating, or evaluating patients for COVID-19 and work in a role with COVID-19 exposure. The following occupations, if exposed to a COVID-19 risk, are eligible: Employees at a licensed hospital, urgent care center, nursing home, assisted living facility, hospice

inpatient facility, Federally Qualified Health Center, or emergency medical services provider who interact directly with patients.

Advanced practice providers (nurse practitioners and physician assistants). Non-medical staff at a licensed hospital or urgent care center. This includes custodial staff, clerical

staff, administrative staff, and others. Emergency medical technicians (EMTs) or paramedics employed with (including independent

contractors) an Emergency Medical Services company (EMS). This includes firefighters who are also EMTs or Paramedics.

Medical students who are completing a rotation at a licensed hospital or urgent care center (with proof of recent active employment).

Individuals who are currently actively volunteering at least 10 hours per month at a healthcare or Emergency Medical Services (EMS) provider where the provider is engaged in testing, treating, or evaluating COVID-19 cases and, in the course of volunteering, the applicant has direct in-person contact with COVID-19 patients. Volunteers must submit proof of volunteer work.

Employees at a Federally Qualified Health Center used for COVID-19 testing and treatment are eligible provided they have direct COVID-19 exposure risk as part of their duties.

Healthcare workers at temporary COVID-19 testing and treatment facilities qualify for HealthBridge with appropriate documentation.

MassMutual is committed to funding $3 billion of this insurance and will evaluate the program on an ongoing basis. To apply, eligible individuals can visit the HealthBridge website. This benefit is through MassMutual’s HealthBridge program and is not endorsed by Baker College. This article is to inform you of a potential opportunity that you, or someone you know, may be eligible for.

MassMutual’s HealthBridge Free Life Insurance Program

Page 5

In order to help you adjust to this strange, and rather stressful, reality of working from home, here are a couple tips on how to stay mentally healthy while juggling work and home.

First, even though you now roll out of bed and are immediately in your office, it is important that you still segment work and home. Just because you work from home does not mean that you are on the clock 24/7. Research has shown that creating mental boundaries between work and home helps you to detach from work, which allows you to recover and feel refreshed for work the next day. Do not feel obligated to respond to a work

One of the benefits of coming into the office each day is the ease with which connections are made and relationships are fostered. Now that many organizations are suddenly working remotely and social distancing due to the Coronavirus outbreak, leaders may be concerned with how to help team members continue to feel connected. Working remotely does not have to be less engaging. The same technology that allows us to work remotely also presents creative opportunities for teams to interact virtually, even in circumstances that aren’t ideal. In fact, for many teams, the dynamic switch to working remotely could help solidify processes and touch points that keep people connected and engaged. Strong relationships can help people stay productive and maintain business continuity, while also boosting morale during challenging times. Follow these tips to help your team bond and stay connected while working remotely. Schedule a daily group check-in. Turn on your

camera and say hello in person.

Leaders, implement standing office hours so people

can dial in and discuss whatever topics are on their mind.

Make use of shared calendars or create a separate log

to record projects, hours, vacation and sick days to track everyone’s availability.

Encourage people to share short and long-term concerns or questions via a shared document. Talk

through responses on team calls or in small groups;

offer support where possible.

Page 6 COVID-19- Staying the Course

Tips for Balancing Work and Home During COVID-19

Staying Connected When Working Remotely Host a virtual happy hour, coffee or lunch

break, with everyone bringing their beverage or food of choice to a video chat room.

Develop creative team engagement

challenges on a regular basis - for example

workspace photos, recipe sharing, themed doodles or themed dress days. Consider a small prize for “winners” as voted on by the team.

Conduct virtual tours of your team member’s

workspaces, to build empathy and so everyone can see what it's like for colleagues to work remotely (less privacy, interruptions from family members or pets, etc.)

Let people get to know your new “coworkers”

(spouses, children, roommates and/or pets) by hosting an event where everyone can mingle virtually.

Set up a “virtual water cooler” discussion

board/chat room where people can spend a few minutes engaged with their colleagues in casual conversation.

© 2020 PwC. All rights reserved

email that was sent to you at 8 p.m.? Remember, you are not at work during this time. You are at home. Give yourself time to recover during the evenings so that you may feel refreshed and ready to work the next day.

A second tip consists on taking “microbreaks.”

These are short, voluntary breaks that you take in

between tasks. Research has shown that these

short breaks can decrease fatigue and increase

energy while working. © 2020 IndeOnline. All rights reserved

Latin Style Zumba Dancing Class Friday, October 2, 2020 at 6:00 p.m. Virtual Event through Zoom

Start a Conversation Series: Stress and Coping Skills

Tuesday, October 6, 2020 at 4:00 p.m.

Virtual Event through Zoom Misunderstood Webinar Panel- Black Lives vs. Blue Lives

Wednesday, October 14, 2020 at 1:00 p.m. Virtual Event through Zoom

WOKE- A Discussion About Political Awareness

Tuesday, November 10, 2020 at 12:00 p.m. Virtual Event through Zoom

Upcoming Campus Events

Part I of the DEI Council Foundational Training Series resumed in July with the theme “Understanding is Power”. There have been several opportunities to take part in the trainings that focus on:

Implicit Bias & Stereotypes

Microaggressions & Allyship and Advocacy

Intersectionality

Race, Power & Privilege

DEI National Picture 2050

The trainings will continue to be live, virtual meetings (until further notice) that encourage interaction between the speakers and attendees. All current and future trainings can be found on the Google calendar of the DEI website. The College’s expectation is that every faculty and staff member complete all of the training sessions in Part I by December 31, 2020.

Foundational Training Series

Page 8 Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Click here to access the full calendar of upcoming

events on the Baker College website.

Dana Clark Chief Human Resource Officer

dana.clark@baker.edu 989-729-3955

Human Resources Deanna Brandon Director of Compensation and Benefits deanna.brandon@baker.edu 989-729-3952

Bethany Brown HR Generalist brivar02@baker.edu 989-729-3953

Tracey Rigdon HR Operations Manager tracey.rigdon@baker.edu 989-729-3956

Tammy Stehle HR Coordinator tstehl02@baker.edu 989-729-3957

Kathy Stowe HR Generalist kathy.stowe@baker.edu 989-729-3958

hr@baker.edu payroll@baker.edu

Page 9 Contact List