What's New
State Health Benefits Program (SHBP) Annual Open Enrollment
This year’s Open Enrollment period for New Jersey State Health Benefits Program (SHBP) and the New Jersey Tax$ave program (flexible spending accounts) is the month of October. Changes made during Open Enrollment will be effective January 1, 2010. If you wish to make changes or additions to your health insurance coverage, forms must be submitted to Payroll Services on or before October 27, 2009. "Working For U" Benefit and Resources Fairs will be held in October on the Camden, Newark, and New Brunswick campuses. For more information, visit the open enrollment webpage.
NJ Family Leave Insurance (FLI) Available July 1
New Jersey Family Leave Insurance (FLI) will be available beginning July 1, 2009. Eligible employees will receive two-thirds of their wages to a maximum of $546 per week for up to six weeks over a 12-month period to: 1) bond with a child during the first 12 months after the child’s birth, or bond with an adopted child within the first 12 months of placement; or 2) care for a family member (defined as a child, spouse, domestic partner, civil union partner, or parent) with a serious health condition. The Family Leave Insurance claim form is available online and can be accessed through the Get A Form webpage. For more information, contact your HR Consultant and/or visit the FAQ webpage.
Helene Fuld Hospital Contract Termination
Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of NJ has announced the termination of Helene Fuld Hospital’s contract effective August 15, 2009. NJ Direct members are encouraged to find another participating hospital in the area by visiting the Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield website. For information regarding the contract termination, ongoing treatment requests and contact information visit the Division of Pensions and Benefits website.
Effective July 24, 2009, the current Federal Minimum Wage rate will increase to $7.25 per hour. In order to remain in compliance with the law all departments, regardless of size, are required to post the most recent Minimum Wage poster prominently in the work area, where it can be readily seen by employees. To find a copy of the Fair Labor Standards Act (Minimum Wage) notice, visit the Notice Postings webpage.
FY 2009–2010 Pay-for-Performance Program and Staff Compensation Program
The FY 2009–2010 Pay-for-Performance Program (P4P) for Managerial, Professional, Supervisory, and Confidential (MPSC) non-aligned staff employees has been announced. P4P information and guidelines for deans, managers, and department heads is now available on the UHR website. Click here to access resources for staff employees eligible for P4P.
Employees represented by URA-AFT are eligible for the Staff Compensation Program (SCP). Information for deans, managers, and department heads is accessible via the UHR website. Click here for general SCP information for eligible staff employees. Additional information about the Staff Compensation Program is located under Article 38 of the URA-AFT agreement.
The P4P and SCP compensation programs will run concurrently this spring.
Revisions to the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
On January 16, 2009, new government regulations went into effect pursuant to the Federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). The new regulations amend the FMLA to provide leave for a “military caregiver," defined as the spouse, son, daughter, parent or next of kin of a covered service member who is recovering from a serious illness or injury sustained in the line of duty on active duty. The amended FMLA also provides for leave because of certain "qualifying exigencies" arising out of the fact that the employee’s spouse, son, daughter, or parent is on or called to active duty. For more information, visit the FMLA webpage.
The U.S. Department of Labor has developed forms for the various certifications and notifications required by employees and employers with respect to their rights and responsibilities under the FMLA. The university has adapted these forms for use in administering the FMLA, the New Jersey Family Leave Act (NJFLA), and university medical leaves. Departments and employees should use these forms and discontinue use of any prior versions of letters or certifications. For more information and links to the new forms, visit the FMLA webpage. Forms are also available on the Get A Form webpage under "Family & Medical Leave."
COBRA Premium Subsidies Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) into law on February 17, 2009. The Act includes a provision for a 65 percent employer subsidy for COBRA premiums effective with the March 1, 2009 premium. Qualified COBRA beneficiaries will be required to pay 35 percent of the COBRA premium for up to nine months. The COBRA subsidy only applies to employees and covered dependents who no longer have health plan coverage due to involuntary termination or a reduction of work hours from the period September 1, 2008 through December 31, 2009. For more information, visit the FAQ webpage.
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