News You Can Use!

Important Information for Employees of Oklahoma State University

Health, Dental and Vision Option Period Deadline Friday October 29, 2004, 5:00 pm

Option Enrollment Information on the Web

Direct Deposit to be Required for New Hires

Do You Have a Current Address for Any of These Retirees?

Attention New Hires:  Retirement Elections Due

Employees May Take Time Off to Vote

Training Opportunities

Staff Awards Day November 4

Coming Next Month

Health, Dental and Vision Option Period Deadline
Friday, October 29, 2004, 5:00 pm

Enrollment forms for health, dental and vision coverage are due in Human Resources, 106 Whitehurst, by 5:00 pm, Friday, October 29. Forms received after 5:00 pm cannot be accepted. Changes will become effective January 1, 2005.

If you plan to mail your forms, you need to allow plenty of time for either campus mail or US Postal Service mail to arrive at 106 Whitehurst before the deadline. The fax machine may also be busy as the deadline approaches, so you will want to fax early, (405) 744-8345, and mail the original form as follow-up if you are relying on a fax to meet the deadline.

Branch campus locations may have established earlier deadlines to ensure timely arrival in Stillwater.

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Option Enrollment Information on the Web

We have established a special web page for Option Enrollment information and will add to the site as more information becomes available: www.okstate.edu/osu_per/benefits/optionenroll.htm.
 

These are common questions. You will want to read your option materials carefully to ensure that you are aware of your benefit options, and attend one of the sessions listed on the front page.

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Direct Deposit to Be Required for New Hires

In accordance with recent State legislation, all new state employees, including OSU employees, will be required to sign up for direct deposit if hired after January 1, 2005. In addition, all other employees who are currently not on direct deposit will need to have their pay checks direct deposited by June 30, 2007.
As more and more employees begin receiving their pay by direct deposit, the current multiple locations for check distribution will be gradually eliminated and the Bursar’s Office will be the only check distribution point for the Stillwater campus. After June 30, 2007, all pick up of checks will be eliminated. Therefore, all Stillwater employees who are not on direct deposit will want to complete an Automatic Deposit Transmittal form and submit it to the Office of Personnel Management, 2101 North Lincoln Boulevard, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73105. Don’t forget to attach a voided check to your request. The form is available on the web at www.opm.state.ok.us/opm-73.pdf.

Employee Services will be glad to help you secure and complete the Automatic Deposit Transmittal form, and even send it to the Office of Personnel Management for you.

It takes 30-60 days for direct deposit to become active. Employees will want to make arrangements now to ensure the most timely receipt of pay. Another positive aspect of direct deposit is that pay is usually available at your financial institution several hours or even days before the paper check is distributed.

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Do You Have a Current Address for Any of These Retirees?

Effective January 1, 2004, OSU increased retiree life coverage to $6,000 and changed from American Fidelity to ING as the carrier. OSU attempted to notify all retirees of this. After considerable effort, we have located all but 44 of OSU’s 1,546 retirees. We are asking for your help to locate the 44 listed below.
If you know any of the following retirees and have any clues (such as family contacts) that might help us locate them, please send an e-mail to osu-es@okstate.edu, or call (405) 744-5449. We appreciate your help.

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Attention New Hires: Retirement Elections Due

As a reminder, employees hired on or after July 1, 2004, have 90 days to make an irrevocable lifetime election concerning whether to participate in the Alternate Retirement Plan (TIAA-CREF), or the Oklahoma Teachers’ Retirement System (OTRS).

If you were hired on or after July 1 and have not yet made this important decision, please be aware of your deadline and make sure that your form (the yellow form received during your benefits enrollment meeting) arrives at Employee Services, 106 Whitehurst, on time. If you fail to make your election timely, OSU is required to enroll you in OTRS after 90 days as an irrevocable decision.

Monitor your payroll advice and contact Employee Services, (405) 744-5449, immediately if you turned in an election and the appropriate contributions are not reflected on your payroll advice.

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Employees May Take Time Off to Vote

Polls in Payne County will be open for the General Presidential Election from 7:00 am until 7:00 pm on Tuesday, November 2. Under Oklahoma Statutes, an employee may have time off to vote, two hours or more if distance to polls requires it.

A request for such time off must be made in writing by the employee the day prior to the election. The unit administrator will decide what time in the work schedule to give for voting. Employees will not lose any compensation or incur penalty for the absence if they provide proof of voting.

Time off for voting is not required if the employee has three hours after the opening of polls before the work day begins or three hours after close of the work day before close of polls. In other words, time off would not be necessary if an employee begins work at 10:00 am or later or ends work by 4:00 pm. A unit administrator may change work hours to provide for such a three-hour period.

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Training Opportunities

For more information, or to register, refer to your 2004 Faculty and Staff Development Opportunities brochure, or go to www.okstate.edu/osu_per/hr/staff_dvpt04.htm, or call Training Services, (405) 744-5374.

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Staff Awards Day November 4

Distinguished Service Award recipients and Years of Service pin recipients (based on 5-year increments) will be honored Thursday, November 4, 2004, in the Student Union Little Theatre at 10:00 a.m.

Check the SAC Website, http://fp.okstate.edu/sac/, for the Years of Service pin recipient names. Please make a special effort to join in this awards ceremony and honor those receiving a pin or a Distinguished Service Award.

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Coming Next Month

Flex and Other Annual Benefit Enrollment Information

Critical Illness and Cancer Insurance Information

Voluntary Plans
 

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OSU Human Resources developed this information for the convenience of OSU employees. It is a brief interpretation of more detailed and complex materials. If further clarification is needed, the actual law, policy and contract should be consulted as the authoritative source. OSU continually monitors benefits, policy and procedures and reserves the right to change, modify, amend, or terminate benefit programs at any time.