Month: December 2024

As 2024 comes to a close, take advantage of these tips from the Office of Human Resources to make the most of your employee benefits before the year ends.

1. Donate unused annual leave and sick leave

Eligible employees can carry over a maximum of 45 days of annual leave and 180 days of sick leave from one calendar year to the next. If you have annual leave and/or sick leave accruals over these limits that you anticipate will be forfeited, take a minute to donate them to the Leave Transfer Program by December 31. Please keep in mind that annual and sick leave donations cannot exceed half of what you accrue in a year. Donations can be made to the general leave pool or to an individual faculty or staff member currently in an approved leave status such as FMLA or Extended Leave and eligible to participate.

2. Use State Vision Plan allowances

Employees enrolled in the State Vision Plan have access to a $150 annual allowance for glasses frames or a $130 allowance for contact lenses (in lieu of frames) each calendar year. Contact EyeMed (877-735-9314) to learn more or to find an in-network eye doctor. The state vision plan utilizes the “Select” network.

3. Sign up for an electronic W-2 and 1095-C

To make tax preparation easier and avoid the waste and cost of paper documents, active employees can elect to receive their W-2 and 1095-C forms electronically instead of by mail. Sign up or change your preference through Employee Self-Service by selecting “Tax Documents.” 

4. Review options for your Dependent Care Spending Account (DCSA) funds

If you have remaining funds in your Dependent Care Spending Account (DCSA), submit claims for eligible expenses incurred from January 1, 2024, through March 15, 2025. Participating employees will forfeit any funds left in their account after the reimbursement deadline. Claims can be submitted through ASIFlex online or by using a claim form. The deadline to submit reimbursement claims is March 31, 2025.

5. Review options for your Medical Spending Account (MSA) funds  

If you have remaining funds in your MSA, you can submit claims for eligible expenses incurred in 2024 through ASIFlex online or by using a claim form. The deadline to submit your claim for your 2024 expenses is March 31, 2025.

You can carry over up to $640 of unused funds from your account into 2025. Any funds left over in your account after the reimbursement deadline will be forfeited.

For additional information on your DCSA or MSA Funds, log into your account or visit PEBA’s MoneyPlus webpage for more information.

6. Revisit the 2025 Holiday Calendar

The 2025 Holiday Calendar is a helpful resource when planning for the year ahead.

7. Update your Emergency Contact Information

Review and update your emergency contact information on your personal details page in Employee Self Service.

Questions?

Contact the Benefits team or Ask-HR. 

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A happy (and stress-free) holiday season with ComPsych

The holidays can be a joyous time, but they can also cause lots of stress. Ensure your holidays are a happy and stress-free season with several tips in the ComPsych Holiday Resource Toolkit.
https://media.clemson.edu/humanres/EAP/2024_holiday_resource_guide.pdf

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving and are ready for the much-deserved rest and relaxation of the Holiday Season.  As we move toward the break and the time for reconnecting with the people we care about, (whether in person, over the phone, or video call) we may encounter some relationships that need mending.  In the past few years did you have an argument with a co-worker, a disagreement with a family member, or have you lost a friend for any number of reasons?  Perhaps you feel it is time to reconcile these relationships, but you are not sure how.  I hope to share a few thoughts with you that might just help.

Just as with any difficult conversation, preparation is the key!  You should prepare yourself and allow the other participant time to prepare themselves for the conversation.  Preparation will allow you both the space to discover not only what you value in your relationship but examine what exactly about the conflict caused the harm to your relationship.  Making that call, or sending that text might be hard, but the first step to reconciling a conflict is both parties agreeing that the conversation is worth the time and effort. 

Once you have the initial conversation, find a neutral place to talk where you will both feel comfortable expressing your feelings in a safe environment (Judgement-Free Zone!).  Allow the time to talk and to feel without distractions.  The annual Holiday Party is probably not a great choice! 

Now you are ready to meet! When you finally have the opportunity to talk, set the ground rules.  “We will each have time to speak, without argument or interruption; we will listen to what one another has to say; we will allow one another the freedom to be vulnerable, we will go into this with an open mind only to listen to one another, no expectations!”

When you finally meet, remind one another of your rules then just listen and share.  Acknowledge that what you have both been through has been tough enough to create this conflict.  Honor and respect the fact that opening up to be honest and vulnerable is also hard, acknowledge this fact for one another.  If you feel so inclined to provide an apology for your part of the conflict, do so but do not expect one in return…this should come naturally, if at all.  Sometimes simply honoring one another’s dignity is as beneficial as an apology. 

Finally, establish a time to speak again.  You should be able to see that this relationship is valuable to both of you so don’t neglect it!  Share some fruitcake and eggnog this holiday season.  Find time to rest and reconcile and come back to Clemson ready for 2025!