Human Resources Newsletter ~ December 2022

FROM THE OFFICE OF HUMAN RESOURCES

As we wind down to holiday break, we want to thank all of you for your commitment to Bay Path. ALL staff and faculty are critical to Bay Path's success.

Please join us in celebrating our achievements in 2022 as we look onward to great things in store for the new year. Be sure to mark your calendars for the annual Employee Recognition Ceremony and Holiday Luncheon scheduled for Tuesday, December 20, 2022 @ 11:30am. This is one of the most highly anticipated events of the season as it presents an opportunity to reflect on all of the hard work we have put in over the last year. We hope to see you there!

Inside this issue, you will find information about our employee recognition nomination process as well as an update on our professional development plan for 2023. Additionally, you will read about the ways in which your fellow colleagues have pledged to sustain a collaborative work environment.

We also cover updates regarding our employee benefits for topics like health service reimbursement, free financial education webinars, flexible spending accounts, and elective salary deferrals. We strongly encourage all employees take advantage of the great benefits that Bay Path has to offer.

half of our newsletter will get you into the holiday spirit as we look forward to all of the events on the calendar for

of December. While we know the end of the

be busy and stressful, we encourage you to celebrate with your colleagues as we bring in the new year.

NOMINATE A COLLEAGUE!

As we approach this year ' s Employee Recognition Ceremony, we invite you to nominate a fellow colleague for their outstanding contributions to the Bay Path Community.

The President's Award for Innovative Thinking is an opportunity to spotlight a fellow colleague for going above and beyond the call of duty and who consistently identifies new ways to make advancements in the workplace.

President's Award for Innovative Thinking Nomination Form

The Core Values Award is also an opportunity to highlight an employee who has fully embodied our Values through intentionality and mindfulness, working diligently to bring the Core Values to fruition in their daily interactions and work. As a reminder, our Core Values are:

Our Learners Come First Diversity Makes Us Stronger We Are Committed To Equity Innovation and Excellence Drive Us We Pledge to Foster Inclusion and Belonging We Work Best as a Community that Collaborates We Treat Others with Respect and Compassion Health and Well-Being Matter

Core Values Award Nomination Form

Nominations should be submitted to the President's Office: PresidentsOffice@baypath.edu no later than Monday, December 12th, 2022 (the deadline has been extended).

Award winners will be announced at the Employee Recognition Ceremony & Holiday Luncheon scheduled for Tuesday, December 20th from 11:30 am to 2:00 pm. We hope to see you there!

IMPORTANT UPDATES

The Human Resources Department would like to provide an update on our ongoing efforts to develop and maintain professional development opportunities. Several weeks ago, we reached out to all faculty and staff to request you share your expertise with us. Below you will find the results from the survey

2022 Employee Skills Survey

In addition, at the October 12, 2022 Community Presentation: BPU Works Together, everyone was asked to go into breakout sessions and recommend professional development opportunities.

BPU Works Together: Professional Development Survey

Based on your responses, we identified the following key areas:

Leadership Development Faculty Specific Trainings Technology Training On the Job Training Career Development Community Growth Health and Wellness

Beginning January 2023, we will be launching workshops and trainings. Our goal is to take what you have shared and work together as a community to learn and grow with each other, in addition to providing the training most asked for by you. Stay tuned for more information in our January 2023 newsletter and via email. We will also be posting information on the Human Resources tab on the portal, where you can currently access the surveys mentioned above.

Please reach out to us at HR@baypath.edu if you would like to be added to the Employee Skills Survey.

CORE VALUE OF THE MONTH

WE WORK BEST AS A COMMUNITY THAT COLLABORATES

Working collaboratively is where we function best. In solving problems across silos, communicating transparently, embracing challenge together, and inspiring each other, we strengthen our community and, in turn, fulfill our mission. Collectively, we take pride in our work and celebrate our success.

For the month of December, we are putting a special emphasis on the Core Value "We work best as a community that collaborates." Below you will find examples provided from the Community Week session and from other community conversations so that you can think about how you can intentionally incorporate the Core Values into your work.

Here are the ways YOU are committing to that Core Value in your work:

Work with new departments to gain new ideas and inspiration

Keep in mind, "The whole is the sum of its parts."

Pay acknowledgement to different unique strengths of students, faculty members, staff members, and administration

Actively facilitate bridge building

Utilize internal expertise as resources for best practice...why recreate the wheel?

Collaborate across different courses as communication fosters inclusion transparently and fully to incorporate ideas

Be a team player. Nothing should be seen as her job/his job/their job, it is our collective job to uphold the standards of excellence as a community and that means pitching in when it is needed.

Improving communication and recognizing that people have different work styles and preferences

EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

HEALTH NEW ENGLAND REIMBURSEMENT

If you are enrolled in the medical plan with HNE, you are eligible for reimbursement of up to $200 per individual plan and up to $400 per family plan per calendar year for combine Fitness and HNE Weight Watchers’ activities.

First, you must register online at www.my.healthnewengland.org and select 'Member' in the drop-down menu.

Follow the prompts to enter your member information (be sure to have your HNE card available).

Select Forms from the menu, and then select Wellness Reimbursement form and file for your reimbursement online.

You can also download the reimbursement form to print, complete, and mail in. You can also call Member Services at (800)310-2835 to request a form.

FINANCIAL EDUCATION WEBINARS

You’re invited to attend TIAA’s complimentary financial education live webinars! These interactive sessions are designed to give you practical, useful information on personal finance and long-term investing that can help you manage your financial life. Below is the listing of financial webinars offered by TIAA for the month of December.

You may register for the live session here: www.tiaa.org/webinars.

You will also be able to access the recordings of any of the webinars up to 30 days after the airing as well.

Tax Planning Considerations

12/08 @ 12 PM (ET)

Write Your Next Chapter: Five Steps to Setting Your Retirement Date 12/08 @ 3 PM (ET)

At Your Fingertips: Manage Your Money From Wherever You Are 12/14 @3 PM (ET)

FLEXIBLE SPENDING ACCOUNT UPDATE

The IRS has announced that in 2023, employees can contribute up to $3,050 pretax to the health care flexible spending accounts (FSAs), through payroll deduction, a $200 increase from 2022. The maximum carryover also rises to $610.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

This holiday season is a time of celebration, commitment to one’s faith and culture, and a reverence for one another. In our wonderfully diverse community, we share one another’s joy during these times. We invite you to learn about the various celebrations during this holiday season.

Christians of all denominations are preparing for Christmas; The commemoration of the birth of Christ. Getting ready for Christmas has its many cultural aspects such as decorating, spending time with friends and family, and gift giving, but many of these cultural traditions that we participate in are also celebrations of spiritual traditions associated with the holiday. It is a time or generosity, hope, and of “great joy for all the people” - Luke 2:10

Three Kings Day (Epiphany) is an important celebration for the Latinx community, celebrating the visit of the Three Wise Men (also Three Kings) who found Jesus after his birth by following the path of a star across the desert for 12 days. Cultural and Religious traditions include parades, amity feasts, and gift-giving.

Our Jewish community members begin the eight-day celebration of Hanukkah (Also referred to as Festival of Lights), on December 13th, commemorating the liberation and rededication to the Temple of Jerusalem. Hanukkah is a time when Jewish families gather to light the eight-candle Menorah, symbolizing the eight days that candles were lit in the temple from only one jar of oil. They also share meals, stories, and give gifts. Religiously, Hanukkah is a time when Jews rededicate themselves to their faith

Kwanzaa is an African American and pan-African celebration of family, community and culture, During this week-long celebration (December 26 - January 1), activities are organized around the Nguzo Saba (The Seven Principles) and include feasts, songs, dances, music, storytelling, and poetry reading.

Gita Jayanti is a Hindu celebration centered around the creation of the Bhagavad Gita, one of the holy scriptures of Hinduism, during which people reflect on living a better life. This holiday falls on 11th day of the waxing moon of the Margashirsha month of the Hindu calendar.

Eid Milad-Un-Nabii is a Muslim holiday where people remember the teachings of Islam, exchange gifts, and donate to the poor in celebration of the Prophet Muhammad’s birth. The date follows the third month of the Islamic calendar and can vary from year to year.

The Winter Solstice is the Astronomical marking of the beginning of lengthening days and shortening nights, and is celebrated across the world by many. It is held on December 21st this year, symbolizing the return of light from darkness. Traditions include feasts, gift-giving, and festivals.

Depending on the country, the Buddhist New Year will be celebrated between December and April. This is a time for meditation and self reflection. Traditions vary by country, but can include warm greetings to one another, feasts, visiting temples on New Year's Day, and lighting candles for good luck and happiness.

To all those who celebrate a religious or cultural holiday this season, the Bay Path Community wishes you joy in those celebrations. For all of us, those celebrating this holiday season, or not, may the new year be filled with peace and all that is good.

BPU 2022 HOLIDAY CHARITY SELECTION

TAPESTRY HEALTH & CARPE DIEM FUND

Every year, as a Bay Path tradition, we select one charity to be honored at the annual employee recognition ceremony and holiday luncheon. This year we will be honoring Tapestry Health, a community-based nonprofit organization located in Springfield, Massachusetts nominated by Jessica LaFleche, MSN, FNP-C, Director of Health Services. We will also be accepting donations to Bay Path's own Carpe Diem Fund.

In business for over 45 years, Tapestry Health provides, " ...access without stigma, which means meeting people where they are at and respecting their choices, while providing health care, support services and education for safer practices." Though their central office resides in Springfield, their outreach spans to Holyoke, Chicopee, Northampton, Greenfield, North Adams, and Pittsfield as well as outside communities with the help of their mobile outreach vans.

Some of their care services include, but are not limited to:

Cervical & Breast Cancer Screening

Birth Control and Emergency Contraception

Gender Affirming Hormone Therapy

Overdose Prevention Education

Food Access and Nutrition Education 24/7 Breastfeeding Support

STI, HIV and Hepatitis C Testing Narcan (Naloxone) Training and Access Safer Sex Supplies

Pregnancy Testing Syringe Services

Representatives from Tapestry Health will be making a brief presentation at our Employee Recognition and Holiday Luncheon event. Please help us support them and their efforts to provide equitable and accessible healthcare services to all who need it.

To make a donation to Tapestry Health, please visit: https://www.tapestryhealth.org/baypath/

To donate to the Carpe Diem fund please visit https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/BPFacStaff. All gifts of $25 or more will still be DOUBLED and $100 or more TRIPLED!

In thanks for the meaningful Giving Tuesday support from faculty and staff for our Carpe Diem Fund, those who contributed or give via payroll deduction are able to wear jeans on the following Fridays, 12/09, 12/16, and 12/23. Any contributions made to either organization between now and 12/23 qualifies you to wear jeans on Fridays throughout December.

Thank you for your support!

We want to hear from you!

The Human Resources Newsletter is a great way to get reminders as well as to advertise your own news to the rest of your colleagues. If you have something you would like to have included in next month’s newsletter, be sure to contact Monica Roche so that we can add your information to the issue.

Contact Information:

Monica Roche HR Support Specialist Human Resources Newsletter Editor

Phone: (413)-565-1281 Email: mroche@baypath.edu