Smile for your health!You may not always feel like smiling, but making yourself smile can actually improve your mood by tricking your brain into thinking you are happy. Smiling can also:• Boost your immune system and help you fight off illness• Lower your blood pressure and heart rate• Reduce your pain (smiling releases endorphins, natural pain killers)• Regulate your mood, sleep, sexuality and appetite (by releasing serotonin)

B E N E F I T S A N D O T H E R P E R S O N N E L I N F O R M A T I O N F O R P L U F A C U L T Y A N D S T A F F

April 2009 l Volume XII, Issue 3

Good Fit Benefits Renewalby Donna AlbersAlbers and Company

PLU’s medical plan renewal has resulted in a 3.2% premium increase

with no change in benefits. “Given the rising cost of health care premiums nationwide we are very pleased with this reasonable renewal,” stated Teri Phillips, HR Director. Large claims were nominal, although prescription drug claims continue to increase faster at PLU than in other employers’ plans. For employee only coverage, this change amounts to less than a dollar per month increase for employee contributions and $12.29 per month for PLU’s contribution.

New premium rates, which will take effect June 1, are available at: www.plu.edu/~humr/good-fit. The benefits committee has worked hard to negotiate competitive rates while still maintaining benefits during a time when health care inflation has risen more than 4 times faster than wages. As seen in the chart, PLU’s contribution for the past 8 years has steadily increased reflecting a commitment to employee medical and dental benefits.

The negotiations with Washington Dental Service resulted in an 8% premium increase. This increase is due, primarily, to increased utilization of the dental benefits. Some benefit modifications will be implemented June 1.

For those using WDS Preferred Providers (in-network), the deductible

will now be waived for Class I Preventative services as a way to encourage annual checks ups. The annual deductible of $50 will still apply to Class II Basic Care (fillings and extractions for example) and Class III Major Care (crowns and bridges for example) benefits.

For enrollees who use WDS Premier Providers (out-of-network), you will now have a $100 deductible (up from $50) for Class II and III services only. Class I services will be paid at 90% rather than 100%, but no deductible will apply to these services. In reality, for Class I services it’s likely to be about equal or perhaps a better benefit, since you no longer have to meet the $50 deductible.

Confused? That’s understandable. Join us at the Benefits Fair, see the dental benefit comparison on the Good Fit Benefits site, or give HR a call at ext. 7185. Also, HR can help you determine if your dentist is in or out of network.

For those of you on the Willamette Dental plan, high utilization has resulted in a premium renewal increase of 10% and copay increases for crowns, bridges, dentures, root canals and extractions. All other costs, including office call copays and preventive care, remain the same.

With all this focus on the dental coverage, and high usage by PLU enrollees, this year’s theme for the Benefits Fair – scheduled for April 7th from 9:00 – 2:00 in CK East - is Healthy Smile...Happier You!

Retirement Plan Update by Teri PhillipsDirector of Human Resources

The transition to TIAA-CREF as our single provider for retirement contribu-tions is complete. A simplified version of the Plan Document, the Summary Plan Description is now available online.

Retirement contributions may be in-creased or decreased at any time; changes are not limited to the open enrollment period.

For those with funds invested through Fidelity Investments, you may move your funds to TIAA-CREF at any time without penalty. You may also leave your funds with Fidelity; it is your choice. The required forms for transferring funds from Fidelity to TIAA-CREF are available by contacting Aileen at ext. 8146 or ochinaav@plu.edu.

For those with funds invested through Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, you may also leave your funds with Thrivent or move them to TIAA-CREF. The nature of Thrivent annuity contracts means that some of the assets may be

$246.91

$265.70

$289. 17

$357.58

$375. 09

$414.70

$371. 42

$421. 35

$437. 49

$ 0 $ 1 0 0 $ 2 0 0 $ 3 0 0 $ 4 0 0 $ 5 0 0

2 0 0 1 - 9 0 %

2 0 0 2 - 9 1 %

2 0 0 3 - 9 3 %

2 0 0 4 - 9 4 %

2 0 0 5 - 9 5 %

2 0 0 6 - 9 5 %

2 0 0 7 - 9 5 %

2 0 0 8 - 9 5 %

2 0 0 9 - 9 5 %

P L U C o n t r i b u t i o n s - a 7 0 % i n c r e a s e o v e r

8 y e a r s

P L U's Medic al and Dental C ontributions

per E m ployee per Month

continued on page 3

Events 2009

April1-30 Benefits Open Enrollment7 Benefits Fair Where: CK East Time: 9am – 2pm What: Get information, pick-up forms and meet carrier representatives8 Fire Extinguisher Training Where: CK East Time: 1:30 – 2:30pm and 3-4pm (separate sessions) RSVP: by April 3 to ehs@plu.edu10 Good Friday Holiday17 First Aid/CPR/AED Training Where: CK East Time: 8:30am – 4:30pm RSVP: by April 3 to ehs@plu.edu18 First Aid/CPR/AED Training Where: CK East Time: 8:30am – 4:30pm RSVP: by April 3 to ehs@plu.edu30 All benefits forms due

May1-2 Relay for Life15 Farewell Reception Where: Ingram Art Gallery Time: 3 – 4:30pm What: All are invited to join us in honoring those leaving or retiring from PLU21 Rose Window Celebration Where: CK Time: Reception starts at 5:15pm, formal program begins at 6pm Who: By invitation24 PLU Commencement25 Memorial Day Holiday

June1 All benefit changes go into effect for the 2009-2010 plan year

For further information visit HR training and event calendar

www.plu.edu/~humr/upcoming-training

Commute Survey Coming To All Employeesby Gretchen Howell, Associate Director of Human Resources

We need your help in the upcoming Commute survey. Your participation will help us make educated decisions about program changes. Also, as a major employer in Pierce County, we are required by Washington State to survey employees regarding commute trips to the work site.

You will be sent an email in late April with a link to the survey. The survey will only take a few minutes to complete. All employees should complete the survey, not only those who use alternative means other than driving alone to get to work.

With your help, we can reach the 70% response rate required by the state. If you have any questions, please contact Gretchen, University Transportation Coordinator, at ext. 7329 orcommute@plu.edu.

Further information can be found at

www.plu.edu/commute

Benefits Fair and Open Enrollment Be sure to join us at the Benefits Fair, Tuesday, April 7. This is a great opportunity to ask questions, talk with PLU’s benefit plan carriers and pick up forms. Human Resources would also be happy to talk with you one-on-one.

Benefits open enrollment is April 1-30. During open enrollment you can make changes to your benefits

package such as: enrolling, terminating coverage, switching plans or carriers. There is no need to submit new enrollment forms if you do not want to make any changes, with the exception of the flexible spending accounts for which the IRS requires a new form each year. All forms are due in Human Resources by April 30. Enrollment changes made will become effective June 1.

Enrollment forms, plan information and premium rates are available in the online Good Fit Benefit Book on the HR department’s website. New this year, medical plan summaries are also available in Spanish. Just go to www.plu.edu/~humr/good-fit and click on the Good Fit Benefit Book. From there you can click on “Open Enrollment” in the left hand menu. Prefer to talk? Join us at the benefits fair or call Aileen at ext. 8146.

New FMLA Regulations Take EffectThe federal government has extended the leave provisions for Family Medical Leave to include military leave. If you have questions, please call Laura at ext. 8325. Updated forms and policies are available at www.plu.edu/~humr/forms/home.html.

Dependent Tuition Remission for 2009-2010

Dependent tuition remission applications for classes taken from June 1, 2009 through May 31, 2010 are due in Human Resources by April 30, 2009. Only one tuition remission application needs to be completed each year. If there is no current, approved remission form on file by April 30, 2009, the remission benefit may be denied.

Visit the Human Resources website for the dependent tuition remission policy and application. If you have questions, please call Gretchen at ext. 7329.

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Further information can be found at

www.plu.edu/~humr/current-topics

Did You Know?Flexible Spending Account (FSA) tracking period runs from June 1 through May 31. Claims must be submitted to American Fidelity by August 31 to be eligible for reimbursement. Don’t forget to submit a new enrollment form for the 2009-2010 fiscal year.

Also, if you had a change in family status, remember to update your beneficiaries on your life insurance and retirement plan.

Renting a Car?As an employee of PLU, you are eligible to take advantage of PLU’s negotiated rates and discounts of up to 20% with Budget Rental, regardless of whether or not the rental is related to PLU business. It’s easy to benefit: For PLU business requests, use Discount (BCD) # Z536000 when making your reservation. For personal requests, use Discount (BCD) # Z536090.

PLU employees are also eligible for free enrollment in the Budget FastBreak Program which allows you to avoid the lines at busy locations.

To sign up for this program use the enrollment link: http://www.budgetcarrental.com/budget/fastbreak/index.html?Z536000

Further information can be found at

www.plu.edu/campus-safety

ContactsOffice ...................................535-7185

Human Resources DirectorTeri Phillips ...........................535-7187

Administrative AssistantCathy Alswager ..................535-7185

Associate Director of Human ResourcesGretchen Howell ................535-7329

Human Resources SpecialistAileen Ochinang ................535-8146

Employment SpecialistLaura Fuhrman ....................535-8325__________________________________

Payroll ManagerDebra Elston ........................535-7120

Payroll Specialist 1Elley Fries .............................535-7531

Payroll Specialist 2Linda Henry .........................535-7341__________________________________

Environmental Health & Safety ManagerJoseph Bell ..........................535-7233

Gemma Dulay – Business Office Chong Morley – Facilities ManagementBarbara McConathy – Facilities Management Tracy Williamson – Humanities

Retirement Plan Update continued from page 1

subject to a surrender fee if you elect to move funds to TIAA-CREF. If you wish to transfer your annuity proceeds from Thrivent to TIAA-CREF without surrender fees, you must notify Aileen at ext. 8146 of this intent by April 13, 2009. TIAA-CREF has agreed to pay the surrender fee for transfers during this one time opportunity. For a complete outline of the transfer process, please go to the Human Resources website under Thrivent Transfer Outline.

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Congratulations to the 2008 Christmas Luncheon Distinguished Staff Award Winners: