UIC SAC Newsletter May 2021
"A support for Civil Service Employees"
May 2021 Newsletter PDF
In This Issue Heading link
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Janice Watkins Award
Learn more about the 2021 Janice Watkins Award.
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Coping with Stress
Learn how to cope with stress.
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Vacation and Sick Leave
Learn about vacation and sick leave changes for employees.
Janice Watkins Award Nominations Heading link
May is the time to nominate your exemplary civil service employee!
All applications and nomination forms should be submitted by Friday, June 18, 2021, at 5:00pm.
The Janice Watkins Award for Distinguished Civil Service is an accolade given to exceptional support staff employees. This award is a memorial to Janice Watkins, an individual who exemplified such service.
2021 Janice Watkins Award winners will receive a $1000.00 award, certificate, and gold pin.
Employee Assistance Resources Heading link
UIC has a few programs dedicated to employee assistance. Employees are encouraged to utilize these resources when needed. More information can be found here.
The Clinical Employee Assistance Services provides free, professional, confidential assessments, short-term counseling, referrals, and follow-up for UIC employees and their families who are experiencing personal problems that may be affecting the employee’s job performance. Their office can be reached at 312-996-3588.
The Human Resources Employee Relations Section counsels academic professionals, nonacademic staff, and supervisors on work-related issues involving employee and departmental rights. Their office can be reached at 312-355-3055.
The Office of Applied Psychological Services (OAPS) is a mental health clinic in the Psychology Department at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC). Psychotherapy and psychological testing focusing on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) techniques are offered to patients in the UIC community, including faculty, staff, and students, as well as those living or working in the greater Chicago area. Their office can be reached at 312-996-2540.
The University of Illinois System also provides the State Employee Assistance Program (EAP). To view all services available to you, create an account on Magellan Ascend. You can learn how to navigate Magellan Ascend here.
COVID-19 and Coping with Stress Heading link
Many of our lives have drastically been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
During these challenging times, life can get stressful, overwhelming, and cause strong emotions in adults and children.
Actions necessary to reduce the spread of COVID-19 can lead to feelings of isolation and loneliness and can increase stress and anxiety.
Stress can cause feelings of fear, anger, sadness, worry, numbness, or frustration, worsening of chronic health problems, and more.
Learning to cope with stress in a healthy way will make you, the people you care about, and those around you become more resilient.
Healthy Coping Strategies
- Take breaks from watching, reading, or listening to news stories.
- Take care of your body.
- Make time to unwind.
- Connect with others.
- Connect with your community of faith-based organizations.
Taking care of yourself can aid you in taking care of others as they cope with stress and isolation as well. If you are struggling to cope, please call your healthcare provider if it begins to get in the way of your daily activities.
More information and resources can be found here.
UPDATE: Vacation and Sick Leave Change Heading link
For overtime-exempt civil service employees, the accrual and usage of vacation and sick leave has changed. It is now consistent with the accrual and usage by overtime-exempt academic professional employees.
Specifically, this standardization will include:
• Being able to use vacation and sick leave benefits prior to accrual.
• Having an additional 13 non-cumulative sick leave days for use after other sick leave balances are exhausted.
• Eliminating the requirement to submit biweekly timesheets.
• Recording benefit usage by the method directed by their unit.
More information will be provided closer to the implementation date academic year 2021-2022. Contact the system human resource services office if you have any questions regarding these changes.
Upcoming Meetings Heading link
| May 18, 2021 |
| June 15, 2021 |
| July 20, 2021 |
| August 17, 2021 |