HR

HR News Alerts

April 2023

Memo from CHRO Memry Dahl, 4/17/23: Action Required: Open Enrollment Begins TODAY! 

March 2023

CHRO Memry Dahl reminds all staff that 2023 staff performance reviews are due by June 30th. It is UA’s goal that 100% of staff members receive an annual performance review.  Performance evaluations engage supervisors and employees in discussing expectations and provide coaching and support to align individual goals with their departments and the University of Alaska. 

December 2022

November 2022

  • 11/28/22 - 2023 W-4 Federal Withholding Information

    The 2023 Form W-4, Employee’s Withholding Certificate, has not yet been released by the IRS.  As soon as a new form is released, we will notify you. Until then, you may use the 2022 W-4 version to make any changes to your withholdings. If your filing status, dependents, anticipated tax credits or deductions have changed or will change in the next year, please submit a new Form W-4 online 

    The deadline to submit your 2023 W-4 in time for the first paycheck in the new year is Friday, December 16th. Please note: if you do not submit a new form, withholding will continue based on your previously submitted form. You are able to submit a new W-4 at any time throughout the year. Changes submitted will be made effective for the next available payroll run.

    Even though the IRS does not require all employees to complete the revised form and even if your tax situation has not changed, we recommend you perform a “paycheck checkup” to see if you need to make adjustments to your current withholding. To conduct the checkup, you can use the IRS’s Tax Withholding Estimator.

    Before completing the 2023 Form W-4, please read the instructions that are included with the form. You must complete Steps 1 and 5. Steps 2, 3, and 4 are optional, but completing them will help ensure that your federal income tax withholding will more accurately match your tax liability. 

  • 11/18/22- 2023 Alaska Minimum Wage Increase-

    The Alaska minimum wage will increase from $10.34/hr to $10.85/hr effective 01/01/23. Effective the first paycheck paid in 2023 (2023 R01), any employee earning less than $10.85/hr will have their hourly wage increased to the new rate automatically by Personnel.   Employees can expect the new rate to be paid on their 01/13/23 paycheck.  For those working remotely from another state, there may be other minimum wage increases for specific states/locales effective 01/01/2023.  Compensation will work directly with the HR Coordinator and supervisor on a case-by-case basis to ensure these employees are compensated appropriately.

  • 11/17/22- Reminder:  UA HR Holiday Hard Closure will be observed from December 23, 2022 - January 2, 2023. Impacted time sheets and submission dates:

    • 12/4-12/17/22 | R26 | Employees: 12/16 before 5 PM | Supervisors: 12/19 before 5 PM | Paydate: 12/30/22

    • 12/18-12/31/22 | R01 | Employees: 12/30 before 5 PM | Supervisors: 1/3/23 before 5 PM | Paydate: 1/13/23

  • 11/15/22- Educational Attainment Incentive Program (EAIP) now available

  • 11/14/22- UA HR Customer Experience Survey for Fall 2022 - UA HR strives to provide an excellent customer service experience. We would like your input on how we are doing in reaching this goal. Please complete the short survey located at the link below. The survey will be available until close of business on Wednesday, November 23.  

October 2022

September 2022

  • 9/7/2022:The direct deposit for the Friday 9/9/22 paycheck has settled earlier than usual.  You may see the deposit in your bank effective today, September 7.  Employees that receive paper checks will still be sent their checks on Friday.   Employees will only be paid once.  There will not be another direct deposit showing on Friday. The paystub on UAOnline will still show a payment date of 9/9/2022, even though the paychecks were deposited on Wednesday, 9/7/22
  • University of Alaska Human Resources September Communication Update  and past HR Communications Updates.

August 2022

July 2022

  • As of July 1, the new Employee Assistance Program through ComPsych offers a variety of services designed to assist you and your family in resolving work/life issues in order to live happier, healthier, more balanced lives. These services are completely confidential and can be easily accessed by calling the 24/7 toll-free helpline at  1-888-969-0155. 
  • UA HR launches new communication tool for employees on July 1. Try out our Knowledge Base offerings or submit a Request for Assistance. 
  • University of Alaska Human Resources July Communication Update  and past HR Communications Updates.

June 2022

May 2022

April 2022

March 2022

  • New: FY22 Supplemental Annual Leave Cash-In program announced 3/29/22

  • Employees that have pay issued during an adjustment run will receive their payment directly to their banks, if they have direct deposit set up.  In the past, paper checks were printed and mailed. The improvement helps our employees get their money more quickly and safely.  If you are interested in starting a direct deposit or changing your existing direct deposit, please complete the UA Direct Deposit Form.  3/28/22

  • ETB Announces FY 23 Open Enrollment Dates  - April 14 to May 6, 2022.  

  • University of Alaska Human Resources March Communications Update and past HR Communications Updates.

  • Employee's 1095-C documents for 2021 will NOT be available online through UAOnline this year. If you do not receive a 1095-C in the mail, please contact ua-benefits@alaska.edu.

February 2022

  • UA HR ETB team announces a new behavioral health benefit for families that is covered by Premera health plans.  Brightline brings you extraordinary behavioral health care for kids and teens, and support for parents and caregivers like you. Even better? It’s all delivered virtually, so you can get support when and where you need it. With Brightline, you’ll have support for all of the everyday challenges so many of us are dealing with, and common conditions that many kids and teens experience. So whether that’s school pressure or navigating IEP processes, stress, anxious thoughts, navigating social media or cyberbullying, tough behavior, self esteem issues, sleep problems — whatever you have going on, Brightline can help. Get started ​and for questions, reach out to the Brightline team at 888-224-7332. For questions about your health plan benefits, please call the customer service number on the back of your Premera ID card.

January 2022

December 2021

  • 2022 W-4 Federal Withholding Information - The 2022 Form W-4 Employee's Withholding Certificate, has not yet been released by the IRS. As soon as a new form is released, we will notify you. Until then, you may use the 2021 W-4 version to make any changes to your withholdings. If your withholding allowances have changed or will change for the new year, please submit a new W-4 online and if you do not submit, withholding will continue based on your previous submission. 
  • Reminder: Holiday Closures for University of Alaska
  • University of Alaska Human Resources December Communications Update and past HR Communication Updates

November 2021

  •  Question & Answer with UA HR (vaccinations, exemptions and guidelines) (Archived recording 5/10/23)
  • Memo 11/15/21: UA Employees Affected by Vaccine Requirements (archived 5/10/23)

October 2021

  • Winter & Holiday Closures for 2021 Announced by CHRO Office. Please note that personal Holidays are allowed to be used during hard/soft closures.
  • Members of HR Leadership developed and have launched the HRC training schedule for the 2021/2022 sessions. Includes course description, responsible team, expected learning outcome and registration link.  See HRC Training schedule for more info.
  • The Remote Work website has launched and is housed in a new area on the UA website.
  • UA HR operations in Anchorage have relocated to the Bragaw Office Building. The official address is: 1815 Bragaw Street, Suite 102, Anchorage, Alaska 99508 and the phone and fax lines remain the same (Phone: 907-450-8200 and Fax: 907-450-8201).

September 2021

  • UA HR operations in Anchorage are scheduled to relocate to the Bragaw Building the week of October 4th and we hope to be up and operating the latter part of that week. Please be aware that as we transition to our new space, it is still business as usual. While the office is being packed and we are surrounded by boxes, we are able to continue to provide all services in Anchorage until our scheduled move date. Effective this October, the official address will be: 1815 Bragaw Street, Suite 102, Anchorage, Alaska 99508.
  • TouchCare, the new employee healthcare vendor provides five "getting to know your benefits" webinars. Contact ETB for recording link.
  • COVID-19 Information pages are updated frequently as the situation changes. Th​ese​​ ​pages include FAQs, resources and specific information about our three universities.  (archived 5/10/23)

July 2021

  • HR Employee Transitions and Benefits announces partnership with TouchCare - new employee healthcare vendor as of 7/1/21

June 2021

  • Q & A sessions-  for the transition to work- see memo re: Update for COVID Phase C Transition - returning to workplace documentation (6/10/21/archived 5/10/23)
  • UA Human Resources conducted five general Q&A sessions regarding Operational Phase C return to work guidelines and invited all UA employees to attend. Easy access to the information: recording,  slide presentation, telework agreement, telework cancellation or view a Sample Telework Agreement for COVID Phases form. (archived 5/10/23)

April 2021