News and Updates

It’s that time of year; Annual Benefits Enrollment! --November 6, 2009

The Annual Benefits Enrollment period will begin on Monday, November 9th and end on Friday, November 20th.  Annual Enrollment is the opportunity to review your benefit elections and make changes, if desired, for the 2010 benefit year.  Human Resource representatives are distributing your Annual Enrollment Packets on campus on Friday, November 6, 2009.   If you are unavailable on that day, we will mail the packet to your home. 

Your Annual Enrollment Packet will contain information regarding your 2010 benefit options and a schedule of Annual Enrollment informational meetings.  Also included is your Default Enrollment Form. 

Who should use the Default Enrollment Form?

Any individual who is not making changes to medical, dental or life insurance elections.

OR

Any individual who is not making any changes to medical, dental or life insurance elections AND wishes to enroll in either the Healthcare or Dependent Care Reimbursement Accounts for 2010.  You must make a new election for these accounts even if you had them in 2009.

Things to Consider
• Carefully estimate your contributions to the Healthcare and/or Dependent Care Reimbursement Accounts; per IRS regulations, any unused contributions will be forfeited.
• The Dependent Care Subsidy and Health Insurance Contribution Credit enrollment forms is on the back of your Default Enrollment Form.
• Signed enrollment forms are due to Human Resources by November 20th.

Need to make a change to your medical, dental, life or accidental death and dismemberment  insurance election?  Please contact Human Resources at x6140 for an appointment.

We have created a special Annual Benefits Enrollment site through which you can access additional information.  We will update these pages as additional information becomes available.

Flu Update--October 13, 2009

As you are aware, the H1N1 flu continues to spread across campus.  To date, we have no reports of confirmed H1N1 flu among staff and faculty, however flu-like illnesses are being reported.

The Centers for Disease Control recommends the following steps to reduce your risk of becoming infected:

    * Cover coughs and sneezes with sleeve or elbow
    * Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth
    * Wash hands frequently, especially after coughing or sneezing

We continue to get updates about the seasonal flu vaccine, which we ordered this summer and our supply has not arrived yet.

Dr. Dora Mills, Maine's Public Health Director, administers the distribution of H1N1 vaccines based on priority of needs.  She specifically designated the distribution of emergency H1N1 vaccines for our Bates students based on the rapid spread across our student population and on the fact that people under the age of 24 are considered to be in a high risk group.  The College is unable to obtain or provide our employees with the H1N1 vaccine at this time even though you may be close contact with the students.

As an employee of the College, we encourage you to be in touch with your health care provider regarding your specific risk level and whether your doctor can administer the H1N1 vaccine to you - some offices are receiving the vaccine based on their specific patient population.

If you are ill, please stay home until your symptoms have passed to avoid spreading the flu to your co-workers.  If you are in close contact with students, your department will advise you of any additional safety precautions that may be helpful.

We will let you know as soon as our doses of the seasonal flu vaccine have arrived.  I am attaching the following link that may be helpful to you in the event that you wish to get a seasonal flu shot earlier than the College can provide for you.  http://www.flucliniclocator.org/