The holiday season can bring joy, connection, and celebration, but it can also introduce stress, busy schedules, and added responsibilities. To help support your well-being during this time, we’ve curated a few resources designed to promote balance, mindfulness, and practical support for you and your family.

• December Headspace Meditation Calendar
  • Take a few moments each day to pause, reset, and manage stress with guided meditations designed for the holiday season.
• GW Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Holiday Toolkit
  • Access tools and tips to help navigate seasonal stress, strengthen relationships, and maintain emotional well-being during the holidays.
• Bright Horizon's Caregivers’ Guide to Stress-Free Holidays
  • Find practical strategies and caregiving resources to help you manage responsibilities, set boundaries, and create a more manageable and meaningful holiday experience.
• SimpleTherapy Musculoskeletal Health Tips for Holiday Travel
  • Find easy, on-the-go exercises and stretches to help reduce muscle and joint discomfort during long car rides, flights, and extended time away from your usual routine.

These resources are here to support you, whether you’re seeking moments of calm, extra guidance, or help balancing work, family, and personal commitments.

Join us and our vendor partners throughout our 2025 Financial Well-being Campaign to take control of your money and what matters most to you. Learn to manage financial stress and build a financial plan rooted in your values, while moving toward a healthier, more fulfilling financial future. To help you prepare for the holiday season, attend the Managing My Money: Budget, Emergency Savings, and Debt Basics webinar, hosted by Fidelity on Wednesday, December 17 at 4 p.m. ET, and explore the financial well-being resources below focused on holiday spending tips:

• Bank of America: How to Keep Your Holiday Spending on Budget
• Health Advocate: Less Stress, More Cheer: Holiday Spending Tips
• PAHO/WHO Credit Union: Financial Tips for a Happier Holiday
• Fidelity: 19 Freebies and Cheapies for the Holidays

The Active&Fit Direct Marketplace is now live, giving enrolled members access to 10% to 50% off top health and fitness brands. Members can explore exclusive discounts on high-quality fitness gear, nutrition products, and wellness essentials from brands like Adidas, New Balance, Fitbit, Garmin, Vitamix, Skullcandy, Home Chef, and more, with free shipping on most orders. To start saving, simply log in to your Active&Fit Direct account and click on the Marketplace tab. 

GW administers federal and state leave benefits based on an employee's work location. Effective January 1, 2026, DC FMLA leave benefits will only be available to employees with a work location in Washington, DC.

What this means:

• Any employees with an approved or future pending continuous FMLA leave through Lincoln Financial will not experience a change.

• Starting January 1, 2026, intermittent FMLA leave and all new continuous FMLA leave requests will be based on your work location as designated in Banner. 

GW will continue to follow all state and local leave requirements.

If you have questions about your work location or need to review your current designation, please follow the Work Location Instructions on the Payroll Employee Self-Service website. Questions about leave eligibility can be sent to Benefits at timeoff@gwu.edu.

Even when the university is closed for breaks and holidays, GW Benefits continues to accept documentation in support of Qualified Life Events (QLE) changes. Documents can be uploaded directly to the GW Benefits Enrollment System or sent to GW Benefits via email or by fax to 571-553-8385.

Please note: Deadlines for submitting QLE documentation still apply, even during closures. For example:

• An employee with a December 25 deadline to submit a marriage certificate to enroll their spouse in GW benefits, must still observe their deadline despite the university being closed.
• You or an eligible dependent lose coverage on December 31, 2025. Be sure to submit your supporting document on or before December 31, 2025 if you wish to have GW coverage effective January 1, 2026.

• Starting January 1, 2026, GW medical plans (PPO and HSP) will be administered by Aetna. Visit our transition microsite for resources to help you navigate the change.
• Prepare for 2026 Retirement Plan Catch-Up Contribution Changes.
• 2024 Summary Annual Reports (SARs) are now available on the GW Benefits website.

• The 2026 Spring Tuition Remission Application is open and closes February 1.

• Please review any outstanding time off requests.

• Remember to designate and update your Beneficiaries.

• Don't forget to schedule your preventative vision and dental care appointments.

TIAA & Fidelity Retirement Counseling

Retirement plan participants can schedule financial counseling by appointment with TIAA or Fidelity. To book an appointment, call your preferred provider or use the online booking systems listed below:

Fidelity Investments - Make an appointment online or call 800-642-7131.

TIAA - Make an appointment online or call 866-843-5640.

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