Dear GW Community,
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, dedicated to prioritizing our well-being and promoting open conversations about mental health. At GW, we recognize the importance of mental health and its impact on our personal and professional lives. This year’s theme, Where to Start: Mental Health in a Changing World, reminds us that dealing with life’s pressures can be overwhelming, and everyone deserves to feel supported and empowered to seek help when needed. Throughout May, we offer a calendar of powerful mental health awareness activities, a mindfulness challenge with Headspace, as well as various other well-being events to raise awareness, encourage self-care, support recovery, and connect you with resources, so we can make strides toward building our community of well-being together. Please join us!
Also in this GWell edition, we share details about the 2024 Steps Challenge, faculty and staff summer meal plans, voting time, the new Vacation Time Policy and the new Mind-Companion Self-Care tool available through the GW EAP. Finally, don't forget to check out opportunities to connect 1:1 with our benefit vendor partners.
For questions about any of the benefits featured in GWell or other benefits programs, please contact us at benefits@gwu.edu.
Be Well,
GW Benefits
Human Resource Management and Development
|
|
|
Join us for a Mindfulness Challenge with Headspace |
|
|
|
Have a moment? Whether you are feeling stressed, anxious, or in need of a moment to yourself, take a break and give your mind some Headspace.
Starting May 13, GW has partnered with Headspace to bring you a challenge focused on mindfulness. As a community, we’ll be working toward a goal of 3,000 mindfulness sessions.
To join the challenge, make sure you’re signed up for Headspace, and then complete any mindfulness activities between May 13 and June 2. From mini-meditations in the morning to a mindful moment before bed, every minute counts! Ready, ... set, ... breathe.
|
|
|
Financial Well-being at GW
|
|
|
What's Your Financial Well-being Profile? |
|
|
Among today's diverse workforce, the path to financial well-being can be unique for every individual. Do you constantly struggle to get ahead and pay the next lot of bills? Or maybe you’re someone that always has money in the bank for whenever you need it. Whether you consider yourself a money juggler hoping for financial stability, a safeguarder desiring financial certainty, an aspirer wishing for financial freedom, a collaborator looking for financial security, or a DIYer set on financial independence, we invite you to join us as we explore strategies, tools, and resources tailored across these 5 different money management styles that can help you to improve your financial well-being and reach your financial goals.
|
|
|
Fidelity -
Jugglers: Managing My Money
May 14 at 12pm ET I Register Here
Aspirers: Identify & Prioritize Your Savings Goals
May 17 at 12pm ET I Register Here
Collaborators: Make the Most of Your Retirement Savings
May 24 at 12pm ET I Register Here
|
| TIAA -
DIYers: Basic Estate Planning Strategies
May 16 at 3pm ET I Register Here
Safeguarders: Getting a head start: A step-by-step overview of your plan
May 23 at 11am ET I Register Here
|
|
|
Don't Miss These Additional Upcoming Events
|
|
|
Mark Your Calendar and Check Back Often!
Did you know that we have a GW Benefits events webpage? Be sure to check it out throughout the month as additional opportunities will be added! We also have events highlighted here specific to mental health awareness month.
|
|
|
Benefits Updates and Reminders
|
|
|
New! Mind Companion Self-Care
|
|
|
|
The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) recently launched Mind Companion Self-care to replace myStrength. Mind Companion Self-care is a new, free self-guided support tool to help manage mental health and well-being. You can work to improve depression, anxiety, stress, work/life balance, substance misuse and more through sessions that encompass videos, interactive questions and relaxation exercises. Watch the demo here.
|
|
|
In celebration of National Walking Month, HRMD invites GW faculty and staff to participate in the 2024 GW Steps Challenge running from Wednesday, May 1, 2024, to Friday, May 31, 2024. Lace up your sneakers and join us as we try to achieve our goal of 200k steps! You can also help your body prepare for the challenge by utilizing SimpleTherapy's warm up and cool down structured exercises and stretches.
|
| |
|
Summer Faculty & Staff Meal Plans
|
|
|
|
Summer 2024 Faculty & Staff Meal Plans paid for through payroll deduction are available for sign up until May 16. When purchased, faculty and staff members can dine at on-campus dining locations for a discounted price. To learn more about how to sign-up and use a Faculty & Staff Meal Plan, please visit the GW dining website.
|
|
|
With the 2024 Election Day primaries top of mind for many, we want to remind employees about the Voting Time policy in the Time Off and Leave Guide, so you can make your Election Day plans. In instances where a polling location is not open at least two to three hours before or after your scheduled shift, you are eligible for up to two hours of paid time off, for voting. Please coordinate with your manager in advance. For questions, contact timeoff@gwu.edu.
|
| |
|
|
GW is introducing a new vacation time policy, effective July 1, 2024. Visit go.gwu.edu/2024vacationtime for more details. You can also watch a recording of our latest webinar and view the materials presented via the links below. Please contact the Benefits office at timeoff@gwu.edu with questions regarding the new vacation time policy.
|
|
|
UnitedHealthcare Meetings
Meet virtually with GW’s UnitedHealthcare representative, Jessica Wachter, to review outstanding claims and/or ask questions about your medical or vision coverage. She will reach out prior to your appointment to confirm your meeting time together.
Schedule an appointment here.
|
| 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.
|
|
|
Complimentary Office Massage |
|
|
|
Faculty and staff can enjoy free seated massages at Foggy Bottom and Virginia Science and Technology campuses on a first come, first served basis. We would like to accommodate as many colleagues as possible, so if you have already received a seated massage in the last few months, we ask that slots for the dates below be reserved for colleagues who have not yet received one. Thanks for your consideration!
|
|
|
GW Benefits
44983 Knoll Square, Suite 391
Ashburn, VA 20147
Phone: (571) 553-8382
|
|
|
Manage your preferences | Opt Out using TrueRemove™
Got this as a forward? Sign up to receive our future emails.
View this email online.
|
44983 Knoll Square Suite 391 | Ashburn, VA 20147 US
|
|
|
This email was sent to .
To continue receiving our emails, add us to your address book.
|
|
|
|
