It’s election season, so this month, we have election etiquette, Open Enrollment elections, political activity in the workplace, and even more choices to support employees through the University System of Georgia’s (USG) Employee Assistance Program. Plus, we're inviting you to participate in Ethics Week. Let's make this year's the best one yet.

But first, here are links to the Oct. 29 HR Topics for People Leaders recording and presentation. During the session we shared election support, Open Enrollment updates, and details about the new Leading @Tech development program.

In this month’s newsletter: 

The HR Topics for People Leaders meeting series gives people who lead people at Georgia Tech an opportunity to engage in discussions about leadership. This is a monthly meeting created to provide a space for leaders to learn, grow, share concerns, and feel supported.

Save the date for the upcoming HR Topics for People Leaders. This month, we'll have details about the hiring process and a supportive tool to assist with interviews.

Time to vote: Tuesday is Election Day, and campaign season comes with some reminders: As a USG employee, you and your team members are entitled to time to cast your ballots. Learn how the USG and Georgia Tech’s leave policies support your right to vote. Read the full article here with key points to know.  

Political Activity in the Workplace: While the USG and Georgia Tech encourage civic engagement, there are policies in place to ensure political activities and campaigning remain outside the workplace. The Office of Ethics and Compliance has created an infographic to address the most frequent questions from employees and people leaders. Click the button below for more information, or reach out to ethicsfirst@gatech.edu if you have other questions.

Open enrollment is open now through Nov. 8, so it's time to review your benefit plan options and updates and make your choice. You can read about the USG-wide health plan updates here, or click the button below for plan information, comparison guides, and other resources.  

A tuition-free advanced degree or certification is right at your fingertips as a University System of Georgia employee, and applications are now open. The Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) and Staff Tuition Reimbursement Assistance Program (STRAP) application period closes Nov. 15, so get started today! 

If you want to learn more, register for the final information session or click the button below.

Did you know Georgia Tech has a Shared Sick Leave Program? The program allows employees to donate their unused sick leave to a pool, where it can be used by other Georgia Tech employees who have no remaining paid leave but are experiencing serious health conditions. Only regular benefits-eligible employees who have completed their Board of Regents provisional period can donate to the Shared Leave Program. The enrollment period is during annual enrollment, which ends on Nov. 8.

Learn more about eligibility, donating to, or requesting from the pool by clicking the button below. 

As a new cycle of benefits enrollment gets underway, keep in mind that all employees working 20 or more hours — with the exception of students — are eligible to use resources through the USG’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP). It’s free and confidential, and offerings include counseling, financial, legal, and family caregiving services, among others. Click the button below to learn more. 

We want to make this year’s Ethics Week the most engaging yet! This year’s offerings include in-person and virtual activities, and we’ve included recommended sessions specifically for people leaders. For a full schedule and registration information, click the button below. 

Recommended sessions for people leaders:

If you have additional questions, reach out to Kelly Cross at kelly.cross@gatech.edu. 

Beginning Nov. 11, the Duo phone call method will not be offered as a two-factor authentication (2FA) option for Georgia Tech users when logging in to OneUSG Connect. Beginning Dec. 3, the method will not be offered as a 2FA option on any Georgia Tech login system. Click the button below to learn more.

Celebrate small wins as they happen. A quick ‘thank you’ or a shout-out in a meeting can boost morale and show your team that their efforts are valued and noticed. 

Social connections and activities are key to mental health, well-being, and inclusivity. 

We’re using our social media channels to help you promote job vacancies, too!  

If you have a job post you’d like us to share, or a great story to highlight our culture use the button below to share it with us.

We’ll see you online!