The 2021 Annual Benefits Open Enrollment for faculty, staff, and post doctoral scholars will begin on Monday, Nov. 2 and run through Friday, Nov, 13. This is the once-a-year opportunity for benefits eligible employees to evaluate their benefits and make any necessary changes.

Please visit the Open Enrollment webpage for more information about what is new for 2021 and the schedule of benefits team office hours and vendor presentations throughout the open enrollment period. All open enrollment changes will be done via Workday.

Additional live financial webinars are available during Open Enrollment including "Learn the Basics of When and How to Claim Social Security" and "Turning your Savings into Retirement Income".

You’re juggling multiple priorities more than ever before. To help, we are introducing a new virtual way for you to get answers to your financial questions in as little as 5 minutes. Schedule a time to get answers to your questions.

Visit the Human Resources website for a comprehensive list and registration details.

All month long, ITS Security has shared tips on improving your security practices. This week, ITS would like to remind everyone that password security is one of the most important steps you can take to secure both your personal and work accounts and data.

Did you know that the vast majority of cybersecurity breaches are the result of weak or reused passwords? Upgrade your passwords and lock down your login. Start by enrolling in LastPass, a free password manager that securely stores your passwords - one password to remember them all. You can create separate accounts for work and personal use to separate your professional and personal digital lives. Along with creating strong passwords, adding two-step authentication for accounts - where available - to enhance your security. Cybersecurity awareness month may be ending, but the fight against cybercrime continues - today and every day - Do Your Part, #BeCyberSmart! To learn more, contact ITS Security at security@brandeis.edu.

The Campus Card Office recently upgraded the credit card payment processing system for WhoCash, the Brandeis debit plan that enables students and employees to pay at dining facilities across campus without carrying cash. As a result of the upgrade, WhoCash users who previously had their payment card information stored in the system will be prompted to re-enter credit card information upon WhoCash checkout. For more information about the upgrade and questions about your WhoCash, please contact campuscard@brandeis.edu.

This virtual training focuses on strategies for professional staff and faculty to intervene when witnessing potential or actualized violence. We will also discuss how to best support someone if they tell you they've experienced violence, tools for rejecting and counteracting harmful victim-blaming myths, and information to empower you to connect them to appropriate resources.

RSVP here.

The health and safety of the Brandeis community and campus remain a top priority during these times. To support our managers, staff and faculty during COVID-19, and as part of professional development, we are offering the following trainings and workshops for managers:

Managing Staff During COVID-19
Available as an online training, this workshop provides specific guidance for managers on COVID Scaling Up and how to manage and support their staff who are working both on the campus and remotely. Managers are strongly encouraged to complete this training by Nov. 20. Feedback Sessions for Managing Staff During COVID-19 Training are also being offered.

Managers Nuts & Bolts Series
A series of trainings for managers detailing how to implement specific Brandeis policies and procedures in light of COVID-19. Trainings will be presented virtually via Zoom.

Zoom Virtual Workshops Presented by New Directions

Nov. 19 -  Preventing Burnout: A Balanced Life Check-up
Dec. 8 - Time Management

Free Live Webinars Offered by New Directions
Wednesdays, 12-1 p.m. and 3-4 p.m.

Nov. 11 - Supporting a Remote Workforce
Nov. 18 - Waving Worry Goodbye: Strategies to Manage Anxiety
Dec. 9 - Delegating for Development
Dec. 16 - Embracing You: The Power of Acceptance

For a complete description of workshops and webinars and to register please visit the Training and Professional Development webpage.

The Brandeis community is rich with religious diversity. November begins with the Christian celebrations of All Saints Day on Nov. 1 and All Souls Day on Nov.  2. In the middle of the month is the important holiday of Diwali. This festival of light is celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs and Jains. You can learn more about the observance of these holidays on the  Spiritual Life Guide to Observances page.   

The Finance and Administration leadership team will be holding its annual town hall on Friday, Dec. 4 at 11 a.m. This year's town hall will be a virtual event. Please save the date. Details will be announced in a future issue of InBrief.

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As a reminder all students, faculty and staff who are on-campus are required to take the Daily Health Assessment using the Campus Passport Portal.

If you have any symptoms or suspect you have been exposed to COVID-19 DO NOT come to campus (or leave your room, for residential students). Students should contact the Brandeis Student Health Center to speak with a provider. Staff and faculty should contact their personal care provider.

Symptomatic participants should NOT go to the Brandeis COVID-19 testing sites; testing sites are for asymptomatic participants ONLY. Campus Passports will be checked at each entrance location and must be either green or yellow to gain entrance.

After travel you must be symptom free to receive a test on campus to meet the MA State Travel Restrictions. Following testing you must immediately quarantine until you have received a negative result.

The Workday Student project team is excited to announce that the first release of Student functionality is coming next month. On Nov. 23, an automated process for proposing and approving new courses for the 2021-22 academic year will be released for use by faculty, academic administrators, and the Registrar’s Office.

This is the first of four major milestones as the university transitions all remaining Sage functionality to Workday Student. Over the next year, Workday will become the single system of record for the Brandeis community for human resources, finance, and student-related information and business processes. Students will access personal information, academic progress, student account (billing and payments), and student employment records in one comprehensive place. Faculty will be able to view class rosters, manage grades, and view information about their advisees. Staff, with the appropriate role, will be able to view student information, view degree progress, manage account holds, and approve timesheets of student workers. 

To learn more about the project including a timeline, an organizational chart, and FAQs, visit the Workday Student project website. Contact us at workday@brandeis.edu with any questions.

Fidelity and TIAA are offering both webcasts and workshops this fall. Watch and participate in practical conversations to help you live well financially, today and tomorrow.

Topics include but not limited to important information about Medicare, keeping personal information safe, retiring in the “New Normal” and Guiding you through turbulent times.

Visit the Human Resources website for a comprehensive list and registration details of upcoming webinars by selecting the boxes in the left navigation menu.

ITS Security Office is sharing helpful information as part of cybersecurity awareness month. This week’s topic is “If You Connect It, Protect It.” Now that billions of devices connect to the internet, it’s important to ensure the security of these devices is maintained both in your professional and personal lives. Learn more about securing your computer and maintaining your privacy with our tips on working securely remotely. Don’t forget about your home network, smartphones, smart home connected devices, and social media accounts. While you’re at it, don’t forget to secure your accounts with strong passwords and two-step authentication.

ITS has partnered with KnowBe4, a leading cybersecurity awareness company, to offer a home security course. You can access the self-directed learning module on the KnowBe4 website (password: homecourse).

National Cybersecurity Awareness Month is co-led by the National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA) and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency (CISA) of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. For more information about ways to keep your Brandeis account and university machine secure, contact security@brandeis.edu.

All benefit eligible employees should have received an email with Medicare Part D information. The email included information about your current prescription drug coverage with Brandeis University and about your options under Medicare’s prescription drug coverage. This information can help you decide whether or not you want to join a Medicare drug plan. If you are considering joining, you should compare your current coverage, including which drugs are covered at what cost, with the coverage and costs of the plans offering Medicare prescription drug coverage in your area. To view the notice in its entirety and for a list of frequently asked questions please visit the Human Resources webpage.