Tax Change to Harvard Tuition Benefits

HUCTW members who use Harvard tuition benefit programs recently received a message from the Harvard Benefits Office indicating that in order to ensure compliance with current IRS standards and practices, the University will begin withholding tax on tuition assistance benefits for classes that meet certain criteria. HUCTW is very concerned about this change and we are working hard to better understand its tax implications for members. We have begun working with Harvard administrators to find ways to minimize the impact and identify potential long term solutions. …

Update on HUCTW’s Contingent Work Policy

This communication is meant to provide an update on the implementation of the new Harvard-HUCTW policy limiting the use of Temps and less-than-half-time workers (LHTs), which took effect in March. More important, this letter discusses the reasons behind the new policies and how they benefit the members of our community. The intent of the new rules is to ensure that unbenefited employment categories are used only for truly short-term projects, or for tasks that require very minimal weekly hours. Essentially, the revised policy aims to make certain that staff doing regular jobs on a regular basis have the benefits and protections of regular Harvard employment. …

Need Help Taking a Time Away?

Everyone needs and deserves time away from work to relax and recharge. Regular vacations make for healthier, happier employees and a more productive workplace. Sometimes members tell us they feel pressure from their supervisor(s), colleagues, or even themselves, not to take time away from work for vacation. Others have indicated that it feels like their vacation requests are regularly denied. An HUCTW organizer can help you navigate these types of situations with your supervisor or colleagues.…

Transportation Fund Deadline: July 15

Do you take the commuter rail from Zone 5 or above or pay to park in the Longwood Medical Area? If so, you may be eligible for a partial reimbursement from the HUCTW Transportation Fund. In January and July of each year, we accept applications for partial reimbursement of unusually high commuting costs from the past six months (January – June 2019). Eligible costs include non-subsidized spending on MBTA Commuter Rail Passes 5 and higher; private bus and train lines; remote MBTA Station commuter parking; and monthly parking in the Longwood Medical Area . To qualify for the Fund, your out-of-pocket eligible expenses must amount to $145.00 per month or more. Deadline: Monday, July 15.…

Harvard Informational Interviews: June 20

In order to promote internal career growth and networking, all of Harvard's HR offices will be offering informational interviews on the third Thursday of January through June of 2019. The last round of interviews for this academic year is happening on June 20, 2019. The following description from the Harvard HR website explains how the interviews work, how you can sign up, and what you should do to prepare. You must sign up in advance (ideally two weeks ahead of the date you would like a meeting) for these one-on-one discussions by submitting a brief questionnaire to the local HR office that you wish to meet with directly. …

Negotiating a Flexible Schedule

Many HUCTW staff members across Harvard negotiate flexible work arrangements with their supervisors. This is supported by the Harvard-HUCTW contract. On the following page, you will find our contract language on flexibility in the workplace, including examples of flex schedules at Harvard. You'll also find the language on unpaid meal time (which some members use to create a flexible schedule). HUCTW organizers are happy to help you strategize about how to discuss flexible schedule arrangements with your supervisor.…

Detailed Summary of New Contract

On December 4, 2018, HUCTW members voted to ratify a new contract covering the period from December 5, 2018 to September 30, 2021. The following is a Detailed Summary of the 2018 - 2021 Agreement, which provides specific details of all agreed-upon changes. These changes will be incorporated into two books -- the HUCTW Personnel Manual and the HUCTW Agreement later in 2019. Other than the changes described in the following Detailed Summary, all policies and programs in the previous contract (2015-2018) will remain the same. …

Contingent Work Policies: An Explainer

The new three-year Agreement between HUCTW and Harvard includes significant changes in policies governing the employment of contingent workers at the University. The following document, Regular Benefits for Regular Work: An “Explainer” About Contingent Work Policies from HUCTW (PDF), is meant to provide background information that will help Union members, managers, and friends in the community understand the issues under discussion, the scope of the problem, and the goals of the new policy framework. …

Reimbursement Deadline: March 31

March 31, 2019 is an important deadline for four reimbursement programs for expenses incurred during the 2018 calendar year. These programs include: the Healthcare Copayment Reimbursement Program, the Flexible Spending Account Reimbursement Program, the Fitness Reimbursement Program, and the Bike Commuter Benefit Reimbursement Program. Please note that, if you are applying for the copayment reimbursement program, you may want to request the relevant supporting documentation from your insurer a month before the deadline to ensure it arrives on time. …

Harvard-HUCTW Inclement Weather Policy

Union members sometimes have to make challenging decisions about balancing work and safety concerns when planning their commutes during inclement weather. Please read the following inclement weather policy, as well as the contract language on flexible schedules and telecommuting, to aid you in making your travel decisions this winter.…

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