Friday, May 1, 2020

President to host virtual town hall meeting

President Feridun Hamdullahpur will be hosting a President’s Virtual Town Hall Meeting on May 20. All students, faculty and staff are invited to attend.

“There is no doubt that the University of Waterloo has undergone a great deal of change in a short amount of time,” President Hamdullahpur wrote in a recent blog post. “We are collectively navigating uncharted territory for any post-secondary institution. Decisions are being made quickly as situations arise and as we react to an ever-evolving environment dominated by the need for public safety.”

The online event will take place on Wednesday, May 20 at 1:30 p.m. Register to attend the town hall meeting.

“I truly want this Town Hall to be an opportunity for our entire community to learn and work on what the future of Waterloo will look like,” Hamdullahpur writes. “The road ahead will certainly have more hurdles to overcome, but that only means the more opportunities to build the future of our University.”

To ensure that Waterloo continues its dedication to transparency during challenging times, the interactive town hall session will be open to the University of Waterloo community and beyond.

Just like regular President’s Town Hall meetings, President Hamdullahpur will deliver a presentation and then open the floor for a robust Q&A session. Vice-President, University Relations Sandra Banks will moderate the digital discussion.

Questions can be submitted in advance during registration or can be emailed to townhall@uwaterloo.ca. The online meeting platform will also provide attendees with the opportunity to ask their questions during the interactive livestream.

“Thank you for your ongoing dedication to our institution,” the president writes. “It is a time of change, but one I know we can continue to take on together."

Supporting the campus community during COVID-19

A message from Health Services.

Supporting our students is a top priority at Health Services, as our community adjusts to the new reality during the COVID-19 pandemic. Health Services is open and providing services to support the physical and mental health of all students.

There have been many words used to describe this situation: ever-changing, fear, very interesting, challenging and uncertainty are just a few. But what do these realities mean for our healthcare workers and frontline staff as they adjust to a “new-normal”? Since the coronavirus broke out, it seems as though new processes are being implemented daily—I’m sure many of us could describe this new reality as somewhat of a whirlwind. Despite the constant changes, our healthcare workers and frontline staff have been extremely proficient in adjusting to the newest public health guidelines and implementing increased safety protocols to protect the health and safety of our campus community.

Along with the new health precautions being practiced at Health Services, the current pandemic means a bit of a different start to each shift. Some staff work from home, while others are screened upon entry into the building. After entering the building, staff must put on additional personal protective equipment (PPE). For many, this consists of wearing gloves, a gown, a mask, goggles or eye shield all day—quite a few extra layers. “Wearing PPE is very warm. Noses, cheeks, and the backs of ears become irritated from the rubbing of the mask. Fingers get wrinkled from moisture trapped in the gloves, and throats become dry from constantly breathing through a mask,” explains one of the nurses. Another staff member says, “it can be a bit uncomfortable and can be difficult to speak on the phone with a mask on. As someone who wears glasses, the mask sometimes causes my glasses to fog up. Not being able to do things like drink your water or coffee throughout the day is a bit of a nuisance but, I would prefer to cope with that nuisance over risking the health and safety of myself and others. I do think it is very helpful in deterring me from touching my face.”

While it’s exhausting, being able to help people by continuing to provide care in a new way is so rewarding. Along with the physical challenges of wearing PPE, there is also an emotional barrier it creates. Instead of being greeted by warm happy smiles, clients are greeted by people in masks and a new screening process. One nurse says “it’s so tough because students can’t see the reassuring smile on your face, I find it such a barrier. There is so much your face can give them, and you lose that by wearing PPE. It’s devastating not to be able to provide that reassurance.” While smiles might not be as freely exchanged, staff are thankful for the proper PPE to protect themselves and their loved ones. Being a healthcare provider, you are at an increased risk of being exposed to COVID-19, which is worrisome for those coming home to loved ones. While these and many more concerns cross the minds of everyone working at Health Services, as “health care providers we knew what we signed up for.”

Health Services reminds everyone to wash your hands, wash your hands, wash your hands, and of course practice social distancing. These simple safety practices make a huge difference! Also, it is really important to stay positive, states one of the physicians, "I have seen SARS come and go, H1N1 come and go and a host of others in-between. We beat them all and we can beat this one as well."

Remember, Health Services is open and here to support all students and essential employees—things might just look a little different, but let’s be honest, what doesn’t right now?

May 1 is Doctors’ Day in Ontario. Show your support by turning on your phone flashlights and holding them high on May 1 at 9 p.m. Show your gratitude, appreciation and hope for the future. More information is available on doctorsday.ca.

Human Resources provides update on benefit rates

"On May 1^st of each year, the group benefits contracts that cover the University of Waterloo’s extended health, dental, long-term disability, and life insurance benefits are renewed," says a memo from Human Resources that was circulated to employees yesterday. "The new rates are based on the University’s claims experience and expenses charged by our providers."

The following benefit rates are effective May 1, 2020:

Life insurance rates

For rate purposes, life insurance is divided into basic and optional life components. A single rate applies for basic life whereas optional life coverage rates are based on age, gender and smoking status. Rates for optional life remain unchanged, but the basic life rates will decrease by 6.9 per cent effective May 1, 2020.

How will these changes affect me?

Part-time employees will see a 1.3 per cent increase to the premium deducted from their pay for their extended health care benefits and a 4.2 per cent decrease to their premium for dental. There is no impact to full-time employees. 

Employees who have additional basic life insurance (1 to 2 x annual earnings) will see a decrease of 6.9 per cent to the group life premium that is deducted from their pay. 

Please visit the Human Resources website to understand more about your benefits. For questions regarding these rates, please contact Human Resources at hrhelp@uwaterloo.ca.

Pension contributions set to increase

A message from Human Resources.

On February 4^th, 2020 the University of Waterloo Board of Governors approved changes to the University of Waterloo’s Pension Plan that impact member contribution rates and the maximum pension rule.

Member contribution rates will be increased over a 3- year period to bring the sharing of the cost of benefits earned each year, otherwise known as the current service cost, back to a 50/50 split between members and the University.

The first of the rate increases will go into effect on May 1, 2020 with subsequent increases on May 1, 2021 and May 1, 2022. The rates will increase as follows:

Effective May 1, 2020, members are required to contribute:

• 6.95 per cent of base earnings up to the Year’s Maximum Pensionable Earnings under the Canada pension plan (YMPE), (less than $58,700 in 2020) plus
• 9.95 per cent of base earnings exceeding the YMPE ($58,700 and above in 2020)

Effective May 1, 2021:

• 7.4 per cent of base earnings up to the YMPE plus
• 10.6 per cent of base earnings exceeding the YMPE 

Effective May 1, 2022:

• 7.8 per cent of base earnings up to the YMPE plus
• 11.2 per cent of base earnings exceeding the YMPE

For more information about the pension changes, please visit the Human Resources website.

May I introduce you to some Good Buddies of the University?

"Bentley is a great dog who excels as a companion, watch dog, pest deterrent, exercise motivator, and automatic vacuum cleaner along with other roles," writes Professor Michael Chong of Chemistry. "Lately, he's been helping to grade final exams and sometimes he doesn't like what he reads."

"This is Beans my orange tabby keeping me company beside me while I work," writes Alizon Zorian, faculty administrative officer in the Faculty of Mathematics.

"In the absence of a real pet/good buddy, let me share the news that AR buddies are available for home visits from Google," writes Linda Carson, a continuing lecturer at the Stratford School of Interaction Design and Business. "I found a horse whinnying in my dining room and a raccoon snooping around in the ensuite. There does not appear to be an AR Canada goose, an oversight that suggests our co-op Googlers have some work to do."

"Nimbus is a discarded domestic roller pigeon who was connected with me through Palomacy Pigeon and Dove Rescue," writes Lindsay Thompson, wellness coordinator at St. Jerome's University. "He LOVES hanging out in the background of my Microsoft Teams meetings and cooing at me when he thinks I'm talking to him. Pigeons are largely used for sport or meat when raised domestically in North America, but they actually make wonderful and engaging pets."

Remember, you can send in a photo of your Good Buddy to bulletin@uwaterloo.ca and we'll be sure to feature them in the Daily Bulletin.