1/30/25 Weekly Email
Hi all,
I have a couple of updates this week.
First, Newsletter. The First Quarter edition of our UAEA newsletter is out now! I’ll begin updating City bulletin boards with physical copies over the next week but if you want the full color version check the attachment on this email or download a copy from our website. I’d like to draw attention to and congratulate the first four winners of our Employee of the Quarter contest (open the attachment to find out their names) and extend some appreciation once again to board member Kelly Taylor for putting this together. If you’re interested in applying or nominating someone for the next round of Employee of the Quarter, click on this link and fill out the form prior to March 1st, 2025.
I wrote a slightly longer piece about ASRS that had to be condensed for the newsletter. If you want to read the complete version, you can check it out on our website here.
Second, School Expo. This Saturday, February 1st, the Tempe Library Complex (3500 S Rural Rd), will be holding a School Expo with information about Tempe schools, childcare opportunities, and community programs like College Connect. Attendees will have the opportunity to chat with some people who run each program and enroll in certain programs on the spot. Check out the attached flyer for more details.
Third, Love Your Heart 5k. The Tempe Elementary School District will be holding their annual Love Your Heart Run on February 15th. All members of the public are invited to attend (advance signup is required) and proceeds will go to supporting TESD staff. Scan the QR Code on the attached flyer to sign up.
Fourth, Healthcare Costs. You’ve probably seen the reminders from HR about scheduling your biometric screening and participating in the wellness programs. I want to underline the importance of taking some time to participate in the Tempe programs - in terms of dollars per hour spent, it probably is one of the most lucrative things you can do to up your take-home pay in the next year.
If you are able to get 100 points in our Healthy Me Tempe wellness program before April 30th, 2025, you will get $25 off your insurance premiums on each paycheck for the next fiscal year (July 2025 thru June 2026). Over 26 paychecks that will effectively be $650 in extra pay (minus Social Security and any other withholdings). 100 points may sound like a lot but there’s a fairly easy way to get to that number.
You can earn 50 points at the biometric screenings (entirely on City time), and an extra 10 points for doing the approximately 20 minute Online Heath Assessment (on your time). If you’ve stayed within range or decreased your main biometric markers (blood glucose levels, cholesterol levels, waist circumference, blood pressure) from last year’s screening you’ll get an extra 20 points - if you send the results to your primary care doctor, you can score an extra 5. This means you can get 65-85 points (depending on whether or not you saw improvements/stayed in range) with about 30-40 minutes of work.
To make up the remaining 15-35 points, you can take 1-2 online classes through the healthymetempe.com portal. The Building Resilience and Mindfulness classes take 1-2 hours to complete and are each worth 20 points. By finishing both and doing the first step you’ve gathered 105-125 points with only 3-5 hours of total work. This entitles you to the $25 insurance premium discount, which earns you an extra $650 (before taxes/fees, etc). At 3-5 hours of work, you’ve thus made anywhere from $130-$216/hour.
The really nice thing about the healthcare program is that you can earn points for a wide variety of activities. If you don’t want to take the classes you can make up the points by visiting your doctor for eye exams, getting various vaccinations, or even attending financial seminars. Our program has incredible flexibility so don’t think that there’s only one way to get those points - check out the healthymetempe.com website for more details.
Fifth, February Member’s Meeting. I’m excited to announce that Tempe City Manager Rosa Inchausti will be the guest at our February 20th Member’s Meeting. The meeting will be free 12-1PM on Thursday, February 20th, in the Tempe City Council Chambers 9lower level of City Hall). I am announcing this early for two reasons - first, please make sure you get approval to attend from your supervisor as far in advance as possible and sign up to attend at this link. There is an option if you would like to attend virtually but we’ll need your email in advance. Second, if you have questions you would like to ask Rosa, please submit them in advance at this link. We want to give our members an opportunity to ask questions anonymously but we may also have some time for audience questions day-of.
Thanks for a great week, everyone!