Register now for Refresh From Stress: 30-Day Inspiration!
Make time for yourself to engage in simple and fun activities to boost your mood and improve stress management.  Activities focus on resilience, self-care, mindfulness, social connections, and gratitude to help you refresh from stress. The program is more flexible than ever to help you focus on what is most important to you.  Refresh From Stress will be held October 1-30 and registration is open now on Healthy Emory Connect.  Join today! www.fsap.emory.edu/refreshfromstress

After you register, don’t forget to download the Virgin Pulse app to stay connected to the program.

Emory Will Not Stop the Withholding of Social Security Taxes
On Aug. 28, 2020, the IRS issued Notice 2020-65, allowing employers to temporarily defer withholding the employee’s portion of Social Security payroll taxes for pay periods starting Sept. 1 through Dec. 31, 2020, as directed by an Executive Order issued by President Donald Trump. Unless Congress passes additional legislation forgiving the repayment of this tax deferral, employees would be required to repay the taxes by doubling the employee's Social Security tax paycheck withholding to 12.4 percent during the first four months of 2021.

Emory has made the decision not to stop the withholding of Social Security taxes from employees’ pay at this time. The administrative challenges of implementing changes to our payroll system, coupled with concerns about the significant reduction in take-home pay that would occur during the first four months of 2021, are factors that led to our decision.

In the event that Congress passes legislation forgiving the tax repayment or the Treasury Department issues guidance regarding the ability of employees to make individual choices regarding participation in this tax deferral, we will reassess this decision and promptly notify you of changes, if any.

If you have any further questions, please contact your department or school HR leader.

New Staff Training Series
Learning and Organizational Development in partnership with Work Life, is launching a new Staff Training Series that consist of short, interactive Zoom sessions that will provide tips and tools to individuals in a “non-people manager” position.  These sessions are focused on topics such as providing feedback, ensuring productivity, surviving work-life during a pandemic, working remotely, and customer service. You can register for the sessions in the ELMS. Most sessions are between 45 minutes and 1 hour. Learn more.

COVID-19 Event and Gathering Policy
On Friday, September 18, Emory announced the COVID-19 Event and Gathering Policy. You can view it here. Emory is also now using a color-coded meter system to easily show its current operating conditions.

New Virtual Walking on Wednesdays Group Begins September 23
Starting September 23rd, join us for a 6-week walking series. Stay active whether you are working from home or in the office. We will have unique themes to keep you engaged. Everyone who sends a picture of their walk on Wednesdays will receive 100 points weekly. "Attend" 5 of 6 walks and receive 1000 points towards your Healthy Emory Connect account. Walking will occur every Wednesday, September 23 - October 28, 2020. Walks can be completed at any time during the day. Register here.

Some Important Voting Reminders
As we enter into election season, Emory would like to encourage you to exercise your right to vote. It is one of our most important civic duties.

1. Make sure you are registered. Even if you have registered in the past, you should check your registration. If you’ve recently moved, you must update your registration. Check your voter registration status here. The deadline to register to vote is October 5, 2020.
   
   
2. Make your plan to vote now. Decide now which method you will use to cast your ballot. There are three ways you can vote. You can either:
   
   
   • Vote by Mail (absentee ballot): If you apply for an absentee ballot, your county will mail you a ballot to your registered address or a different address that you provide. Request an absentee ballot here.
     
     
   • Do Early Voting (in person): The advance voting period for the general election is from October 12 – October 30, 2020. Locate early voting locations in your county here.
     
     
   • Vote on Election Day (in person): You can vote in person on official Election Day, November 3, 2020. Find your precinct here.

Given the uncertainties and challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic, once you have determined which way you would like to vote, we recommend you strive to vote as early as possible within the allowed window of time.

Voting Policy
To make it easier for you to cast your vote this fall, Emory University has made a change to the Voting Policy to allow up to 4 hours paid time, as needed, for voting on Election Day or advance/early voting. If you plan to use paid time to vote, let your supervisor know in advance.

Stay Safe
If you decide to vote in person, remember to stay safe by wearing a mask and keeping a 6 ft. distance from others while waiting to cast your vote.

Additional Reminder
Please also remember to respect the opinions of others during this election season.

Thank you for participating in this important election! For more information, visit the website: Emory Votes Initiative

Ask the Registered Dietitian (RD)!
During this time of change and adaptation, many of us have struggled with maintaining healthy eating habits.  Join this group discussion that will focus on a different nutrition topic each week to learn some tips for nutrition success!  Occurs alternating Wednesdays at 10am via Zoom. Duration: 30 minutes.

September 23: Balancing Food & Activity
October 7:  Making Food & Activity Cues Work for You
October 21:  Seasonal Eats
November 4: MyPlate: A Closer Look
November 18: Holiday Meal Makeovers
December 2: Four Keys to Healthy Eating When Ordering Out
December 16: Eating Healthy During the Holidays

Register HERE  *If you have already registered previously…you do not need to register again.

Daily Refresh Moves to Weekly Schedule
FSAP’s Daily Refresh series will move to a weekly format (Wednesdays at 4:30 p.m.) beginning on October 7. 

International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) Announces Upcoming Workshops
ISSS is excited to offer intercultural communication workshops for faculty and staff. Please register through ELMS. Zoom details will be sent to registrants.

For more details, visit: https://isss.emory.edu/global_community/get_involved/virtual-events.html

Webinar: Active Works: Making the Active Choice
Do you take time to move, stretch, or breath throughout your workday? Join this webinar to learn ways to incorporate more movement into your workday by making the "Active Choice." Learn how to use Active Works in a variety of settings, including tips for yourself and your department. Get Active. It Works!

Register for an Active Works webinar here: https://apps.hr.emory.edu/register/details.jsp?event=1130

Webinar: Power of Attorney and Advanced Directives
October 19, 2020
12pm-1pm

This seminar can help you learn how to communicate your wishes should an unexpected life event occur. It will help you to understand and to select the appropriate legal provisions, from the power of attorney to advance directives, so that your affairs are in order when you face incapacitating illness or death. The seminar will:

• Detail the basics of preparing a will and selecting the right power of attorney
  
  
• Provide reasons to prepare an advance directives document
  
  
• Explore the benefits of developing a financial inventory and a letter of instruction to your estate trustee so you can communicate your final wishes and any personal messages
  
  
• Prepare you to talk to your family about sensitive illness or end-of-life issues

Register Here: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/3342907183272524815

Presented by WorkPlace Options.  If you have questions about this webinar or Emory University WorkLife benefits, please contact Mary Ellen Eady, 404-727-4177.

Healing Through Art: Sharing Our Grief, Loss, and Hope
The past months have been a traumatic time for individuals, communities, and our world. The illness, deaths, and life changes brought about by the COVID19 pandemic alongside continued anti-Black violence and serious immigration concerns have undoubtedly taken a toll on our Emory community. The grief compounded with continued social distancing measures have made it difficult to acknowledge, name, and share these hardships. We hope to facilitate a virtual space to help us connect and share our grief. We hope this platform can remind our community members that they are not alone.

With Healing Through Art, we invite the Emory community to individually and collectively express and process our experiences of grief and loss. 

Steps to participate:

1. Create your representation of grief, loss, or change, and/or where you may be finding hope. Your choice of expression can come in various forms. You could create a photograph, a drawing, a collage, a painting, a poem, or a song. 
   
   
2. Submit your art by uploading it here: http://bit.ly/EmoryHealingThroughArt. 

Participate, find resources, and continue the conversation here: http://bit.ly/EmoryHealingThroughArt. You can also see the live gallery here: https://www.instagram.com/emory_hta/

For questions, please contact religiouslife@emory.edu. Sponsored by the Emory University Office of Spiritual and Religious Life and the Oxford College Office of Religious and Spiritual Life. Special thanks to: Tasha Dobbin-Bennett, Rohini Guin, Hannah Kreuziger, Nikita Dsouza, Emory Art Club, and the Emory and Oxford College Counseling Centers.