Employee Benefits and Resource Fair

Date: Tuesday, October 14​, 2025
Time: 9 a.m.–3 p.m.
Location: Varsity Hall, Union South

All UW–Madison employees are welcome to attend. No pre-registration is required, and no leave needs to be taken to attend. Please notify your supervisor if you wish to attend during your regular working hours.

Learn about Benefits Open Enrollment

• Representatives from Madison Benefits Services will be on hand to provide materials and answer questions.
• Live, one-hour sessions, Benefits 2026: What You Need to Know, will be presented at 9:15 a.m., 10:15 a.m., and 12:45 p.m. in the Marquee Theater.
• If you have decided your 2026 benefits, get help enrolling through Workday at the Open Benefits Lab from 9 a.m.–3 p.m.
• Prefer to get help with benefits enrollment online rather than in person? See our online resources, including virtual presentations and more, at benefits.wisc.edu/2026.

Discover resources for UW employees

• Find out about the many resources and opportunities available to you as a UW–Madison employee.
• Units and services from across campus will have representatives on hand.
• Meet with representatives from the organizations that administer your benefits plans.

Schedule

• Open Lab for Benefits Enrollment or Changes

  Hours: 9 a.m.–3 p.m.

  Room: Traditions, Second Floor

  Hosted by Madison Benefits Services

  Have you made your 2026 benefits decisions? Are you ready to make your elections/changes through Workday? If you want help with the enrollment process, attend this open lab where UW–Madison Benefits Services staff will be available to assist you and answer your questions. You can immediately confirm your online submissions.

• Benefits 2026: What You Need to Know

  • 9:15–10:15 a.m.
  • 10:15–11:15 a.m.
  • 12:45–1:45 p.m.

  Room: Marquee Theater, Second Floor

  Presented by Madison Benefits Services

  Open Enrollment is October 6–31, 2025. Insurance premiums and plan designs change from year to year, and some plans require re-enrollment to continue into 2026. Attend to learn about 2026 plan changes, your benefit election options, and the decisions you need to make by the deadline. In most cases, Open Enrollment is the only time employees can enroll in or make changes to benefits for the coming year.

• Your Journey to Retirement with Wisconsin Deferred Compensation

  9:15–10:15 a.m.

  Room: Northwoods, Third Floor

  Presented by Lauren Vieth, Lead Retirement Plan Advisor, Wisconsin Deferred Compensation

  Whether you are participating in the Wisconsin Deferred Compensation Program (WDC) or not, join us to learn about the value and the benefits of saving and investing for your retirement through the WDC. In this session we will help you understand:

  • WDC basics such as enrolling, contribution limits, investment options, and pre-tax vs. Roth contributions
  • Risk and asset allocation
  • Rollovers into the WDC
  • What is included in a Retirement Readiness Review

• Preparing for Retirement: Can We Talk? Sharing Resources and Wisdom – Better Together

  10:30–11:30 a.m.

  Room: Northwoods, Third Floor

  Presented by Retirement Issues Committee and UW–Madison Retirement Association

  This session begins with an introduction to the resources and provides time for discussion, asking questions, and sharing experiences. Panelists include UW retirees as well as current employees who are members of the Retirement Issues Committee. Our goal is to encourage participants to set up conversations within their own work units, advocate for and prepare for life transitions, and encourage small steps over time that support well-being and resilience.

  We will discuss the following:

  • Develop habits that build financial confidence and financial, mental, and emotional resilience to face transitions (planned and unplanned)
  • Enhance your curiosity and have better conversations about retirement and beyond as part of the work/life journey
  • Use UW and Employee Trust Fund (ETF) and other resources for retirement planning

• Supporting Growing Together: Resources for UW Families

  11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

  Room: Marquee Theater, Second Floor

  Presented by Jamie Dregne (Office of Human Resources), Kristin Erickson (Employee Disability Resources or EDR) and Jenn Streator (EDR)

  In this session, you will learn about benefits and resources available to growing UW families. We will cover topics such as Paid Parental Leave, FMLA, pregnancy-related accommodations under the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, lactation rooms, assistance with finding childcare, and parenting classes and family events available.

• Save on Taxes While Saving for Retirement with the UW 403(b) Supplemental Retirement Program

  11:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m.

  Room: Northwoods, Third Floor

  Presented by Rose Stephenson, UW 403(b) SRP Administrator, Universities of Wisconsin

  Come to this workshop to learn about the UW 403(b) Supplemental Retirement Program (SRP) and how to save on taxes now or later. Understanding your retirement savings options can help you make the most out of them. This presentation can help you understand the reasons to enroll and how to do it, the benefits or pre-tax or Roth after-tax contributions, and investing basics. Learn how to create a plan that can help you reach your retirement goals — on your timeline.

  There will also be time for questions and answers at the end.

• UW–Madison Online

  1:00-2:00 p.m.

  Room: Northwoods, Third Floor

  Presented by Sara Kluender, Director of Recruitment Strategies (DCS) and Randy Gentile, Senior Advisor and Transfer Manager (WSB)

  If you are an employee with some college credits and want to complete an undergraduate degree, this presentation is for you! The presenters will talk about the UW–Madison Online degree program and how you can get started.

• Grow, Lead, Succeed: Resources for Personal and Team Development

  2:00-3:00 p.m.

  Room: Marquee Theater, Second Floor

  Presented by Office of Strategic Consulting

  Are you exploring ways to help your team thrive? Looking for professional development opportunities for yourself or your staff? Curious about coaching or self-leadership tools available right here on campus?

  Join representatives from Learning and Talent Development, the Campus Supervisors Network, and the Office of Strategic Consulting. We will cover professional development opportunities at UW–Madison related to our respective areas of expertise, most of which are free of charge.

  • Personal Growth: Enhance individual skills with workshops on time management, communication, emotional intelligence, and more, designed to support both personal and professional success.
  • Leading and Supervising: Explore programs that build leadership capacity, covering topics like effective supervision, conflict resolution, and team motivation—ideal for current and aspiring leaders.
  • Organizational Effectiveness: Discover tools and strategies to improve team performance through change management, strategic planning, and process improvement.
  • Whether you’re a supervisor, team lead, or simply passionate about growth, this session will connect you with valuable campus resources to help you and your colleagues succeed.

• Well Wisconsin Program Overview

  2:15–3:00 p.m.

  Room: Northwoods, Third Floor

  Presented by Well Wisconsin

  Discover tools and resources available through the Well Wisconsin program to support better well-being. Learn how to earn the $150 Well Wisconsin incentive.