Q&A: Vacation/Personal Paid Time Off (PTO)

Do you have a plan for using your vacation/personal paid time off (PTO) this year? According to this  Forbes article, “American workers are notorious for being workaholics. Since March of 2020, an overwhelming majority of U.S. employees have shortened, postponed, or canceled their vacation time.” While most of us are aware that time away from work is crucial to maintaining mental health and supporting our relationships, we sometimes have a hard time truly disconnecting. 

While it may seem harmless to check in a couple of times while you’re away, to really benefit from a vacation you need to disconnect entirely. Review these tips for setting boundaries so you can get adequate rest and reset. Having a plan for setting boundaries with your team before, during, and after your vacation will help reduce pre- and post-vacation stress. 

We encourage everyone to work with their supervisor to schedule a well-deserved break. And don’t forget, employee discounts for travel are available through MSU Benefits Plus and the HR website

Your Top PTO Questions 

The following are the most common questions HR receives regarding PTO and answers vary based on the employee’s personal details. These answers are only applicable to regular, benefit-eligible employees working half-time or more. Please make sure to reference the appropriate policy page for further details: support staff, faculty and academic staff, librarians, and MSU extension

  1. Support Staff Only: How do I find out how much PTO I currently have?

    Log into the EBS Portal and select My Time & Payroll from the top navigation, then select the Time Quota Balances tile. For support using the application, please review the Time Quota Balances help page

  2.  Support Staff Only: How do I find out how much PTO I have used?

    Log into the EBS Portal and select My Time & Payroll from the top navigation, then select the Time Quota Usage Monthly Report tile. For support using the application, please review the Time Quota Usage Monthly help page

  3. Support Staff Only: How do I accrue vacation days? 

    Eligible support staff accrue vacation days monthly. The amount accrued depends on union affiliation, employment percentage, and length of employment. Please review the support staff vacation time policy page for more details. 

  4. Support Staff Only: Is there a maximum amount of vacation PTO I can accrue? 

    Yes. The maximum amount eligible support staff can accrue depends on union affiliation, employment percentage, and length of employment. Please review the support staff vacation time policy page for more details. Support staff cannot earn vacation time beyond the accrual limit. You are encouraged to use your PTO so you don’t lose out on valuable vacation time.

  5.  Support Staff Only: How do I enter my PTO in EBS for supervisor approval?

    Login to the EBS Portal and select My Time & Payroll from the top navigation, then select the Time Entries & Statement tile. Enter the number of hours in the cell for the correct date in the row with the appropriate absence type. For support using the application, please review the Time Entries and Statement help page

  6. What is the difference between personal leave, personal observance days, and vacation PTO? 

    Eligible support staff are granted both personal leave and vacation PTO. Eligible faculty and academic staff are granted vacation PTO.  

    For support staff, up to 24 hours of personal leave PTO is granted each fiscal year (July 1 – June 30). The amount granted is proportional to the employment percentage. You may not carry these hours over to the next year, so make sure you use this PTO before the fiscal year ends. Please review the support staff personal leave policy page for more details. Please note: POAM employees should review the POAM union contract for their unique personal leave policy. 

    Vacation PTO is granted to eligible employees and varies based on employee type, union affiliation, employment percentage, length of employment, and new hire status. Please review the appropriate policy for further details: support staff, faculty and academic staff, librarians, and MSU extension

    Personal Observance Days are two additional days (16 hours, prorated based on the start date and percent time) of personal time that eligible faculty, support, and academic staff employees will be able to use each calendar year. As of January 2024, employees will be able to use the two additional days of personal time between January 1 and December 31. Please refer to the Personal Observance FAQ page for further details

  7. I’m a new employee. Do I have immediate access to my vacation PTO? 

    This depends on your employee type. Eligible faculty, academic, and support staff have access to vacation PTO after 6 months of service. Eligible librarians and MSU Extension employees have access immediately upon employment. Please review the appropriate policy for further details: support staff, faculty and academic staff, librarians, and MSU extension

  8. What happens to my unused PTO if I leave the university – such as through retirement or termination?

    Employees will receive payment for unused vacation and personal PTO when they leave the university.

  9. How much vacation time can I use at once? 

    It is up to each department to determine what is an appropriate amount of vacation time to be taken at once. Departments should make sure to consistently approve vacation requests fairly.  

  10. For Time Entry Roles Only: What are the absence and attendance codes? 

    Please review the Absence and Attendance Codes page for specific employee groups for more information. 


    Resources

    More information about PTO for eligible employees can be found on the HR website (support staff and faculty/academic staff). We encourage you to review the appropriate policy pages thoroughly to help answer any questions you may have. Support staff may contact the HR Solutions Center at SolutionsCenter@hr.msu.edu or 517-353-4434 with questions. Questions from faculty and academic staff may be directed to FASAffairs@msu.edu.

Your Benefits: New Year Checklist

For benefits-eligible employees, the start of a new year is a great time to review all the MSU benefit options available to make sure you’re fully utilizing them throughout the year. The following list of tips and resources to consider will help you get the most out of your employee benefits:  

  1. Schedule Wellness Check-ups: If you’re enrolled in an MSU health, dental, and/or vision plan, you’ve just entered a new plan year. Even though an annual check-up is usually recommended by doctors, many people miss out each year because they forget to schedule an appointment. Set your family up for success by scheduling any annual or wellness check-ups now.  
  2. Prepare for Illness: Teladoc is an online medical care service that gives you 24/7 access to a health care professional via web, phone, or mobile app in minutes. A doctor can even write you a prescription if necessary. Enroll in Teladoc now so you’re prepared when illness strikes.  Available to employees and their dependents that are enrolled in an MSU health plan.  
  3. Review Retirement Contributions: The IRS sets new retirement contribution limits each year. Make sure you’re saving as much as you can by reviewing the 2025 IRS retirement contribution limits and adjusting contributions if needed.  
  4. Note Flexible Spending Account (FSA) Deadlines: If you’re enrolled in an FSA for the 2024 and/or 2025 plan year, please note important deadlines and resources for utilizing your FSA funds.  
  5. Use Educational Assistance Funds: Support staff and academic specialist employees have access to educational assistance funds to use towards professional development opportunities. These funds reset each fall, so make sure you don’t miss out. If you’re looking for learning opportunities, we recommend checking out courses offered by HR’s Organization and Professional Development department.  
  6. Note Mental Health Resources: The MSU community offers a variety of mental health resources to employees and their dependents.  
  7. Schedule Vacation/Personal PTO: Taking time to rest and reset is important to maintain mental health. Make sure you’re using all your PTO by planning out and scheduling your time off in advance.  
  8. Employee Discounts: Visit the MSU Benefits Plus website for deals and discounts on everything from travel and experiences to electronics and toys. Additional discounts can be found on the MSU Human Resources website.  
  9. Voluntary Benefit Options: You may enroll in, change, or cancel auto, home, and pet insurance benefits at any time through the MSU Benefits Plus website.  Legal, critical illness, and vision insurance only allow benefit changes during Open Enrollment in October.  
  10. Register for a Free Diabetes Management Program: If you or a dependent are living with diabetes, Livongo by Teladoc Health can help by providing free necessary medical supplies and optional coaching.  Employees or dependents enrolled in Medicare are not eligible.  
  11. Get a Second Medical Opinion: If you are facing a serious medical diagnosis, Teladoc Medical Experts can review your case and offer a second medical opinion from leading health care specialists. Coaching and online educational tools are also available.  Employees with mandated insurance under the ACA are not eligible.  

We hope this list will help keep you on track as you plan out how you and your family will use your employee benefits this year. You can learn more about all these benefit options on the HR website

Employee Discounts to Support Your 2025 Goals

Another new year means new resolutions, and MSU Benefits Plus wants to make those goals and tasks more achievable than ever. Below, you can learn more about these exclusive health, wellness, and other helpful discounts for MSU employees and start your journey to a happy new year today! 

To access these discounts and more, login to MSU Benefits Plus today. If you haven’t used MSU Benefits Plus previously, register using your employee email address and set up an account.  

Health & Wellness 

  • Mindfulness App – Reduce stress, calm anxiety, and sleep better with the Mindfulness.com app. Use code for 40% off: EASEANXIETY.  
  • Active and Fit Direct – For just $28/month you can find your perfect gym from 12,700+ options nationwide, including 24 Hour Fitness®,  EĹŤS Fitness®, Crunch Fitness®, Anytime Fitness®, and more. Use code: FITNESSFIRST
  • Home Chef – 50% off your first four boxes. Use code: CS50
  • Nutribullet – Enjoy 21% off sitewide on NutriBullet.com! Use code: CORENB2025

Travel 

  • AVIS Care Rental – You can save up to 35% off your next car rental when you provide your Avis Worldwide Discount Number! Use code: X199700
  • Great Wolf Lodge – Save up to 30% year-round. Use code: CORESTREAM
  • Going – Going helps over 2 million members travel the world. We monitor thousands of flights so you can save an average of $550 on tickets. Save 50% off your first year of premium membership. Use code: CORE50

Education 

  • Rosetta Stone – Get a lifetime subscription with unlimited languages for $149 with no renewal fee (normally $299). 
  • Blinkist – Get 45% off Blinkist Annual Subscription. Use code: CORESTREAM45

Tech 

  • Apple – Get preferred pricing on iPhones, iMacs and more. 
  • Dell – Get the best pricing available on all Dell PCs, electronics, and accessories. 

The HR website also offers other deals you can find on-campus through the MSU Tech Store, MSU Bakers, and the Kellogg Hotel & Conference Center, among others. You can check out some of those deals through the MSU HR Website. For more information on discounts from MSU Benefits Plus, visit the MSU Benefits Plus website. If you have any questions about the discounts, please contact MSU Benefits Plus via email at msubenefitsplus@corestream.com or by phone at 888-758-7575. 

Did You Sign Up for an FSA for 2025? Find Tips and Resources to Get Started.

Welcome to 2025 and your flexible spending account (FSA) funds! If you signed up for a 2025 FSA during Open Enrollment last October, you’re on your way to saving money on out-of-pocket medical and/or dependent care expenses. MSU’s FSA plan administrator is HealthEquity/WageWorks. If this is your first time participating in an FSA, make sure you register for your online HealthEquity/WageWorks account.

If you have a Dependent Care FSA, you can use pre-tax dollars to pay for eligible dependent care services, such as child or adult daycare, preschool, and before/after school programs. Find a complete list of eligible dependent care expenses here.

If you have a Health Care FSA, you can purchase various products and services with pre-tax dollars – which means it’s like a 30% off sale on eligible expenses. 1Find a complete list of eligible health care expenses here. Some items2 you may not know about include:

  • Allergy medication
  • Anti-bacterial hand sanitizer
  • Bandages
  • Braces
  • Breastfeeding classes
  • Cough syrup
  • Eyeglasses
  • Feminine Care Products
  • First-aid kits
  • Hearing aids
  • Humidifier/air filter
  • Pain relievers
  • Pregnancy tests
  • Prescriptions
  • Smoking cessation drugs
  • Sunscreen
  • Thermometer

To make shopping for eligible health care FSA expenses easier, visit the online FSA Store for the largest selection of guaranteed FSA-eligible products.

Managing Your FSA Account

Managing your HealthEquity/WageWorks account is quick and easy with the EZ Receipts App. You’ll love the convenience of submitting claims, uploading receipts, and checking account balances directly from your phone.

What if I still have funds left over from my 2024 FSA?

Not to worry – if you still have funds left over from your 2024 FSA, you have until March 15, 2025, to use these funds and until April 30, 2025, to submit receipts to substantiate these claims.

How Do I Sign Up for an FSA?

Benefits-eligible employees are eligible to enroll in an FSA during Open Enrollment in October each year or if they experience a qualifying life event.

Questions? For more detailed information contact HealthEquity customer service directly at 877-924-3967 or visit the HealthEquity/WageWorks website.

1 Assumes a combined tax rate of 30%, including FICA, state, and federal income taxes. Actual amounts may vary.

2 Some items may require a doctor’s prescription or other documentation from your doctor. Please see your account details for more information.

Retirement Planning: 2025 IRS Retirement Plan Contribution Limits 

Whether your retirement is on the horizon or a faraway goal, it’s important that you continue to monitor and adjust how much you’re saving if you want to have a comfortable retirement. The IRS places limits on how much employees can contribute to a retirement plan each year and recently announced the retirement plan limits for 2025: 

  • The annual employee contribution amount increased from $23,000 to $23,500 for 403(b) and 457(b) plans. 
  • The age 50 catch-up contribution amount remains the same at $7,500 for 403(b) and 457(b) plans. 

If you want to save as much as possible for your retirement, a tool in the EBS Portal called the Max Savings Contributions Calculator is available to assist you. This tool automatically displays the remaining amount of retirement contributions you have available before reaching one of the limits, and the equivalent percentage of your pay to help you spread that out for the year. 

To access this tool: 

  1. Login to the EBS Portal with your MSU NetID and password. 
  1. Click the My Benefits tab at the top. 
  1. Click the Benefit/Retirement tile. 
  1. Select Enroll/Change my Retirement/Health Savings Account Options in the drop-down menu and then click Next in the bottom right. 
  1. Navigate in the bar graph to the Savings Plans screen by clicking Next in the bottom right. 
  1. The Max Savings Contributions Calculator screen will display. This display will automatically show the remaining amount of retirement contributions you have available (if any) before reaching the IRS limit. 
  1. You can adjust the percentage of your contributions to any retirement plans you participate in by clicking on the pencil icon, and then choosing Select to make the change. 
  1. If you want to enroll in a new plan, begin by clicking on the paper icon next to the plan and vendor of your choosing, and then enter the percentage of your new contribution and choose Select to enroll. 
  1. Make sure to click on Save in the bottom right to complete and save any changes/enrollments. 

If you are an academic year faculty or academic staff employee, or a Voluntary 403(b) Base participant aged 50 and over, contact the HR Solutions Center at 517-353-4434 or SolutionsCenter@hr.msu.edu for further assistance in calculating your maximum contribution percentage. 

Learn More About MSU’s Retirement Plans 

The following articles contain more detailed information about MSU’s retirement plan options and preparing for retirement: 

The  HR website  also contains a wealth of information about the different types of retirement plans offered, retirement investment vendors, and planning tools available. 

Celebrating National Disability Employment Awareness Month

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), which raises awareness around disability employment issues and celebrates the many contributions of workers with disabilities. This year’s official theme is “Access to Good Jobs for All.” Every day, people with disabilities can and do add value to America’s workplaces and economy. Each October during NDEAM, we reaffirm our commitment to ensuring all Americans—including Americans with disabilities—can put their skills and talents to work.

We all play an important part in fostering a more inclusive workforce where every person is recognized for their abilities – every day of every month. Although many impacts are not physically visible, it doesn’t mean they do not exist.

MSU is a leader in cultivating a diverse and inclusive environment, and we are constantly striving to improve our efforts to meet the needs of persons with disabilities by being more flexible, understanding, inclusive and supportive of those with different abilities. In observance of NDEAM, we put together this helpful list of resources for awareness of employee disability workplace accommodations.

Resources for Employee Disability Workplace Accommodation Awareness

Discounted Hearing Aids

Did you know you have access to discounts on hearing aids? MSU employees and retirees may qualify for discounted hearing aids through partnerships between some MSU benefit providers and TruHearing®. Additional funding can also be provided by our partner organization Michigan Rehabilitation Services. For more information please contact Aaron Pena, Workplace Accommodations Specialist.

Assistive Technology

Technology can be a great resource for employees to address the impacts of their disability. Some resources are free at MSU without having to complete the registration process (e.g., screen reader software that reads text aloud)! See the full range of resources at the Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities (RCPD) Assistive Technology page.

Mental Health Resources

Through University Health and Wellbeing, MSU offers many services, programs and resources to help faculty, staff and their families thrive. This includes the Employee Assistance Program, providing no-cost confidential counseling services to MSU faculty, staff, retirees, graduate assistants and their families. Services include short-term counseling, couples counseling, emotional wellness, short-term trauma services and stress reduction services. Learn more from University Health and Wellbeing.

If you are interested in requesting disability workplace accommodations at MSU, begin the process by registering with the Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities (RCPD).

All medical records and diagnoses are kept confidential from supervisors and units. Undergraduate and graduate employees can also qualify for workplace accommodations. If you need more information or help going through the process, please contact Workplace Accommodations Specialist, Aaron Pena at penaaaro@hr.msu.edu.

For more information on National Disability Employment Awareness Month please visit the Office of Disability Employment Policy’s website.

Reminder: Enroll in, change, or cancel vision, legal, and critical illness insurance during October

The MSU Benefits Open Enrollment period is here! As you review your benefit options for the 2025 plan year, please note that some voluntary benefits only allow you to enroll in, change, or cancel coverage during Open Enrollment in October. These include VSP vision insurance, ARAG legal insurance, and MetLife critical illness insurance.

If you’re interested in enrolling in these benefits, need to make changes (such as adding a dependent or switching to a different plan), or cancel your coverage for the 2025 plan year, you must do so in October. If you’re currently enrolled and do not make any changes, your enrollment will continue in 2025 with the exact same coverage.

How to Enroll in, Change, or Cancel Voluntary Benefits

You can enroll in, change, or cancel these benefits via the MSU Benefits Plus website.

  • First Time Users: Click the link to create an account. Enter your MSU email and pick a password to get started. You will need your MSU ZPID number (use a capital “Z”) located on your MSU Spartan ID Card or in the EBS Portal.
  • Existing Users: Enter your email and password and then click Log In.

How to View Current Participation

To view your current participation or deduction history, log in to the MSU Benefits Plus website, click on Benefits in the top navigation, and then Enrollments. Click on Deductions to view an itemized list of your voluntary benefit deductions. Please note the MSU Benefits Plus website only provides participation status on products you have enrolled in within the MSU Benefits Plus website, such as vision, legal, and critical illness insurance.

Learn More about Voluntary Benefits

Please review a brief description of vision, legal, and critical illness insurance below. For additional information on all voluntary benefits, please review the appropriate Open Enrollment guide: Support Staff Open Enrollment Guide or Faculty/Academic Staff Open Enrollment Guide.

  • VSP vision insurance can help with the cost of glasses and contact lenses for you and your family. VSP is the benefit provider, and they offer two plan options: the standard coverage plan or a premium coverage plan with an additional enhanced eyewear option of your choice. Visit the MSU Benefits Plus website to view a plan summary sheet with basic information about the two coverage options and rates.
  • MetLife critical illness insurance gives you extra cash in the event you or covered family members experience a covered illness. This money can be used to offset unexpected medical expenses or for any other use you wish. Simplified plan options are offered through MetLife with no evidence of insurability requirement. Visit the MSU Benefits Plus website to view a plan summary sheet with basic information about the plan coverage and rates.
  • ARAG legal insurance makes it affordable to get the legal help you need. Network attorney fees are 100% paid in full for most covered matters. Life is full of legal situations. Some you plan for, like creating a will, and others are more unexpected—like fighting a traffic ticket. Choose between two plans for coverage that best fit the needs of you and your family. UltimateAdvisor® covers most common legal issues. UltimateAdvisor Plus™ includes more robust coverage plus additional services. Visit the MSU Benefits Plus website to view a plan summary with basic information about the two coverage options and rates.

Questions? You can learn more about, enroll in, change, or cancel voluntary benefits on the MSU Benefits Plus website. Learn about all your benefits options on the HR website. If you have questions, consider joining an HR Site Lab. The HR Solutions Center is available for questions at SolutionsCenter@hr.msu.edu or 517-353-4434.

Mark Your Calendar: Upcoming Open Enrollment Events

With the MSU Benefits Open Enrollment period rapidly approaching (October 1–31), you may have questions about your benefit options for the 2025 plan year. We are ready to answer your questions and help you enroll in your 2025 benefit options.

Mark your calendars and join us at the following events!

MSU Benefits Fair

Visit the fair to enroll in your benefits on-site or speak with MSU benefit providers and HR staff. The MSU Pharmacy will provide flu shots from Noon to 5:00 p.m. by appointment only.

When:

  • Benefits Fair: Thursday, October 3 from Noon to 7:00 p.m.
  • (Updated September 30) Flu Shots: Appointments at the Fair are no longer available, but can be made for an in-pharmacy flu shot with MSU Health Care Pharmacy.

Where:

The MSU Benefits Fair will be held at the Breslin Student Events Center Concourse. Learn more about the MSU Benefits Fair on the HR website, including how to make an appointment for your flu shot, parking information, and participating providers.

HR Site Labs

MSU HR will be available to answer questions and help you enroll in your benefits at the following site labs.

When and Where:

  • October 16 | 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. | Virtual (see the HR Site Lab webpage for virtual link)
  • October 22 | 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. | International Center, 427 N. Shaw Ln, Spartan Rooms B and C, East Lansing, MI 48824
  • October 31 | 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. | HR Building, 1407 S. Harrison Rd, Room 125, East Lansing, MI 48823

Learn more about the HR Site Labs on the HR website, including directions, parking information, and how to join the virtual site lab.

As always, you can find information about all things Open Enrollment on the HR website. In addition to the events above, the HR Solutions Center is available to answer your questions at SolutionsCenter@hr.msu.edu or 517-353-4434 (toll-free: 800-353-4434).

Time to Choose Your Benefits for 2025: Your Open Enrollment Checklist

October is just around the corner, which means the MSU Benefits Open Enrollment period (October 1-31) is about to begin for benefit-eligible employees. Please use the following checklist to help guide you through Open Enrollment and be sure to make your benefit selections for the 2025 plan year between October 1-31.

1. Determine your benefit needs.

During Open Enrollment (October 1-31), you may enroll in, change, or cancel coverage in the following benefits:

  • Health
  • Dental
  • Flexible spending accounts (health or dependent care)
  • Life or accidental death and dismemberment insurance
  • Voluntary vision, legal, or critical illness insurance.

Carefully review your Open Enrollment guide and choose the best benefit plans for your family. You may not change the above benefits outside of the Open Enrollment period unless you have a qualifying life event, so review your options and take action in October.

2. Complete the spouse or other eligible individual (OEI) Affidavit.

If you want to cover a spouse or OEI on your health care plan in 2025, you MUST complete the Affidavit online through the EBS Portal every Open Enrollment period. Find instructions to complete the affidavit as part of Open Enrollment. After completing Open Enrollment in the EBS Portal you will receive a confirmation email statement. To receive the confirmation email, you must complete all the Open Enrollment prompts in the EBS Portal and then review and save your plan selections (even if you made no changes); you cannot simply answer the affidavit question and exit the portal.

3. Review important reminders for the 2025 plan year.

While there are no significant changes to your benefit plan options for the 2025 plan year, we encourage you to review important reminders on page 6 of your Open Enrollment guide.

4. Participate in the MSU Benefits Fair or an HR Site Lab.

  • MSU Benefits Fair: We will have an in-person benefits fair on Thursday, October 3 from Noon to 7:00 p.m. at the Breslin Student Events Center on campus. MSU benefit providers and HR staff will be available to answer questions or help you enroll in your benefits on-site. 

    (Updated September 30) Flu shot appointments at the Fair are no longer available, but appointments for an in-pharmacy flu shot can be made with MSU Health Care Pharmacy.
  • HR Site Labs: MSU HR will offer site labs on October 16 (virtual), October 22 (in-person at the International Center), and October 31 (in-person at the HR building). Consider attending if you have questions about your benefit options or need assistance with enrollment. 

5. Make your changes online before October 31.

You must participate in Open Enrollment between October 1-31 (view enrollment instructions) to change your benefit selections or cover a spouse or OEI on your benefit plans.

We hope this checklist is helpful as you prepare for and participate in Open Enrollment this year. You can find all the details about Open Enrollment on the HR website, including links to the appropriate Open Enrollment guide, enrollment instructions, and detailed benefits information from our providers.

Questions? We’re happy to help! We encourage you to attend the MSU Benefits Fair or an HR Site Lab to ask questions. You may also contact the HR Solutions Center at SolutionsCenter@hr.msu.edu or 517-353-4434 (toll-free: 800-353-4434).