HR Announcements

Wellnote  06-15-2021

Strategies to Lower Stress 

Many people exercise and eat healthy to keep their stress levels in check, but if you are seeking some complementary ways to relieve stress and feel your best, perhaps try these strategies.

Laugh More: It may be a funny meme, a quick but silly YouTube video, or even a sitcom, but whatever you try to step out of the moment and find a reason to laugh, do it. Laughing warms your heart and cools down your body’s stress response at the same time.

Connect Socially: Authentic connections with others can be genuinely uplifting! Being with friends and family brings joy and a distraction from what creates your stress. It may even provide opportunities to laugh more.

Sleep Better: Sleep allows you to be better prepared to handle life. Go to bed at a reasonable time that allows you to get 7-8 hours of sleep. Journaling before bed may help your brain shut off more quickly, if your thoughts keep you up. Check out CommonHealth’s Better Nights Ahead program for more ideas to help you snooze better.

Meditate: Whether you initiate a regular practice or only do so in the face of stress, meditation can be a great way to minimize the effects stress has on your body. You can meditate on your own or with an app in your living room. New to the practice? CommonHealth’s Relearn to Relax can be a great resource to get you started.

Wellnote  06-08-2021

CommonHealth Video Learning Series

• Financial stress can have a real effect on your mental and physical health. Take 10 minutes today to learn about how you can improve your financial wellness and reduce your stress.

• Watch the Latest Video (YouTube)

Wellnote  06-01-2021

Know Your Food Groups:

• When making our food choices one of the most important things to understand is the importance of eating from all five of your food groups, which include fruits, vegetables, grains, proteins, and dairy.
• Many fruits provide extra fiber that helps aid your digestive system. 
• When purchasing frozen, canned, or dried fruit, choose options that are low in added sugar.
• Vegetables come in a wide variety of colors, flavors, and textures. 
• They are also an important source of vitamins, minerals, and fiber.
• Any food made from wheat, rye, rice, oats, cornmeal, barley, or another cereal grain is a grain product. 
• Look for grain choices that are low in saturated and added sugar and that have no trans-fat.
•  For your protein choose lean (low-fat) meats and poultry, eggs, beans, nuts, seeds, or soy products. 
• Pick from the many low-fat or fat-free choices for yogurt, milk, and cheeses.
• Make every bite count. Learn more at Myplate.gov

CommonHealth & Anywhere Teams Summer Challenge:

The weather is getting nicer--get out and move, anywhere! The CommonHealth and Anywhere Teams bring you a new summer challenge! The challenge starts today and goes through July 1st. You may choose to complete a bingo card horizontally, vertically, diagonally, or completely. When complete, send in your card (be sure to include name and agency) to commonhealth.challenges@dhrm.virginia.gov. Please share photos of challenge activities if you grant permission for them to be shared in EmployeeExperience and/or social media. Use #CommonHealthChallenge, #SummerBingo. 

• Bingo Card

Wellnote  05-17-2021

WW Recipe of the Month:

Cranberry-Banana Bread

Comforting and just what you need for a sweet treat! Try this moist, delicious Cranberry Banana Bread for a perfect snack. The natural sweetness of bananas balances the tartness of the fresh cranberries perfectly. Substitute untoasted walnut oil for the canola oil if you prefer a nuttier flavor.

• READ THE RECIPE

Commonwealth of Virginia Employee Offer:

All employees, spouses, and adult dependents get an exclusive discount of 50% off the retail price and can join now for as low as $8.48 per month. 

• Sign up or learn more at WW.com/us/CommonHealth

June 2021

Topics:

CommonHealth Bite-sized Learning Videos. Click to Learn How To Relieve Financial Stress!

BB&T/SunTrust is now Truist Bank! You are cordially invited to participate in a financial wellness virtual presentation on Thursday, June 24th at 5:30 p.m., titled "Your @Work Financial Wellness Benefits."

VACU Creative Ways to Save (CWTS) Program. A new savings initiative to encourage establishing emergency savings. Newer/younger employees and new families are encouraged to participate. Click Here To Start Saving! Employees can now join Virginia Credit Union online with no funding needed. In just a few easy steps: Visit www.vacu.org/partnerjoinus. Referral Code: 4842

Want to learn more about saving with Virginia529? Get your education savings questions answered through live informational webinars, or get hints, tips, and strategies from Virginia529's on-demand video library. The Virginia529 Smart Savers Academy offers free segments to help you understand the ins and outs of 529 plans, including how to use your account when you’re ready. 

VRS Financial Wellness Resources. Making a move can have a major impact on your finances. Check out the myVRS Financial Wellness Start Here Guide to save money and lower stress before, during, and after move-in day. Available to you through your myVRS account.

Virginia Department of Treasury's Unclaimed Property Division. Tasked with reuniting citizens with their lost funds. Unclaimed property can include dormant bank accounts, uncashed checks, stocks and dividends, insurance proceeds, refunds, and more. One in four Virginians has missing money. Visit our free search site, www.vaMoneySearch.org to check your name and start the claim process.

April 2021

Topics:

• Your financial wellness will remain one of our top priorities in 2021. Please check out this month's flyer to obtain the details of the financial education offerings and resources. 
• VACU's upcoming “Financial Literacy Challenge” live Kahoot learning game on Wednesday, April 14th from 12 p.m. - 12:30 p.m. 
• Virginia529's upcoming employee informational webinar on Tuesday, April 20th from 12 p.m. - 1 p.m.

May 2021

Topics:

• VIDEO: myVRS Financial Wellness Start Here Guides
• Online Retirement Launching for Eligible VRS Members
• Financial Planning Services Now Available to VRS Members
• Health Insurance Credit Expanding to Cover Non-Teacher School Division Employees
• myVRS Financial Wellness: Tackle Debt With the Credit Card Paydown Tool
• Quarterly Investments Report Provides Latest Fund Insights
• 2021 Legislative Summary
• ICMA-RC is Becoming MissionSquare Retirement
• VRS Receives Top Awards for Financial Wellness and Optional Retirement Plan Campaigns
• Your Turn to Ask: What Happens If I Change Hazardous Duty Positions?

February 2021

Topics:

• Watch: VRS in 2020 | Video 
• Enhanced Security Brings Extra Level of Protection for myVRS Accounts
• Saving as a Family: Tips on Building Good Habits and Making Them Last
• Spring Education Sessions Coming to a Screen Near You
• Introduce Yourself to Money Topics With myVRS Financial Wellness Start Here Guides
• VRS Member Spotlight: Anthony Swann, 2021 Virginia Teacher of the Year
• Updated VRS DCP Mobile App Makes Account Management Easy | Video 
• 2021 Virginia General Assembly Continues Into Special Session
• Your Turn to Ask: Where Can I Find More Information About Healthcare Options in Retirement?

November 2020

Topics:

• myVRS Financial Wellness: Planning Tools You Can Use
• Boost Your Knowledge With Member Education Webinars
• New Design Ahead for VRS Member Website
• A Closer Look at the VRS Trust Fund
• Benchmarking Study on Retirement Systems Shows VRS in Good Standing
• VRS Member Spotlight: Officer Matthew Arnold, Department of Wildlife Resources
• Who Are Your Beneficiaries? How to Set Your Beneficiary Designations
• Hybrid Plan Members: Why Make Voluntary Contributions Now?
• Online Retirement Coming in 2021
• FAQ: How Do I Roll Over Funds Into My DC Plan Accounts?

September 2020

Topics:

• myVRS Financial Wellness: Get Help with Big Money Decisions
• Member MBPs Now Available in myVRS
• COVID-19 Updates: VRS Operations and Items That May Impact You
• VRS Member Spotlight: Chinh Vu, Dept. of General Services 
• Dive Into your Plan with Virtual Member Education
• Revised handbooks Available
• VRS Announces Return o FY 2020
• Governor Appoints Two New Members to the Board of Trustees
• Reasons why now may be the time to Purchase Your Prior Service
• RAQ: After I retire, Can I return to Work and Still Receive my VRS Benefit?