Today's talk is The happy secret to better work by Shawn Anchor. We believe we should work hard in order to be happy, but could we be thinking about things backwards? In this fast-moving and very funny talk, psychologist Shawn Achor argues that, actually, happiness inspires us to be more productive.

Today's talk is What I've learned about parenting as a stay-at-home dad by Glen Henry. Glen Henry got his superpowers through fatherhood. After leaving behind a job he hated and a manager he didn't get along with, he went to work for an equally demanding boss: his kids. He shares how he went from thinking he knew it all about being a stay-at-home parent to realizing he knew nothing at all -- and how he's now documenting what he's learned.

Today's talk is The cost of work stress - and how to reduce it by Rob Cooke. By estimates, work-related stress drains the US economy of nearly 300 billion dollars a year -- and it can hurt your productivity and personal health too, says wellness advocate Rob Cooke. He shares some strategies to help put your mental, physical and emotional well-being back at the forefront.

Today's talk is Want to be more creative? Go for a walk by Marily Oppezzo. When trying to come up with a new idea, we all have times when we get stuck. But according to research by behavioral and learning scientist Marily Oppezzo, getting up and going for a walk might be all it takes to get your creative juices flowing. In this fun, fast talk, she explains how walking could help you get the most out of your next brainstorm.

1. Allow employees to make prospective mid-year election changes related to health coverage, prescription, health FSAs, and dependent care FSAs; and
2. Allow employees to apply amounts in a health FSA or dependent care FSA from 2019 that are unused as of the end of a grace period (March 15, 2020) to pay for or reimburse qualified medical care or dependent care expenses incurred through December 31, 2020.

• make a new election for medical and prescription drug coverage on a prospective basis, if the employee did not enroll in the 2020 plan year previously;   (the Mid-Year Attestation form will be required in SPS Workday, please see instructions at the bottom of this message) 
• make a new election changing enrollment from self-only coverage to family coverage on a prospective basis;   (the Mid-Year Attestation form will be required in SPS Workday, please see instructions at the bottom of this message) 
• may drop an existing plan election for medical and prescription drug coverage on a prospective basis, provided that the employee signs and attaches the Waiver attestation that the employee is enrolled, or immediately will enroll, in other health coverage not sponsored by the State as the employer. 

• stop the FSA election(s) so that no further salary contributions will be required;  (the Mid-Year Attestation form will be required in SPS Workday, please see instructions at the bottom of this message) 
• make a new FSA election if none was made during the open enrollment period; (the Mid-Year Attestation form will be required in SPS Workday, please see instructions at the bottom of this message) 
• reduce the FSA election amount.  (the Mid-Year Attestation form will be required in SPS Workday, please see instructions at the bottom of this message) 

1. Changes may be processed between today and July 31, 2020 and remain in effect through December 31, 2020. Use Benefit Event Type: Employee: Mid-Year Election Change (COVID)
1. Employees may not change the medical carrier or plan; any change will be reversed by EBD
2. Employees requesting mid-year changes on August 1, 2020 or later will be subject to the standard Life Events in SPS.
2. All Medical and Prescription Drug Mid-year elections are effective on the on the 1st of the month on or after the event date.
3. All FSA Mid-year elections are effective on the 1st of the month following the event approval date in SPS. The IRS Notice prohibits an employee from seeking a refund of contributions that have already been made to a health or dependent care FSA.
4. For the addition of dependents, the State’s dependent documentation requirements remain in force. For a list of acceptable documents, see Pages 39-40 in the State of Maryland Benefits Guide, or in the Job Aid for Required Supporting Dependent Documentation.
1. If you are not able to produce the required document(s) immediately due to COVID-19 reduction in services, the deadline is extended until 30-days following the end of Maryland’s State of Emergency.
2. If documentation is not received, Dependents will be dis-enrolled retroactively to the original effective date.
5. All transactions require either the Mid-Year Election or Waiver Attestation Notice. The attestation should be uploaded as documentation to support the change in SPS. (please contact hrbenefits@umbc.edu for these forms).
6. FSA changes will be matched to claim data to date and will be limited to amounts no less than the amount already reimbursed prior to approval.