We’re here to help, whether it’s a simple question like When do I get paid? or a more complex issue like How do I get along with my colleagues?
Human Resources Links
Frequently Asked HR Questions
UW-Madison employees are grouped into different employment categories depending on the type of work they do. These categories also determine eligibility for benefits and paid leave. If you’re unsure what employment category your position is in, contact Johnny Wertz.
Discovery Building Training is available at uwmadison.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3dVbLkD751b363Y.
You can update your contact information in MyUW.
Most of our faculty, staff, postdocs, and graduate students are eligible for benefits such as health insurance, life insurance, and supplemental dental/vision insurance.
New Hires – You can enroll in benefits online using the self-service portal within 30 days of your start date.
Current Employees – Most benefits plans only allow you to enroll or make changes within 30 days of a qualifying event or during Annual Benefit Enrollment.
If you are paid hourly, you need to report the hours you work using the online timesheet in MyUW.
See the Transportation Services page for more information. Annual parking permit applications/renewals are usually available in May. If this is your first time applying for parking, contact Sheila O’Brien.
Are you a new employee? See parking and transit options for getting to campus.
If there is an emergency, please call 911.
If you are injured at work or develop a work-related illness, you should immediately seek medical care and notify your supervisor and/or lab manager.
Employees must complete an Employee’s Work Injury and Illness Report within 24 hours of an injury or illness. Email the completed form to Johnny Wertz.
Supervisors must complete a Supervisor Incident Analysis and Prevention Report within 1 work day of learning about an employee’s work-related injury or illness. Email the completed form to Johnny Wertz.
Have a question or concern about building safety? Contact Erin Badger
All employees should notify their supervisor when they plan to be absent from work.
Please report absences in MyUW as you take them. See below for instructions.
You can update your direct deposit or tax withholding online in MyUW. Any changes you make will take effect with your next paycheck.
Earning statements are available in MyUW. There’s also a helpful guide for understanding your earnings statement.
Academic and University Staff are eligible for paid legal holidays, personal holidays, vacation, and sick leave. The Office of Human Resources (OHR) has more detailed information.
Breastfeeding moms can pump in the parenting room, B1287. Sign up for a time slot at conference-rooms.discovery.wisc.edu.
We all experience stress and worry sometimes, but sometimes workplace or personal concerns can become too difficult to handle on our own. UW-Madison offers confidential resources for students and employees.
Students:
University Health Services (UHS) provides free mental health services to undergraduate and graduate students. Call 608-265-5600 (option 2) or log on to MyUHS to schedule an appointment.
24/7 Crisis Line: 608-265-5600 (option 9)
Employees:
Employee Assistance provides free counseling and consultation to faculty and staff (including postdocs). Call 608-263-2987 or email eao@mailplus.wisc.edu to schedule an appointment during business hours.
24/7 Help: Call LifeMatters at 800-634-6433, text “Hello” to 61295, or visit the website (Password: Bucky1)
UW-Madison
If you no longer have a UW-Madison affiliation, IT services like:
- Office 365
- Zoom
- Box
- Qualtrics
will be deactivated according to UW timelines as shown in https://kb.wisc.edu/79844. If you need these to be extended because of ongoing work with WID, contact Johnny Wertz as soon as possible.
Discovery Building Access
Discovery Building access will remain active until the campus disables your UWID or your access is removed by your lab manager or Principal Investigator.
DiscoverIT Resources
Once your lab manager or PI identifies that you have left WID, you will receive an email with the account deactivation process. You will have two weeks to return equipment and copy data. Once two weeks have passed, your IT account and building access will be locked. If you do not join a lab within six months, your IT account and affiliated files will be deleted.
PIs and their designated staff members can submit requests to add, modify, and remove IT and building access using WID Access.
The Office of the Secretary of the Faculty maintains the Academic Calendar for the University of Wisconsin–Madison.
If your funding entity or project changes, fill out the payroll change form.
All UW-Madison employees are paid bi-weekly on Thursdays.
Tax forms (W-2, 1095-C, Fellowship letter, etc.) are available in late January.
Electronic copies of tax forms for the current and previous years can be found in MyUW. Go to the Payroll Information module and click on the Tax Statements button. Please note that you must be logged in to a UW network (either by connecting directly or connecting remotely using VPN).
Paper forms will also be sent to your mailing address unless you choose to only receive electronic copies.
International Students and Employees: Find more information about payroll and filing taxes here.
Note: UW-Madison and its employees can’t provide tax advice or personalized help with tax forms.
The university has developed a policy library for all university-wide policies.
The WID admin team can help navigate UW policies:
Purchasing – Michelle Breuer
Travel and reimbursement – To Be Determined Financial Specialist, contact Michelle or Sheila
Grant proposals and administration – Jay Krafft and Kelly Anderson
Human resources, payroll, and benefits – Johnny Wertz
Other – Sheila O’Brien
WID
- Jo Handelsman, Director. handelsman@wisc.edu, Room 3110
- Sheila O’Brien, Administrative Associate Director. sgobrien@wisc.edu, Room 3120C
- Johnny Wertz, Human Resources Business Partner. johnny.wertz@wisc.edu, Room 3120D
- https://widkipedia.wid.wisc.edu/positive-work-environment/
- Please contact Sheila or Johnny with additional suggestions
UW-Madison Resources
- Graduate School resources for current students: https://grad.wisc.edu/current-students/ This list is kept up to date, and includes links to offices listed below, as well as resources for inclusion and support, finances and basic needs, opportunities to engage in campus and community, and graduate student policies and procedures.
- The Office of Postdoctoral Studies: https://postdoc.wisc.edu/support/
- UW-Madison Postdoctoral Association: This Association published How to Navigate Workplace Adversity as a Postdoc (2022) with example scenarios and resources
- Dean of Students Office is a primary resource for connecting students who are navigating personal, academic, or health issues, to supportive campus and community resources. The Dean of Students Office also serves as a central location for reporting issues of hate and bias, sexual assault, and hazing. They serve both graduate and undergraduate students. Drop-in appointments are available.
- Ombuds. The Ombuds Office is a confidential, safe place where UW-Madison employees can seek guidance regarding workplace concerns at any time, without fear of reprisal, and at no cost to them.
- Employee Assistance Office Confidential consultation services for employees and their families. They offer a very broad range of services and referrals. Services are confidential (within Federal and State regulations) and free of charge.
- Hostile and Intimidating Behavior: https://hr.wisc.edu/hib/campus-resources/ . HIB Liaisons can help connect you to resources, and can be a great place to start if you’re feeling unsure or overwhelmed. Addressing HIB has some guidance for both informal and formal approaches. Graduate students have access to assistance as BOTH students and University employees (RA, TA).
- Sexual Misconduct Resource and Response Program (formerly called the Title IX Program)
- University Health Services Health and well-being services that include medical, mental health, preventive care, and survivor services for graduate and undergraduate students. UHS Mental Health Crisis Support Line (24/7): 608-265-5600 (option 9)
- Student Services list of campus resources: https://www.wisc.edu/student-life/student-services/
- Divisional Disability Representative: it is the policy of the University of Wisconsin-Madison to provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation to perform the essential functions of your position, please contact Julia Rielly, Divisional Disability Representative (DDR) in the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research (OVCR) at (608) 261-1172 or rielly@wisc.edu. The DDR is the person authorized to receive and maintain confidential medical information in our division. Graduate student employees appointed through other departments should check with their HR to identify their DDR.
Contacts for Graduate Students:
- Graduate Student Support: Elaine Goetz-Berman, egoetz2@wisc.edu, 608-263-5700
- Hostile and Intimidating Behavior: Kipp Cox, ervin.cox@wisc.edu, 608-262-2433
- Your graduate program coordinator (PhD, MS)
Contacts for Postdocs:
- Office of Postdoctoral Studies: contact@postdoc.wisc.edu, 608-265-6225
- UW-Madison Postdoctoral Association: uwpa@postdoc.wisc.edu
