UMass HR Insider—February 2026 | Volume 4, Issue 2
Content
As winter lingers and snow blankets the UMass Amherst campus, it’s a perfect time to focus on your well-being, connect with the community, and explore new opportunities. From personal wellness resources and work–life support to creative storytelling workshops, digital accessibility events, and summer youth programs, there are plenty of ways to stay engaged, inspired, and supported throughout late winter and early spring.
Supporting Your Well Being Today and Everyday
The University of Massachusetts Amherst Human Resources office offers a suite of high value resources to support faculty and staff’s personal health, work–life balance, and workplace engagement. You can use these tools to find balance and connect with colleagues:
WorkWell@UMass—Your Central Well Being Hub
WorkWell@UMass is the HR home for well-being information, programs, and tools. It provides links to personal and work–life well-being resources, tips for stress management, and access to support services across campus. Whether you’re looking for counseling, stress reduction tools, or strategies for a more balanced work week, WorkWell@UMass is your starting point.
See it here: WorkWell@UMass—Human Resources Well Being Hub
Personal Well Being Resources
Faculty and staff have access to resources that support physical, mental, and emotional health. These include fitness and recreation options through Campus Recreation, the Body Shop Fitness Center, yoga classes, mental health support through the Employee Counseling and Consultation Office (ECCO), and workshops for stress management and personal growth. You’ll also find opportunities to connect with others through Employee Resource Groups and well-being workshops.
Learn more: Promoting Personal Well Being on the UMass HR Website
Work–Life Well Being Tools
UMass Amherst HR recognizes that a successful work life and a fulfilling personal life are deeply connected. The Work–Life Well Being page helps you define what work–life harmony means for you, manage life events, plan caregiving needs, and identify resources like childcare support and flexible spending options. A worksheet and guidance tools are available to help you reflect and plan your priorities.
Explore these offerings: Supporting Work–Life Well Being at UMass
Mass4YOU Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
The Mass4YOU Employee Assistance Program (EAP) provides free, confidential support to eligible Massachusetts state employees and their families. Services include up to three counseling sessions per issue per year, legal and financial consultations, and referrals for work–life needs like child or elder care. Support is available 24-7 by phone or online, and no health plan enrollment is needed to access services.
Digital Equity & Inclusion Week 2026: March 2–6—A Well Being Opportunity for Faculty and Staff
UMass Amherst Information Technology is hosting the fifth annual Digital Equity & Inclusion Week (DEIW) from March 2 through March 6, 2026. This series of workshops, discussions, and collaborative events invites faculty and staff to participate in sessions designed to improve digital accessibility and strengthen inclusive practices across campus. Participation in DEIW supports workplace well being by fostering connection, shared learning, and practical skills that make digital spaces more accessible for everyone in the UMass community.
DEIW is framed around equity through accessibility, bringing together educators, communications professionals, instructional designers, and technical staff to explore inclusive design principles and techniques that make digital content more usable and welcoming. Events are open to all faculty and staff, whether you are new to accessibility concepts or experienced and looking to deepen your understanding.
From accessibility workshops to Canvas and web sprints, and tools like Pope Tech and Siteimprove, there is something for everyone—register today to reserve your spot!
Lifelong at UMass
The University Relations MarCom Group has launched Lifelong at UMass, a new website serving as a central hub for youth, pre-college, career development, and enrichment programs at UMass Amherst. The site makes it easy to discover existing programs and submit new ideas for consideration.
Check out the new Lifelong at UMass site and see all the programs available—plus, don’t miss the latest youth offering from Recreation and Well-Being!
RecWell Multi-Activity Summer Camp 2026—Registration Now Open
Faculty, staff, and students get early access to register during a three-week priority period (February 9–March 2) before registration opens to the public (March 3–June 1).
Details:
$350 per child per session
Open to students entering second through sixth grade
Daily lunch included in UMass Dining Commons
Aftercare available 3:30–5:30 p.m. for $50 per child/session
Sessions:
Session I: August 3–7, 2026 | 8:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m.
Session II: August 10–14, 2026 | 8:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m.
Learn more, check out a sample daily schedule, and register at umass.edu/lifelong/youth/recwell
2025 Tax Forms: W-2, 1095, and 1099-HC
W-2 Forms
Your 2025 W-2 will be available in HR Direct by the end of January 2026. Employees who haven’t opted for electronic delivery will receive their W-2 by mail and are encouraged to consent to electronic delivery of the 2026 W-2 via HR Direct Employee Self Service.
Health Insurance Forms
1099-HC: Required for Massachusetts tax filing, this form is mailed directly by your insurance carrier. If you were covered by multiple plans in 2025, you will receive a separate form for each plan.
1095 Forms are not required for federal or state tax filing purposes
1095-B: Shows the months you were covered under your employer’s health plan. Benefited faculty and staff can request this from the Massachusetts Group Insurance Commission. Postdoctoral employees will receive it from Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Massachusetts.
1095-C: Active employees can access their 1095-C in HR Direct in March. After March employees may request a copy via AskHR, by mail or in person at the HR Employee Service Center (valid picture ID required).
For detailed instructions on accessing and using your 2025 tax forms, view the full guide.
In These Times: Documenting Stories Through Our Own Lenses
The University Without Walls Department of Interdisciplinary Studies and the UMass Amherst Henry M. Thomas III Center at Springfield are presenting a spring conversation and workshop series titled In These Times: Documenting Stories Through Our Own Lenses . The series offers free, public events that explore how storytelling connects community, history, and personal experience through panels, workshops, and creative dialogue.
The series brings together storytellers, community advocates, and students to examine how narratives shape collective memory. Participants can develop practical skills in creative nonfiction, oral history, photography, and other storytelling forms, connecting with the community while preserving and sharing diverse voices.
All events are free and open to the public, though some workshops require registration due to limited space. Learn more!
The Partnership for Worker Education Presents: Random Acts of Kindness Through Art
Join the Partnership for Worker Education today, Thursday, February 19, from 3:30 to 5:00 p.m., in the Life Sciences Building Conference Center for the Random Acts of Kindness Through Art kick-off. All are welcome to enjoy free art, meet the artists, experience live music, and sample light refreshments.
Calling All Makers! 9th Annual Building Bridges Showcase
The Call for Makers for the 2026 Annual Showcase Event is now live! UMass staff are invited to share their creative work at the Randolph W. Bromery Center for the Arts on April 7, 2026. This is your chance to inspire and be inspired.
Whether you are an artist, poet, gardener, painter, quilter, writer, food maker, musician, wood or metal worker, fly tyer, or photographer, we want to see your creativity.
Sign up now and share your talents with the UMass community.
Career Opportunities—Tell a Friend
Learning & Development Program Lead
The Learning and Development Program Lead designs, implements, and manages training programs to build employee and leadership skills, improve performance, and align workforce growth with organizational goals. The position assesses development needs, creates materials (online/in-person), facilitates training, and evaluates program effectiveness using data and feedback. In partnership with HR leadership, the position plays a central role in the development and delivery of the OHR Academy, translating HR policies, procedures, and systems into practical, competency-based learning for HR practitioners and leaders. Through this work, the role supports a culture of continuous learning and professional excellence across the university.