UMass HR Insider—June 2025 | Volume 3, Issue 6

Content

HR Team Gives Back at Amherst Survival Center

On Wednesday, June 4, members of the HR team stepped away from their desks and into the community, volunteering their time at the Amherst Survival Center. The group worked together to help organize the center’s food pantry, supporting a vital resource that serves individuals and families across the region.

The experience was meaningful and rewarding, allowing team members to connect outside the office while supporting an important cause.

Interested in volunteering? The State Employees Responding as Volunteers (SERV) Program gives state employees the opportunity to provide volunteer services to assist in improving the community at accredited nonprofit organizations and public entities.

New Plan Year, New TASC Card: What You Need to Know 

If you are enrolled in the 2025-2026 Health Care Spending Account (HCSA) and/or Dependent Care Assistance Program (DCAP) through the MA Group Insurance Commission (GIC), your first payroll deduction will be on July 3, 2025.

2025-2026 plan year HSCA enrollment amounts will be available July 1, 2025.

Debit Card Info:

• New enrollees: Expect your TASC debit card by July 1, 2025.
• Current participants: Cards from the 2024–2025 plan year were deactivated on June 8, 2025. You should receive your new card in mid-June. This card provides access to remaining funds from plan year 2024-2025 and future enrollment amounts.
• Need a replacement? Log in to your TASC account, go to “TASC Wallet” > “Request New Card,” or call TASC at 800-745-9202.

Periods during which qualifying expenses may be incurred:

* Eligible HCSA expenses may not incurred after employment ends.

Visit TASC Online for account access, eligible expense lists, reimbursement info, and the FSA Participant Handbook.
 

UMass Downtown: Where Campus Spirit Meets Community Connection

Human Resources is now on site at UMass Downtown every Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. No appointment is necessary!

Whether you're a job seeker, a new hire, or simply curious about exploring opportunities at UMass, HR is here to help you every step of the way.

Learn More About UMass Downtown

Thrive at Five: Summer Yoga and Mindfulness Series 

Presented by the Okanagan Wellbeing Collective, Thrive at Five is a free yoga and mindfulness series designed to help you unwind, recharge, and reconnect this summer.

Every Tuesday | 5–6 p.m. | June 17–August 19
Orchard Hill Pavilion
Open to all UMass faculty, staff, and students

Set in the tranquil setting of Orchard Hill Pavilion, each session offers guided movement and mindfulness to support your well-being.

Whether you're new to yoga or a seasoned practitioner, this is a great opportunity to take a break and prioritize your wellness. Don’t forget your yoga mat, towel, and water bottle! Learn More and Register.
 

We Are a Health Promoting University

Pillars of Well-Being: Health and Wellness

At UMass Amherst, our multidisciplinary, systems-level health promotion strategy and practice contribute to a culture of well-being. We bring together programs, services, people, and units in an intentional way to demonstrate our commitment to health and wellness as a core institutional value

Staff and Faculty Well-Being

The WLD Team Has Recommendations for YOU!

The Workplace Learning and Development team recommends the following LinkedIn Learning courses:

• Danielle recommends: Managing Team Conflict by Amy Gallo. “This is a helpful course for anyone who manages a team, and there's a great role-play embedded in the course that gives an example of how to help employees through a conflict. Also, sign up for my Conversational Confidence class!”
• Melissa recommends: Nano Tips to Overcome Overthinking. “Melody Wilding is one of my top five go-to experts for practical advice on getting unstuck. In this piece, she shares actionable tips to help overcome the all-too-common habit of overthinking.”
• Gordon recommends: Microsoft CoPilot: The Art of Prompt Writing by Garrick Chow. “This course gives clear and concise guidance on how to build prompts to use with the UMass Amherst-recommended AI tool.”
• Paul recommends: Positive Psychology for Less Stress and Happier Workdays. “This course gives a good overview of how to incorporate positive psychology in your work and personal life. It really does make a difference!” 

Highlighting Partnership for Worker Education Programs:

Culinary Career Ladder Program 

The Culinary Career Ladder Program is a workforce education program that assists employees in taking English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) courses in the first stages of their culinary career in Massachusetts. The program is partnered with four higher education institutions—the University of Massachusetts Amherst, Smith College, Westfield State University, and Lawrence Public Schools—to participate in a regional effort to enhance new employees’ work experience and attract and retain culinary workers. Learn more.