MyLU Insider

Natalie Mireles

Author: Natalie Mireles

Deferral of Social Security Taxes

On August 8, 2020, President Trump issued an executive order regarding the deferral of payroll tax obligations in light of the ongoing COVID-19 disaster. On August 28, 2020, the IRS released a notice providing guidance to allow employers to suspend the withholding, deposit and payment of the employees’ share of social security taxes on wages paid that are less than $4,000 per bi-weekly pay period between September 1 and December 31, 2020.

In 2021, employers will then be required to withhold the deferred amount from employee’s wages between January 1, 2021 and April 30, 2021.  The deferred amounts must to be re-paid by April 30, 2021 or the IRS will assess interest and penalties.

The IRS guidance provides employers the option of whether or not to adopt this deferral. Lawrence University has opted out of this order at this time. We will keep you informed if any changes occur. If you have any questions please contact the Human Resources & Payroll Department.

Update on Personal Health Assessments (PHA)

Each year Lawrence University offers all employees as well as spouses/domestic partners on the medical plan the opportunity to participate in the Personal Health Assessment (PHA) process. The PHA process is part of a large initiative to assist participants in managing their overall health and wellness. Since 2016, Lawrence has partnered with local health care system, ThedaCare, to provide this benefit.

This year, given the current pandemic, ThedaCare announced that for the safety of their medical team, they will not be conducting onsite health assessments. In consultation with the Benefits Advisory Committee, we will evaluate the options available to our employees and how to proceed for the upcoming plan year. Please watch for additional communication to come on this topic.  

New Hires and Promotions


The following colleagues have been hired or rehired within the last weeks. If you see them on campus, please welcome them to Lawrence!

Sarah Haas – Custodian (Custodial)

Jackie Koehl – Assistant Registrar System Support (Registrar’s Office)

Travis Loepfe – Colman/Brokaw Residence Hall Director (Office of Residential Education & Housing)

Mary Alma Noonan – Vice President for Finance and Administration (Financial Services)

Sarah Phelps – Girl Choir Teacher – Conductor (Lawrence Community Music School)

Update on Personal Health Assessments (PHA)

Each year Lawrence University offers all employees as well as spouses/domestic partners on the medical plan the opportunity to participate in the Personal Health Assessment (PHA) process. The PHA process is part of a large initiative to assist participants in managing their overall health and wellness. Since 2016, Lawrence has partnered with local health care system, ThedaCare, to provide this benefit.

This year, given the current pandemic, ThedaCare announced that for the safety of their medical team, they will not be conducting onsite health assessments. In consultation with the Benefits Advisory Committee, we will evaluate the options available to our employees and how to proceed for the upcoming plan year. Please watch for additional communication to come on this topic.      

Free Webinars Provided by ERC

Did you know our Employee Assistance Program, ERC, provides free webinars on various topics? Here is what’s coming up this month:

  • Parenting your Teen: Success in School – August 13th  from 12:00pm – 1:00pm
    • Learn which health habits are important to school success, how to help your teen deal with teachers and academics and how to help them get organized.
  • Caregivers Network: Let’s Go Shopping – August 19th from 12:00pm – 1:00pm
    • Explore the many changes and trends happening in support of caregivers and an aging nation and will learn how to get steals and deals within pharmacies, grocery stores, consumer electronics retailers.
  • Succeed at Work: Overcoming Procrastination – August 20th from 12:00pm – 1:00pm
    • Learn how we procrastinate, reasons for, and the impact of, procrastination and radical tips to overcome it.
  • Strong Parents, Strong Families: Children’s Nutrition – August 26th from 12:00pm – 1:00pm
    • Learn the basics of nutritional requirements for growing children, tips for healthy eating, health risks of obesity in children, recognizing when weight is a problem and building self-esteem.
  • Your Healthy Lifestyle: Nutrition Navigator – August 27th from 12:00pm – 1:00p,
    • Looking to better understand components like nutrition labels, blood sugar levels, and fiber? This month’s talk is a nutrition navigator that will help you plan healthy meals and introduce nutrition basics on your journey to a healthier you.

Click here to register for any of the upcoming Webinars. To log in to their website and view more resources, use the following credentials:

  • Username: ERC
  • Password: ERC

Q&A with Mark Meetings

A reminder of the upcoming Q&A with Mark meeting for faculty and staff. 

Meeting Date & Time

If you are unable to attend, we will be recording the meeting and will share a link after.

Submitting your Questions

You are encouraged to submit questions ahead of the meeting here. The meeting will have an active chat function and questions can be submitted using this feature as well. We will cover as many questions as possible during the allotted time.

Thank you all for your dedication and work to support Lawrence. Please continue to take care of yourselves.

Q&A with Mark Meetings

A reminder of the upcoming Q&A with Mark meeting for faculty and staff. 

Meeting Date & Time

If you are unable to attend, we will be recording the meeting and will share a link after.

Submitting your Questions

You are encouraged to submit questions ahead of the meeting here. The meeting will have an active chat function and questions can be submitted using this feature as well. We will cover as many questions as possible during the allotted time.

Thank you all for your dedication and work to support Lawrence. Please continue to take care of yourselves.