Penn State Health declines to participate in Social Security Payroll Tax deferral
Penn State Health will not participate in the payroll deferral option in order to avoid the burden on employees of having double Social Security deductions from January to April 2021.
On Aug. 8, President Donald Trump signed an executive order giving the option for employers to defer the employee portion of Social Security payroll taxes for certain taxpayers who make less than $4,000 biweekly. The deferrals started Sept. 1 and will last through the end of 2020.
The IRS mandates employers who sign onto the deferral opt in for all employees and repay the funds by April 2021. The move would double the withholding for employees. For this reason, Penn State Health will not participate in the payroll tax deferral option.
To learn more about the executive order and guidance from the U.S. Treasury Department and IRS, click here.
Penn State Health policy gives guidance on legal drugs
Penn State Health’s Medicine Use Policy provides guidelines for the acceptable and unacceptable use of legal prescription and over-the-counter medicine. The policy, HR46, applies to all Penn State Health employees, candidates for employment, volunteers and temporary/contract personnel.
The policy does NOT apply to the College of Medicine. However, if you are a College of Medicine employee and supervise Penn State Health employees, please familiarize yourself with the policy and disclosure requirements.
View the full policy by accessing the policy portal from the Infonet. For more information and guidelines on HR46, visit mySolutions and search for HR46 or Medicine Use Policy. For additional assistance, contact the Human Resources Solution Center at hrsolutions@pennstatehealth.psu.edu or 717-531-8440.
Volunteers in non-patient-facing settings may return starting Sept. 21
St. Joseph Medical Center and Hershey Medical Center will begin welcoming volunteers back to their campuses. Beginning Monday, Sept. 21, adult volunteers may begin returning to their non-patient-facing roles.
All returning volunteers will need to complete infection prevention reorientation, sign a volunteer agreement to foster a safe environment and wear a mask at all times — just as Penn State Health employees do.
Any departments interested in volunteer support can reach out to their respective Volunteer Services managers:
- Hershey Medical Center
Tracy Johnsen, Volunteer Services manager
tjohnsen@pennstatehealth.psu.edu - Joseph Medical Center
Barbara Moyer, Volunteer Services director
bmoyer4@pennstatehealth.psu.edu
Hershey Medical Center clarifies face mask policies
Hershey Medical Center employees have asked for clarification about the types of face masks they’re permitted to wear. The Medical Center reminds employees to follow these policies:
Anyone working in patient-facing and public areas in Hershey Medical Center and its clinics must wear a hospital-issued Level 1 mask. The Medical Center will not allow employees working in these areas to wear masks purchased elsewhere. Employees may order the Level 1 masks through their managers, who receive new masks during Medical Center mask and eye protection distributions every Tuesday.
If employees are unable to wear a Level 1 face mask directly against their face due to skin sensitivities, they should wear a cloth mask and layer a Level 1 mask over top. Cloth masks must adhere to the Medical Center’s dress code standards. Employees should consult Human Resources or their managers if they are uncertain about using “fashion” masks.
Penn State Health and College of Medicine updates in-person gathering guidelines
Penn State Health and the College of Medicine have updated their meeting, training and gathering guidelines to ensure that everyone follows safe protocols during in-person gatherings. Virtual meetings for training events and other gatherings remains the optimal choice to ensure safety.
The guidelines have been updated with the following:
- In-person events are limited to 25 attendees at the College of Medicine. Maximum capacity of instructional space is indicated on the room door.
- Food service amenities are strongly discouraged for all indoor events and is prohibited in the College of Medicine.
- Small spaces where physical distancing is unrealistic, such as break rooms, are high-risk areas, and gatherings in these spaces should be avoided.
The full guidelines are available here
College of Medicine student food pantry changes location
Lion’s Pantry — the food pantry available to all medical, physician assistant, graduate and nursing students at the College of Medicine — has moved to a new location.
Starting Wednesday, Sept. 16, any student who self-identifies as experiencing food insecurity can pick up food at the new location at 555 Campus Drive on the Hershey Medical Center campus. The pantry is open on the first and third Wednesday of every month from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Students will provide their first name and last initial, phone number, program of study and the last 4 digits of their Penn State ID. The College of Medicine, Penn State Health and Highmark provide support for the pantry.
For questions or more information, email LionsPantryPSH@pennstatehealth.psu.edu.
‘Bridging the Gap Between Law Enforcement and Minority Communities’ Sept. 21
The Multicultural Affinity Resource Network Group will virtually present “Bridging the Gap Between Law Enforcement and Minority Communities” on Monday, Sept. 21, from 4 to 5 p.m.
Garth Warner, Derry Township chief of police, will discuss the township’s approach to police stops and provide strategies for handling police encounters. Warner will also share how his department is addressing unconscious bias and providing training to its officers. Register here.