State Shutdown Update

MMA just had a meeting at MMB to clarify some of the questions that have come up regarding the possible shutdown. The most important issue is for people who might retire during the shutdown, your retiree insurance is at stake, please read the bullets below and call MMA if you do not understand. Although the MMB and SEGIP websites will be available they will not be updated during the shutdown. If you have questions or issues during the shutdown you should access the “BeReadyMN” website, your Agency’s HR Department, the Employee Insurance Division, or MMA. MMA will stay open for business during the shutdown and will be communicating to members via the website as we get new information.

 

 

1. Employees who retire AT ANY TIME DURING THE SHUTDOWN must notify SEGIP that they want retiree insurance by JULY 30, 2011. If you retire after July 30, 2011 and have not done this and the State is still shutdown, you will not be able to sign up for retiree insurance. Your 30-day window begins on the date of layoff, July 1, 2011. If you have ANY questions about this, please contact your HR department, SEGIP or MMA.
2. Pre-tax dependent care accounts are affected by this shutdown and your ability to change the amount taken out during each check and thus for the year, also ends on July 30, 2011. However, because of certain rules you may not do this change before July 1, 2011. There are other factors to take into account and other dates, so those who have a dependent care account should contact Eide Bailly, the State employee insurance division or MMA.
3. There has been a ruling by the Courts on the core services. The Agencies are now generating letters to be sent to those employees deemed critical. Some agencies may also send letters to those employees who are not critical to inform them of that fact. These letters will be going out starting Wednesday afternoon, June 29, 2011 and hopefully will be done by the end of the day on Thursday June 30, 2011.
4. For those employees who are deemed critical, the State intends to rescind all previous vacation approvals. However, Agencies have the ability if they so choose to re-approve those for people in 24/7 jobs. Agencies will also have the ability to approve unpaid leave for individual circumstances that warrant it.
5. Please remember that the MOU signed between the State and MMA gives employees 3 working days to respond to a recall notice. We do not at this time know how notifying employees of recall will be handled, that will be determined by your agency.
6. There are many benefits involved in this shutdown, some will stay as they are, some can be changed and some will change. Please check the related FAQ’s on the BeReadyMn website, if you still don’t understand or have questions, make sure you go to your HR Department, and/or the Employee Insurance Division. If you still have problems or questions, contact MMA.
7. For unemployment insurance questions, there should be a link for state employees on the www.uimn.org website, called “possible state shutdown and unemployment benefits”.
8. Since the list of critical employees State-wide may not be complied before MMB staff are laid off, please email MMA if you are deemed critical and will be working during the shutdown. This will help MMA if problems come up that affect critical employees.
9. Also make sure that you add your personal email information on MMA’s website to receive email alerts during the shutdown and/or notify MMA if your contact information changes during the shutdown.

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