Print Archive: December, 1999

July News Bites

  • Teen depression is more common than you think. While it’s normal for adolescents to be irritable or discouraged at times, severe depression can be life threatening. Learn the warning signs and how to manage teen depression during our next EAP webinar on Aug. 6 at 1 p.m. Central Time. Register now!
  • MetLife Auto & Home has new, lower rates in some areas. Call 1.877.638.7515 to learn what you might save through special group discounts, convenient payment options and safe driver rewards!
  • Getting (and staying) financially fit isn’t easy, but you’ve got resources at your fingertips. Check out the updated Fidelity webinar and video schedule so you can stay financially on your feet.
  • When you have benefits questions, find the answer in a flash. Check out our Benefits Resources page to connect to the right resources. When you visit the page on your mobile device, you’ll have the option to download it to your home screen so you can access the app anytime.

Pack smart—bring your benefits

If you find yourself traveling for business or pleasure, we have a few ways to ensure your trip is smooth sailing. Make sure you do these four things before you set off on your journey.

Download our Benefits Resources page 

Did you know you can take important benefits resources and contacts with you on the go? Simply navigate to the Benefits Resources page, select the blue “Download Instructions” button, and follow the steps to save the page on your phone home screen, so you can quickly access important resources and contacts anytime, anywhere.

Get the Virtual Visits app

If a common health issue pops up while you’re away, Virtual Visits is the fastest, easiest way to take care of it. If you’re enrolled in a Rockwell Automation health plan, you can use this service to see a doctor from your smart phone, tablet or computer—and you don’t have to make an appointment ahead of time. Do this before you take off:

  1. Download the UnitedHealthcare Health4Me® app and register.
  2. Choose your provider group.
  3. Start a visit with a physician.

Program International SOS into your phone

If you’re traveling abroad for work, emergency help is just a phone call away. You can call International SOS at 1.414.350.8001 for help with urgent medical assistance or any other  emergency. International SOS will communicate with your authorized corporate contact, analyze your situation and form an action plan for you.

Check your Business Travel Accident Insurance

Business Travel Accident Insurance pays a benefit to you or your loved ones if you’re ever harmed while traveling on business for Rockwell. You automatically have coverage equal to three times your annual salary, up to $200,000.

As always, if you have any questions related to these benefits or need additional support, please contact the Rockwell Automation Service Center at 1.877.687.7272 Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. Central Time or visit employeeconnect.rockwellautomation.com.

June News Bites

  • Keep up the good work! You and your colleagues have collectively lost 1,574 pounds through Real Appeal, the new weight-loss program we started offering this year. Want to join in? Sign up for free today to start your transformation.
  • Workplace etiquette is common sense—or is it? Join us for an EAP webinar for a refresher on acceptable workplace behavior and how to set the tone for relationships with your colleagues. The webinar is July 2 at 1 p.m. Central Time, and you can register here.
  • Getting (and staying) financially fit isn’t easy, but you’ve got resources at your fingertips. Check out the updated Fidelity webinar and video schedule so you can stay financially on your feet.
  • When you have questions, the answer may be easier to find than you think. Check out our Benefits Resources page to get connected to the right resources. When you visit the page on your mobile device, you’ll have the option to download it to your home screen so you can access the app anytime.

Take Action in action: How Peter Halpin lost 100 pounds

Peter Halpin: Pushing the boundaries

Many of us (if not all) want to lose weight or improve our overall health during some time in our lives. For Peter Halpin, that desire ignited when he heard about a Rockwell Automation weight-loss contest through his boss. 

Peter is a Senior Project Engineer at Rockwell. He first heard about the weight-loss contest in November 2017. He could win cold, hard cash? Now that piqued his curiosity!

It took a couple of months for his commitment to build, but by January 2018, at 290 pounds, Peter decided it was time to make a change. Inspired by the contest he first heard about in November, Peter and his colleagues started their own contest, putting their own cash on the line. “We drew teams out of a hat and put money into a pot for whichever team collectively lost the most weight,” he said. “That’s when things got serious for me.”

To kick off his weight-loss goals, Peter started using the MyFitnessPal app to track his calories. When he entered his information into the app, he realized that the number of calories he should be taking in was about 2,000 less than what he was currently eating. “Before [using the app], I really had no baseline for what a healthy calorie intake for me was.”

“I started spending a lot of time in grocery stores [to be mindful about food choices]. My doctor suggested Greek yogurt, so I started eating a lot of that. I zeroed in on black coffee and unsweetened tea, and drank water whenever I felt hunger pangs. I cut out all bread and rice and ate more salads and fruit, as well as chicken and tuna.”

Three months and 50 pounds later, he didn’t stop there. “Once the contest was over, I started to bottom out at about 230 pounds. So I started running and caught the running bug.”

He now runs 30 – 40 minutes a day and is down to 190 pounds. “I run into people all the time who don’t even recognize me!” he says.

The key to keeping the weight off, he said, was seeing his initial weight loss within the first week of the process. “I lost 10 pounds during my first week, and I didn’t want to lose that positive momentum. And the further I kept going, the easier it got.” He also mentions the team aspect was great for support and keeping each other motivated.

Not only has Peter kept the weight off, but he also ran a half marathon last November. “It’s really about having the mindset of mind over matter.”

Peter’s experience can become yours, too. Remember that Rockwell Automation has a variety of programs to help you get healthy, including Take Action, Real Appeal and more. Whatever journey you take to reach your health goals, we’re here to support you every step of the way.

Free tools and benefits to move your health forward

More support for family planning

Don’t forget you now have infertility coverage through UnitedHealthcare if you’re enrolled in a Rockwell medical plan. This is a new benefit we added this year to cover infertility services and related prescription drugs. Check the 2019 Annual Enrollment Guide for details.

Everyone’s health and wellness journey is different. That’s why we provide benefits and tools to meet your unique needs. Whether that’s getting convenient, high-quality care, setting a fitness goal or increasing your savings, we’re here to help you get one step closer.

Care is only a call or click away

Ever wanted to skip the line at the doctor’s office? With Virtual Visits,1 you can! It lets you consult a doctor anytime, anywhere through a computer or mobile device when you need treatment for everyday health concerns like a cold, the flu or an earache.

Visits take an average of only 10 – 15 minutes and typically cost $50 or less. To schedule a visit, log in to myuhc.com or the UnitedHealthcare (UHC) Health4Me® app, and choose a virtual provider group.2 If you have questions, just call 1.844.234.7924.

Crush your weight loss goals

If you’re looking to shed a few pounds, get in shape or feel healthier overall, the Real Appeal weight loss program is for you. This is a new (and free!)3 program we started offering this year through UHC, and it’s based on decades of proven clinical research. As you work toward a healthier you, you’ll also get these benefits from the program:

  • Support from a Transformation Coach for up to one year
  • Online food, fitness and weight trackers
  • Success kit with fitness guides, a recipe book and a weight scale
  • Group forums with coaches and other program members

And guess what! Your adult dependents 18 and over can also participate.3 Sign up today to start your health transformation.

Free health consultations

When you need help figuring out the best route to health, call Best Doctors. This free4 service empowers you to make well-informed health care decisions by connecting you to the top physicians and specialists in the world. They’ll hear you out, consult on your case and leave the decision-making up to you. Call 1.888.281.6550 or visit their website to get started.

Saving for health care? We’ll help you do the math.

Are you saving the right amount for your health care needs? You can check by using the Health Savings Account (HSA) Contribution Calculator and Flexible Spending Account (FSA) Estimator. You can find information on these tools in the 2019 Annual Enrollment Guide and access them on EmployeeConnect > Your Benefits Resources.

1 You must be enrolled in a Rockwell Automation medical plan to use this service.
2 You must register with Health4Me® before your first Virtual Visit.
3 Real Appeal is available at no additional cost to employees with our UnitedHealthcare medical plan, their covered spouses and dependents 18 or over with a BMI of 23 or higher, subject to eligibility.
4 Best Doctors is free if you’re enrolled in a Rockwell Automation medical plan.

May News Bites

  • Increase your resilience during challenging situations. Register for the Navigate Life’s Changes EAP webinar on June 4 at 1 p.m. Central Time to understand how to manage and cope with change when times are tough.
  • MetLife’s Auto & Home group insurance program is available to you as a voluntary benefit. Maximize your company benefits today and call 1.877.638.7515 to learn what you might save through special group discounts, convenient payment options and safe driver rewards!
  • Getting (and staying) financially fit isn’t easy, but you’ve got resources at your fingertips. Check out the updated Fidelity webinar and video schedule so you can stay financially on your feet.
  • When you have questions, the answer may be easier to find than you think. Check out our Benefits Resources page to get connected to the right resources. When you visit the page on your mobile device, you’ll have the option to download it to your home screen so you can access the app anytime.

April News Bites

  • Taking care of yourself is important—especially when it comes to mental health. Join The Pillars of Good Mental Health EAP webinar May 7 at 1 p.m. Central Time to be mindful of your goals and how to cope with stress.
  • The 2018 Annual Funding Notice for the Rockwell Automation Pension Plan is now available. For those hired before July 1, 2010: This Defined Benefit Pension Plan Annual Funding Notice is required by the U.S. Department of Labor as part of the Pension Protection Act of 2006. For more information about the Rockwell Automation Pension Plan, contact the Rockwell Automation Service Center through EmployeeConnect or call 1.877.OUR.RASC (1.877.687.7272).
  • The annual Company contribution for 2018 (the Non-Elective Contribution) was deposited into Retirement Savings Plan accounts on March 28, 2019. Generally, you receive the annual Company contribution if you were hired or rehired after July 1, 2010, and do not participate in the Pension Plan. You can log into your account to view “transaction history” on Fidelity’s NetBenefits website. If you need assistance with your 401(k) account, contact the Rockwell Automation Service Center at Fidelity at 1.877.ROK.401K (1.877.765.4015) between 7:30 a.m. and 11:00 p.m. Central Time on normal business days.
  • Getting (and staying) financially fit isn’t easy, but you’ve got resources at your fingertips. Check out the updated Fidelity webinar and video schedule so you can stay financially on your feet.
  • When you have questions, the answer may be easier to find than you think. Check out our Benefits Resources page to get connected to the right resources. When you visit the page on your mobile device, you’ll have the option to download it to your home screen so you can access the app anytime.

Make your dream retirement a reality.

The Rockwell Automation Retirement Savings Plan (the 401(k) plan) and Health Savings Account (HSA) offer tax-advantaged savings to cover your expenses during retirement. It’s a good idea to evaluate your retirement savings goals and how you plan to meet them.

The Savings Plan (401(k))

Contributions

You have three 401(k) contribution options: pre-tax, Roth 401(k) after-tax and regular after-tax. Pre-tax contributions reduce your current taxable income. The type of contributions you make to your Retirement Savings Plan account determines what gets taxed when you receive the money.

Company match

Rockwell Automation contributes $0.50 for every $1.00 you contribute, up to the first 7% of pay you contribute each paycheck. To take full advantage of this Company match, you should contribute at least 7%. After three years of service at Rockwell Automation, you own (are vested in) 100% of the Company contributions.

More information

For help increasing your contributions or if you have questions, call the Rockwell Automation Service Center at Fidelity at 1.877.ROK.401K (1.877.765.4015) or visit 401k.com.

Health Savings Account (HSA)

If you enrolled in the HSA medical option, you have an HSA administered by HealthEquity. It’s triple-tax-advantaged, which means you don’t pay taxes when you contribute, when you use it for eligible expenses, or on interest or investment earnings.

You can use your HSA as a retirement savings vehicle. After you contribute 7% of your pay to your 401(k) to get the full Company match (and not miss out on free money), you should consider contributing as much as possible to your HSA, up to the annual limit. You can find the annual limits on page 12 of the 2019 Enrollment Guide. (Remember, you can change your contribution amount at any time during the year.)

You can use your HSA funds tax-free for eligible health care expenses incurred this year, or use them to reimburse yourself tax-free for expenses incurred in a prior year (as long it was after the HSA was established).  This money is 100% yours, so if you don’t use the funds now, they’ll continue to grow and can be used tax free for eligible retiree health care expenses down the road.

More information

For questions, call HealthEquity at 1.866.346.5800, 24/7. Or, visit healthequity.com/ed/rockwell.