2025 HR Insider Newsletter

Winter 2025

HUMAN RESOURCES

RETIREMENT

Understanding Jury Duty Your Rights and Responsibilities

Mission Square Retirement Education Webinars

At the EAA, we recognize and support your civic duty to serve as jurors when called upon. As part of our commitment to fostering a respectful and engaged workforce, we want to provide you with clear infor- mation regarding jury duty service and the policies that govern it. Paid Leave for Jury Duty Employees who are summoned for jury duty are au- thorized to take time off and will receive leave with pay for up to a maximum of 15 working days . To en- sure you are compensated during your service, please remember to present the official jury summons and release or subpoena to your immediate supervisor and Margaret Ross upon your return to work. These documents are essential for processing your normal pay while fulfilling your jury duty obligations. Be sure to mark the time as “Jury” on your timesheet to en- sure proper processing. After 15 Days If your jury duty extends beyond the initial 15 days, you will be required to use your personal leave. Fol- lowing the exhaustion of your personal leave, you will then be placed on a leave of absence without pay. We advise all employees to coordinate with Human Re- sources regarding benefit continuation during this time to ensure you remain informed and protected. Witness Subpoenas It’s important to note that if you are subpoenaed as a witness, you cannot be the defendant or the plaintiff in the case. As with jury duty summons, a copy of the witness subpoena must be submitted.

In cases where your jury duty service does not fill an entire day, you are generally expected to return to work during the hours you are not required to serve. However, if you find it challenging to return, your su- pervisor has the discretion to excuse you from com- ing back to the off Requesting Excusal for Operational Needs We support your right to serve, but please note that the EAA will only request relief or excuse from serv- ing on jury duty when an employee’s absence presents a significant threat to our operations. Such requests must be approved by the General Manager, emphasiz- ing our commitment to maintaining smooth business operations while respecting civic duties. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation with these guidelines. Serving on a jury is a vital part of our justice system, and we are here to support you during your service. If you have any further questions, please feel free to reach out to Margaret Ross.

All webinars are held from 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. Re- gister HERE for all webinars below. Quarterly Economic Overview Gain insights into and understanding of current eco- nomic factors and the impact they may have on your retirement planning. Wednesday, January 29th Planning for the Future: The Fundamentals of Re- tirement Investing Whether you’re just starting out or need a refresher, we’ll discuss basic investing concepts, including risk, asset allocation, diversification, rebalancing, market timing, and dollar-cost averaging. Wednesday, Fe- bruary 5th How Health can Affect Your Wealth in Retirement An in-depth look into the many different aspects of planning and preparing for unexpected (and expec- ted) health care costs in retirement, including Medi- care and long-term care considerations. Wednesday, February 12th Navigating the Next Chapter: Preparing for Your Retirement If you’re retiring soon, you probably have questions about your retirement accounts. Learn what you co- uld consider next. Wednesday, February 19th Social Security: Understanding Your Retirement Benefit Options As you near retirement, one of the biggest financial decisions to make is when to begin receiving Social Security benefits. With pensions disappearing, Soci-

al Security remains the major source of guaranteed lifetime retirement income for most Americans, so it’s important to explore your options and make an informed decision. Wednesday, February 26th Managing Your Investments: Helping To Keep Your Retirement On Track An investing strategy is a carefully planned and pre- pared approach to managing and accumulating mo- ney to help meet your short-, mid-, and long-term financial goals. Investment planning requires disci- pline and patience, but it doesn't have to be difficult. Wednesday, March 5th 10 Questions for a Successful Retirement: A Guide for the Retiree Transitioning into and moving through retirement can be rewarding and challenging. So having a plan is important. We’ll focus on 10 key questions you co- uld ask, from saving, Social Security, and Medicare to managing your investments, withdrawals, and taxes. Wednesday, March 12th Saving for College: Tips and Strategies to Plan Your Child’s Future Learn why it’s important to save for future college costs and ways to accomplish your family’s education goals. Wednesday, March 19th Making Every Dollar Count: Tips for Smart Spen- ding Learn how to prioritize so that you spend on what you truly want and can afford. Wednesday, March 26th

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