ETF provides training for employers on the Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) and other ETF-administered benefits. To register for online recorded trainings or interactive e-learnings, click on the link next to each description. If you have training questions, please contact ETFSMBEmployerTraining@etf.wi.gov.
Employer Trainings
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Wisconsin Deferred Compensation
Navigating ETF's Website and Employer Responsibilities
Wisconsin Retirement System Employer Trainings
| Training Title | Description | Register and View Related Materials |
|---|---|---|
| WRS Additional Contributions | This 10-minute training, for all WRS Employers, provides information on additional contributions. Additional contributions means any contribution made by or on behalf of a participant to the retirement system other than employee/employer required contributions. | WRS Additional Contributions |
| WRS Annual Reporting & Reconciliation | At the end of the year, all WRS employers are responsible for completing annual reporting and reconciliation. This interactive eLearning, for all WRS employers, will go through the process of submitting the annual report and completing annual reconciliation. The annual report provides ETF record of employer’s WRS enrolled and active employees at year’s end to give individual detail (hours, earnings, and employee required contributions (EERC)) for each employee. Reconciliation reviews the total annual earnings reported in the annual report transactions and periodically throughout the year to the total annual earnings reported in the monthly retirement remittance reports. | WRS Annual Reporting and Reconciliation - Overview |
| WRS Category Determination | Employers are responsible for determining the appropriate employment category to enroll a WRS eligible employee into. This interactive eLearning, for all WRS employers, provides information on category determination. | WRS Category Determination |
| WRS Contribution Rates | Employers are responsible for knowing their specific contribution rates based on their employee contribution categories. This interactive eLearning, for all WRS employers, provides information on what makes up the WRS contribution rates and directs employers to where they can find rate information on ETF’s website. | WRS Contribution Rates |
| WRS Eligibility | Employers are responsible for evaluating and determining each employee's eligibility for WRS participation. This interactive eLearning, for all WRS employers, reviews eligibility rules, what opportunities exist for employees to meet WRS eligibility, when to enroll employees based on when eligibility is met, how continuation of participation works, use of the Previous Service and Benefit Inquiry (PSBI) application, and how the appeals process works when an employee wishes to appeal their WRS eligibility determination. | WRS Eligibility |
| WRS Employer Agent Responsibilities | Employer Agents are responsible for many tasks related to WRS administration on behalf of the employer they represent. This interactive eLearning, for all WRS Employers, provides instruction on navigating the ETF website to locate employer resources, provides details on the duties of an Agent, and guides employers on who to reach out to when further assistance is needed. | WRS Employer Agent Responsibilities |
| WRS Employment of Annuitants (otherwise referred to as Rehired Annuitants) | This interactive eLearning, for all WRS employers, reviews how to determine if an employee is a Rehired Annuitant under Wisconsin law, requirements for rehire, WRS eligibility steps, use of the Previous Service and Benefit Inquiry application for review of rehired annuitants and review of the Rehired Annuitant (ET-2319) form. | |
| WRS How to Become a Participating Employer | This 25-minute recorded training defines the WRS, provides benefits of participation, and walks through how to determine eligibility responsibilities are outlined as well as the steps needed if an employer wishes to participate, along with due dates for required paperwork and effective dates of coverage. | WRS How to Become a Participating Employer |
| WRS Keeping Reported Information Up-to-Date | Employers are responsible for accurate and up to date reporting. This interactive eLearning, for all WRS employers, walks employers through review of reports found in the WRS Earnings Reports (On-going) Application. This module also provides employers with transaction reminders and gives instruction on how to process corrections. | WRS Keeping Reported Information Up-to-Date |
| WRS Monthly Retirement Remittance Reporting | This interactive eLearning, for all WRS Employers, provides information on the WRS Monthly Retirement Remittance Report. Each month, employers must submit to ETF a reporting of total WRS earnings by contribution category and remit contribution payment based on those earnings, using the WRS Contribution Remittance Entry Application. This module will review due dates for the report, how to locate and review correct WRS contribution rate information, and how to accurately enter and complete a remittance report. | |
| WRS Reportable Earnings and Hours | This interactive eLearning, for all WRS Employers, reviews which payment types are earnings for WRS purposes, why IRS reportable wages and W2 data may not match WRS reportable earnings, defines accumulated leave and when it’s WRS reportable, provides guidance on reporting employees out on Worker’s Compensation, and covers WRS reportable hours information. | WRS Reportable Earnings and Hours |
| WRS USERRA | The Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) of 1994 provides certain pension rights to employees returning from a voluntary or involuntary uniformed service. This interactive eLearning, for all WRS employers, will review the information and reporting for USERRA. | WRS USERRA |
ETF provides training for employers on the Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) and other ETF-administered benefits. To register for online recorded trainings or interactive e-learnings, click on the link next to each description. If you have training questions, please contact ETFSMBEmployerTraining@etf.wi.gov.
State Insurance Benefits Employer Trainings
| Training Title | Description | Register and View Related Materials |
|---|---|---|
| Rehired Annuitants 101 | This 5-minute training, for all WRS Employers, covers defining rehired annuitants, determining their options upon rehire, and employer resources. | |
| State Life Insurance 101 | The Group Life Insurance Program is available to all state employers. How much coverage does it offer? How are its costs determined? This 12-minute training video explores the basics of the Group Life Insurance program. | |
| MEBS Access and Logging In | MEBS is the My ETF Benefits System that employers use to manage their own Employees ETF benefits. This 6-minute training explains What is MEBS, How to gain access to MEBS, and How to Log In. | |
| Changing Health Plans 101 | Life events such as birth, marriage, divorce, and more are significant in many ways, including that they provide members with an opportunity to change their health plans. This 5-minute video explains what to know when changing health plans due to a life event. | |
| COBRA Eligibility | This 9-minute video explores COBRA eligibility through: defining what COBRA is, identifying and providing examples for qualifying events, defining the responsibilities of various groups, and determining the timeline of various COBRA events. | |
| Group Life Insurance | This 60-minute training guides employers through the basic rules and processes of eligibility, enrollment, coverage, cost, cancelling, continuing, and accessing resources regarding the Wisconsin Public Employers Group Life Insurance Program. | |
| Health Plans, Medicare, and Retirees | This 8-minute video identifies the requirements for employees to continue their health insurance into retirement, and how to determine what actions must be taken when an employee or retiree turns age 65 and eligible for Medicare. | |
| Income Continuation Insurance Module 1 | This 7-minute module of the Income Continuation Insurance (ICI) program for State Employers provides ICI definitions, identifying benefit amounts, determining eligibility, enrollment options, how coverage terminates, and elimination periods. | |
| Income Continuation Insurance Module 2 | This 10-minute module of the Income Continuation Insurance (ICI) program for State Employers provides the difference between general State premiums and UW faculty/Academic staff premiums, filing claims and return to work, and resolving employer errors. | |
| Pharmacy Benefits Manager (PBM) | This 20-minute training explains the role and responsibilities of ETFs' Pharmacy Benefits Manager, Navitus. | Pharmacy Benefits Manager (PBM) |
| Sick Leave Conversion Program Module 1 | This 28-minute module of the Sick Leave Credit Conversion Program training for employers provides an overview of the program, eligibility requirements and sick leave conversion credit calculations. | |
| Sick Leave Conversion Program Module 2 | This 15-minute module of the Sick Leave Credit Conversion Program training for employers discusses employer and employee responsibilities, and when employers are to certify sick leave for their employees. | |
| Sick Leave Conversion Program Module 3 | This 18-minute module of the Sick Leave Credit Conversion Program training discusses rehired annuitants, sick leave escrow, sick leave re-enrollment process and what happens to a member’s sick leave in the event of death. | |
| Sick Leave Conversion Program Module 4 | This 22-minute module of the Sick Leave Credit Conversion Program training provides resources to help employers assist employees considering terminating employment, and the Q & A from the Sick Leave Credit Conversion Program in-person employer training. | |
| State High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) | This 50-minute training, for State Employers, provides an overview of the HDHP, including eligibility requirements, pair-able accounts, and much more. | |
| State Health Savings Account (HSA) | This 32-minute training reviews HSA eligibility requirements and includes helpful resources. | |
| State Limited Purpose Flexible Spending Account (LPFSA) | This 20-minute training, for State Employers, reviews eligibility requirements, functionality, and available resources associated with LPSFA. | State Limited Purpose Flexible Spending Account (LPFSA) Recorded Training |
ETF provides training for employers on the Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) and other ETF-administered benefits. To register for online recorded trainings or interactive e-learnings, click on the link next to each description. If you have training questions, please contact ETFSMBEmployerTraining@etf.wi.gov.
Local Insurance Benefits Employer Trainings
| Training Title | Description | Register and View Related Materials |
|---|---|---|
| Rehired Annuitants 101 | This 5-minute training, for all WRS Employers, covers defining rehired annuitants, determining their options upon rehire, and employer resources. | |
| Employer Premium Contributions 101: Part 2 | This 7-minute training video includes information about life insurance premiums, Income Continuation Insurance premiums, Supplemental insurance premiums, and employer resources. | |
| Employer Premium Contributions 101: Part 1 | This 6-minute training video includes information about health insurance terms, health plan tiers, qualified health plans, the 88% formula, and Universal Dental Benefits (UDB). | |
| Insurance Programs Eligibility | This 7-minute training video includes information about ETF insurance programs, insurance and the Wisconsin Retirement System, WRS eligibility, insurance programs eligibility, and employer resources. | |
| Employee Termination Checklist | This 10-minute training video includes information about the Employee Termination Checklist for employers to guide your through employee termination including defining the termination checklist, taking the correct actions at different sections of the checklist, and identifying resources for learning more about the checklist topics. | |
| Local Income Continuation Insurance 101 | This 10-minute training video includes information about Income Continuation Insurance including the ICI definition, benefit amounts, eligibility and enrollment options, coverage termination, elimination periods, filing, claims, returning to work, employer errors, and ICI resources. | |
| State Maintenance Plan (SMP) 101 | This 6-minute training video includes information about the State Maintenance Plan (SMP) including health plans, health plan tiers, qualified health plans, and SMP resources. | |
| High Deductible Health Plans 101 | This 5-minute training video includes information about high deductible health plans (HDHPs) including definitions of HDHP, deductibles, maximum out of pocket limits; features of HDHPs including limits, Health Savings Accounts; and resources for learning more about HDHPs. | |
| Program Options 101 | This 7-minute training video is the first in a two-part series that provides information about the Wisconsin Public Employers Group Health Insurance Program, including program options and the differences available to local employers, health insurance terms, and additional resources for each program. | |
| Program Options 102 | This 6-minute training video is the second in a two-part series that explores additional details on the program options including differences between the out-of-pocket limit (OOPL) and maximum out-of-pocket (MOOP), health plan tiers, and considerations when changing program options. | |
| Local Employer Life Insurance 101 | The Group Life Insurance Program is available to all local government employers who choose to participate. How much coverage does it offer? How are its costs determined? This 13-minute training video explores the basics of the Group Life Insurance program. | |
| Protecting Member Identifying Information | This 4-minute video will teach you how to protect member-identifying information. You will learn how to define member-identifying information, utilize ETF's secure system, and identify resources for more information about protecting privacy. | Protecting Member Identifying Information Training Protecting Member Identifying Information Training slides (.pdf) Additional privacy related resources: |
| MEBS Access and Logging In | MEBS is the My ETF Benefits System that employers use to manage their own Employees ETF benefits. This 6-minute training explains What is MEBS, How to gain access to MEBS, and How to Log In. | |
| Members My ETF Benefits System (MMEB) 101 | This 8-minute training will review the use of myETF Benefits for members. Members can use MMEB during open enrollment to input their own health benefits enrollment information. | |
| Opening a Member Record (Local Employer Health Insurance Application Processing: Keying Applications) | This 6-minute training explains how to locate a member record in the My ETF Benefits System (MEBS), how to verify the demographic data of a member in MEBS, and how to update a member record demographics in MEBS. | |
| Changing Health Plans 101 | Life events such as birth, marriage, divorce, and more are significant in many ways, including that they provide members with an opportunity to change their health plans. This 5-minute video explains what to know when changing health plans due to a life event. | |
| COBRA Eligibility | This 9-minute video explores COBRA eligibility through: defining what COBRA is, identifying and providing examples for qualifying events, defining the responsibilities of various groups, and determining the timeline of various COBRA events. | |
| Joining the Wisconsin Public Employers (WPE) Group Health Insurance Program | Joining the Wisconsin Public Employers (WPE) Group Health Insurance Program is multistep process. This interactive eLearning is recommended for any local employers interested in joining the program. This training includes a program description, steps to join, an overall timeline, and more. | Joining the Wisconsin Public Employers (WPE) Group Health Insurance Program
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| Local Employer Verification of Health Insurance Coverage (ET-4814) Training | This 12-minute video is for Local Employers who offer their employees Wisconsin Public Employers Health Insurance, and explores changes to how the 4814 is processed by the employer when enrolled employees terminate. It defines the ET-4814 form, lists the events that trigger the need to submit one, identifies major sections of the form, and examines the overall process, including some examples. | Local Employer Verification of Health Insurance Coverage (ET-4814) Training Local Employer Verification of Health Insurance Coverage (ET-4814) Training slides (.pdf) |
| Local Employer Medicare Family Some Health Insurance Contracts | This 20-minute recorded training provides employers with a description of the new Medicare Family Some Contract coverage level and provides employers with a demonstration of how this new coverage level looks in myETFBenefits. | Local Employer Medicare Family Some Health Insurance Contracts Medicare Family Some - Employer Training Slides (.pdf) Group Health Insurance Application/Change Form for Retirees & COBRA Continuants (ET-2331) |
| Group Life Insurance | This 60-minute training guides employers through the basic rules and processes of eligibility, enrollment, coverage, cost, cancelling, continuing, and accessing resources regarding the Wisconsin Public Employers Group Life Insurance Program. | |
| Income Continuation Insurance | This 43-minute training covers the Income Continuation Insurance (ICI) program for both State and Local Employers. Topics discussed include eligibility, enrollment, and the employer error provision. | |
| Local Employer Contribution Towards Health Insurance Premiums (88% Calculation Example) | This 21-minute training, for Local Employers participating in the Wisconsin Public Employers Group Health Insurance Program, covers the calculation of the maximum employer share of the premium contribution towards the health insurance premium. | Local Employer Contribution Towards Health Insurance Premiums (88% Calculation Example) |
| Local High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) | This 25-minute training for, Local Employers participating in the group health insurance program, provides an overview of the HDHP including eligibility requirements, pair-able accounts, and much more. | |
| Pharmacy Benefits Manager (PBM) | This 20-minute training explains the role and responsibilities of ETFs' Pharmacy Benefits Manager, Navitus. | Pharmacy Benefits Manager (PBM) |
ETF provides training for employers on the Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) and other ETF-administered benefits. To register for online recorded trainings or interactive e-learnings, click on the link next to each description. If you have training questions, please contact ETFSMBEmployerTraining@etf.wi.gov.
WDC Employer Trainings
| Training Title | Description | Register and View Related Materials |
|---|---|---|
| Wisconsin Deferred Compensation Program Employer Webinar | This Wisconsin Deferred Compensation Program (WDC) webinar, recorded on September 9, 2024, provides employers with an overview of the WDC Program, new services available, and tips for assisting your employees with the WDC. |
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ETF provides training for employers on the Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) and other ETF-administered benefits. To register for online recorded trainings or interactive e-learnings, click on the link next to each description. If you have training questions, please contact ETFSMBEmployerTraining@etf.wi.gov.
Navigating ETF's Website and Employer Responsibilities
| Training Title | Description | Register and View Related Materials |
|---|---|---|
| Navigating ETF's Redesigned Website | To assist employers with navigating the newly redesigned website, ETF has published new trainings focusing on the WRS (12-minutes) and insurance benefit programs (25-minutes). These trainings provide employers with tips, demonstrations, and resources to efficiently navigate both the WRS and insurance employer sections of the site. | Navigating ETF’s Redesigned Website: Employer Insurance Resources Employer Insurance Redesign Guide (.pdf) Navigating ETF’s Redesigned Website: Employer WRS Resources Employer Website Redesign Guide (.pdf) |
WRS Employer Agent Responsibilities | Employer Agents are responsible for many tasks related to WRS administration on behalf of the employer they represent. This interactive eLearning, for all WRS Employers, provides instruction on navigating the ETF website to locate employer resources, provides details on the duties of an Agent, and guides employers on who to reach out to when further assistance is needed. | WRS Employer Agent Responsibilities |