University of Oregon employees gathered at the Benefits Fair on Oct. 10 to meet with representatives from various benefit and service providers. Hosted annually by the Benefits Office during benefit open enrollment, the fair gives staff and faculty the opportunity to explore a wide range of services.

“The fair is a fun event where employees can discover benefits they might not have known about,” said Anne Willis, associate director of benefits. “While everyone is looking at their core insurance benefits during open enrollment, it’s also a great time to explore other services available to them as employees.”

Nicole Manley from Advantage Home Plus, a homeownership program for eligible UO employees, highlighted that many are unaware of their access to mortgage counseling, full-service lending, and home buyer and seller advocacy. 

“I’ve been helping employees for about 14 years, and this is my twelfth Benefits Fair,” Manley said. “We are the employee’s advocate from start to finish as they’re buying or selling.”

Jean Schumer, a therapist for Canopy, UO’s employee assistance program, shared her enthusiasm for helping employees. “I truly enjoy working with UO staff and being there for them in times of crisis or need,” she said.

New to the fair this year were Kindbody and Progyny, two fertility and family-building programs available to employees enrolled in Moda and Providence health insurance. Additionally, birth doula services are now offered in all health plans, covering eight visits and delivery.

For more information on the benefits and services available to UO employees, visit the Human Resources website or email hrbenefits@uoregon.edu.

—Anna Duncan, University Communications

Top photo: Morgan Wells, executive support specialist in the Office of Research and Innovation, discusses benefit options with Ryan Nunnery from Moda Health and Delta Dental.