A guide for new employees
First 3 Months
By this time you should be fully aware of your role and responsibilities, beginning to work independently and produce meaningful work. We want you to quickly become acclimated to the environment, both functionally and socially.
Helpful Information by Topic
Retirement
You are automatically enrolled in the appropriate state retirement system, OPERS (staff) or STRS (faculty). You will receive information directly from the state retirement system. If eligible, you have 120 days to elect Ohio State’s Alternative Retirement Plan (ARP). If you decide to remain in OPERS or STRS you have until your 180th day to select a plan within OPERS or STRS. See more about retirement options.
Ohio State also offers supplemental, voluntary savings options to help faculty and staff plan for retirement. Most Ohio State employees are eligible to participate in the 403(b) and 457(b) Supplemental Retirement Accounts (SRA). These plans allow you to enhance your retirement savings through voluntary pre-tax (state and federal only) contributions to a Tax-Deferred Account (403(b) plan) and Deferred Compensation Program (457(b) plan).
Life Insurance Beneficiaries
If you haven’t yet done so, complete beneficiary information for university-paid life insurance and additional voluntary group term life insurance (VGLTI) in Workday.
Employee Wellness
Explore Your Plan for Health (YP4H), Ohio State’s employee wellness program that provides tools and resources for living a healthy life, if you haven’t already done so.
[review the Benefits Overview for new hires]
- Continue having one-on-one meetings with your manager.
- Meet with manager for informal three-month performance check-in. Share the trainings you’ve completed and those still in progress, and provide feedback as appropriate.
- Continue working on tasks that are challenging yet doable.
- Check-in with your manager on the progress of your first assignment.
- Finalize written performance goals and professional development goals.
- Join colleagues at lunch, informal and formal meetings to learn more about coworkers, the department and organization.
- Check-in with manager, onboarding partner/mentor and colleagues.
- Continue to regularly connect with colleagues.
- Meet informally (lunch/coffee) with your manager and have informal conversation about how things are going.
- Identify areas of interest and learn more about what campus has to offer. Connect with team member(s) with similar interests.
- In BuckeyeLearn, participate in the following trainings:
- Critical Thinking Skills (online course)
- A Glimpse into Emotional Intelligence (4 short videos – An Introduction to Emotional Intelligence, Emotional Intelligence:Self-Awareness, Emotional Intelligence: Self-Management and Emotional Intelligence: Social Skills and Empathy)
- “That’s Not What I Meant:” Not-So-Smart Things Well-Intended People Say in the Workplace (instructor-led course)
- Workplace Violence Awareness (online course)
- Workplace Violence for Supervisors (online course)
- Unit/Department specific courses
It is the responsibility of all individuals to identify and familiarize themselves with all applicable university and unit policies. Listed below are a few key university policies that should be reviewed during the early days of your employment. Please note, the top of each policy indicates if the particular policy applies to faculty, staff and/or student employees.
Job Performance
Leaves of Absence
Other
Special Situations — Do these apply to you?
- Travel (for those who travel for work)
- Purchasing (for those who purchase goods or services)