A guide for new employees
First Month
During your first month at Ohio State, continue to learn about the university, your unit and the people around you.
Helpful Information by Topic
Benefits Overview
Review the Benefits Overview Book for new hires to learn more about Ohio State’s benefits. The Office of Human Resources also offers live webinars and recorded presentations to help you prepare for your benefit selections.
Health
You have 30 days from your eligibility date to enroll in optional benefits. See more about how to enroll.
Dependent Eligibility Verification
If you enroll your dependents in your health care coverage, a dependent eligibility verification packet will be mailed to your home address following enrollment. Alight conducts dependent eligibility verifications on behalf of Ohio State. The verification packet will provide information on acceptable forms of documentation to verify your dependent’s eligibility. Failure to provide complete documentation by the specified deadline will result in coverage termination for any dependent(s) not verified.
Retirement
Employees of Ohio public colleges and universities do not participate in Social Security, other than contributions to Medicare. 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.
Life Insurance
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. YP4H gives participants an opportunity to earn rewards, including medical plan premium credit, Health Reimbursement Account (HRA) credits and PulseCash. You earn these rewards with healthy behaviors, such as completing a health assessment with biometrics, tracking physical activity and participating in wellness programs.
[review the Benefits Overview for new hires]
- Discuss with your leader:
- Check-in meeting after first 30-days
- Observations, issues and priorities
- Questions and concerns
- Receiving timely, on-going, meaningful “everyday” feedback
- Completed training and additional training opportunities
- Professional development plan and performance goals
- Completed onboarding meetings and work on initial assignments
- Schedule and conduct recurring one-on-one meetings with key partners.
- Continue meeting key people and attending relevant events.
- Meet with your onboarding partner, mentor or a friend to review your first weeks and ask questions.
- Attend other business unit/department meetings.
- Reflect on information shared at New Employee Orientation session (university, medical center or unit). Do you need additional information on topics of interest?
- Ask your HR professional or leader to ensure you are signed up for all required/necessary training and if there are specific unit or department courses you should take.
- View the Department of Public Safety’s Active Aggressor video
- Review relevant fiscal trainings from the Office of Business and Finance
- Review relevant travel trainings from the Office of Business and Finance
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.
