myHR: May 23, 2012

Penn Applauded for Outstanding Benefits

While many employers have struggled throughout the economic slowdown, Penn continues to stand out as a top workplace thanks to our excellent benefits and exceptional work environment.

The University was recently featured in a spotlight brief in Computerworld Magazine’s 2012 Salary Survey for maintaining high-quality benefits—like diverse retirement plans, comprehensive health care options and valuable professional development resources—in the midst of the economic downturn. Penn was also commended for adding new benefits such as adoption assistance and backup care as part of our commitment to supporting worklife balance.

For a complete look at the rewards of working for Penn, click here.

Master the Art of FOCUS

You have back to back meetings, dozens of new emails in your inbox, a phone that’s ringing off the hook, and tons of errands waiting for you at home. Sound familiar? It’s easy to get distracted with so many things happening at any given moment. But we can show you how to manage it all!

Join us on June 8 to learn how to FOCUS. This time management workshop will help you identify your priorities and set meaningful goals in order to accomplish what matters most. We’ll give you a planning system to help you eliminate unnecessary activities and balance all your professional and personal priorities. By the end of the program, you’ll be able to plan your schedule down to the minute—and successfully accomplish everything on your to-do list.

Ready to find your FOCUS? Click here for complete details and to register.

Thinking About Retiring from Penn?

Retiring from Penn has plenty of perks. From comprehensive health coverage to life insurance to tuition assistance, ending your career at the University can be incredibly rewarding.

In order to take advantage of these benefits, you need to meet the Rule of 75. That means your age plus your years of service must equal at least 75—with a minimum of age 55 and 15 years of service, or age 62 and 10 years of service. Keep in mind your service must be full-time and continuous.

Once you meet the rule of 75, the following benefits are yours to enjoy:

Healthcare coverage. You have access to a wide array of medical plan options—many of which cover preventive care services (like routine physicals) at 100% with no copay. You’re also eligible for prescription drug coverage as well as dental and vision plans.

Life insurance. Penn provides a life insurance benefit of $5,000 to all eligible retirees—at no cost to you!

Tuition assistance. Retirement doesn’t mean you have to stop learning. You’re still eligible to take advantage of the University's tuition benefit, which covers 100 percent of the tuition, general and technology fees at Penn for up to six course units per academic year.

Campus resources. You can still enjoy the breadth of opportunities at Penn even after you retire, whether it’s borrowing books at one of our libraries, working out in Hutchinson Gym or joining a health seminar or exercise class.

For more information on retiring from Penn, click here.

Growing Your Career: "Anything You Want to Do, You Can Do at Penn"

Timothy Wortham got his first taste of Penn over twelve years ago when he was hired as a temporary employee in the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. Now in his third full-time job at the University, Tim says the many opportunities at Penn are what have kept him here for over a decade.

He landed his first full-time job on campus in June 2000 as an administrative assistant in the School of Dental Medicine. As the first point of contact for the Dental School’s patients, Tim quickly mastered the art of high-quality customer service and used it to propel his career forward.

"Customer service is about developing relationships and knowing how to quickly connect with people. It proved to be a critical skill and exposed me to a lot of new opportunities across the University," he said.

Tim used that skill to move into his next job at Penn three years later, when he became a development associate in Wharton External Affairs. He excelled in his new role of fundraising and planning alumni reunions for three more years before grabbing his next big career opportunity.

In December 2006, Tim joined the School of Social Policy & Practice in his current position as a development and alumni relations officer. In this fundraising role, he travels to cities like Boston, New York, Baltimore and Washington, D.C. to support Penn alumni and help them forge a stronger connection with the University.

“Penn is full of diverse career opportunities. You have a chance to move around, advance and meet new people every day. Anything you want to do, you can do at Penn,” Tim said.

Hear what other faculty and staff have to say about working at Penn.