myHR Archives
myHR: March 9, 2016
Brian Anders, 2016 Pillars of Excellence Award-Winner
When alumni return to the Penn campus, they enjoy seeing familiar sites like their old dorm, Claes Oldenburg's “Split Button,” and statues of Ben Franklin; but it’s the human faces that make their visits truly memorable. Those who stop by the E. Craig Sweeten Alumni House are in for a positive experience thanks to staff member Brian Anders. “Fortunately for us, it’s Brian at the front desk,” says his supervisor Kristina L. Clark, Director of Operations & Special Programs, Penn Alumni Relations. “He’s the face of Penn for many people.”
Anders not only serves as a receptionist at Sweeten Alumni House. He is also the Penn Alumni Program Administrative Assistant and the building manager. Playing host to visitors who expect excellence is not always easy, but Anders greets every guest—students, alumni, and neighbors– with graciousness. “He treats everyone with respect,” says Elise Betz, Executive Director, Penn Alumni Relations. “He genuinely takes interest in people.”
But there’s more to Anders’ work than friendly first impressions. In his relatively short time at Penn, he’s gone above and beyond the expectations of his multifaceted job by making significant improvements in his organization. That’s why he was chosen to receive a 2016 Pillars of Excellence Award.
Betz credits Anders for bringing greater awareness and stability to the Sweeten House. “Without Brian,” she says, “we wouldn’t have as many visitors.” Like many historic buildings on campus, the beautiful mansion, built in 1914, has its quirks. Anders has shown remarkable pride and initiative by making sure the building is at its best for visitors and the staff who work there.
“He absolutely takes care if this place as if it’s his own home,” says Kristina Clark. From making sure that the front desk is always filled with informative brochures and flyers, to restocking the popular coffee machine, and serving as a staff Eco-Rep, Anders oversees every detail. He works with housekeeping to make sure that the space is spotless during and after the many special events that take place there. He even ordered a custom cover for the house piano to make sure it is in top condition for musical visitors.
When Anders took the initiative to have the house air conditioning system overhauled, Kristina Clark said, “Run with it.” With support from Clark, Anders collaborated with Facilities and Real Estate Services staff to complete the project, putting an end to repeated repairs of an old, inadequate system. Anders maintained his composure throughout the project, even though many aspects of the overhaul were outside of his control.
Whether he’s dealing with repairs, answering alumni questions over the phone, or communicating with coworkers in his building, Anders consistently follows up with people to make sure things run smoothly and projects get done.
When Anders’ colleagues decided to nominate him for the Pillars of Excellence Award, they had no doubt he deserved recognition. Betz appreciates the opportunity to demonstrate how much Anders work means to Penn Alumni Relations.
Anders and his colleagues at the Sweeten Alumni House are looking forward to the April 21 Models of Excellence Ceremony at 4pm in Irvine Auditorium, when they’ll have the opportunity to cheer for their team member as he receives his award from University President Amy Gutmann, along with the other Models of Excellence honorees. “Everybody’s so excited,” says Betz. They’ve even planned their own celebration to follow the official ceremony.
Meanwhile, you can look for Anders next time you stop by the Sweeten House. “He’s a presence there at that front desk,” says Clark. “I really can’t say enough how important it is for an alumnus to come back to this campus, walk through this door and hear Brian say, ‘Hi, can I help you?’”
Penn Receives WorldatWork Work-Life 2016 Seal of Distinction
The University of Pennsylvania has earned the WorldatWork Work-Life Seal of Distinction for 2016. The seal, awarded by WorldatWork, a nonprofit HR association and compensation authority, is a unique mark of excellence designed to recognize leading organizations for their successful and innovative work life integration programs and policies. Penn is one of only 116 organizations and 13 universities in the United States and Canada to be honored with a seal this year.
On March 9, Seal of Distinction honorees will be recognized at a celebration during the WorldatWork 2016 Future of Work Forum.
“On behalf of the University of Pennsylvania, Human Resources is significantly invested in quality work-life and wellness benefits for staff and faculty,” said John J. Heuer, Vice President, Human Resources. “That’s why we are honored to receive the 2016 WorldatWork Work-Life Seal of Distinction. As we continue to promote and develop meaningful, practical work-life services and initiatives across campus, the seal reflects Penn’s commitment to supporting staff and faculty at work and at home."
The Seal of Distinction measures the overall strength of organizations’ work-life portfolio and success in creating positive work environments. Applicants are evaluated on work-life programs, policies and practices that meet the needs and challenges facing employees today, such as:
Caring for dependents Health and wellness
Flexibility Financial support and education
Paid and unpaid time off Community involvement
Workforce experience and engagement
Visit www.hr.upenn.edu/myhr/worklife for more information about Penn’s outstanding work-life benefits.
Penn’s Investment in You
At Penn, faculty and staff earn more than a paycheck. Full-time faculty and staff also receive access to exceptional benefits and services. Your annual Total Compensation Summary shows just how valuable these benefits are, giving you a picture of Penn’s complete investment in you.
Your 2015 Total Compensation Summary is in the mail. It will also be available for download from the secure Total Compensation Summary website soon. This personalized statement covers your salary or wages, retirement contributions, tuition benefits, healthcare and other insurance coverage, and any additional compensation for the 2015 calendar year.
Many faculty and staff use this important document as a source of information about programs to take advantage of in the future. As your goals evolve, Penn encourages you to make the most of its retirement savings and investment counseling, professional development programs, wellness services, and award-winning work and life resources outlined in your summary. At the end of your summary, there’s a list of cultural activities and special Penn community discounts that you won’t want to miss.
For quick access to your Total Compensation Summary and your benefits information, visit the U@Penn Portal at www.upenn.edu/u@penn.
Are You Ready for Staff Performance Reviews?
The performance appraisal process provides the chance for both supervisors and staff to reflect, assess, and plan for the future. When you’re well-prepared, it can be a valuable experience for you and your staff members. How can you make your staff performance appraisals more effective this year? Start by attending Conducting Performance Appraisals for Supervisors on March 23, from 12:30pm-1:30pm.
At this free brown bag session, you’ll learn about the resources available to guide you step by step through the performance appraisal process, which begins March 14. You’ll also get helpful tips on how to:
- Write effective reviews
- Prepare for meetings with staff
- Provide constructive feedback
- Use core competencies to set goals and assess performance
Register today. Whether you’re new to the process, want a refresher, or would like guidance on addressing specific performance issues, you’re sure to leave the session prepared to make the most of the review process.
For more information and resources, visit Human Resources’ Performance Management website.
Did You Know? Access Your TIAA or Vanguard Accounts Online
You can access your Penn retirement savings account through your provider’s website and sign up for e-delivery of your quarterly statement. To register with your provider, visit the Vanguard or TIAA websites. Also, in case you missed it, retirement plan provider TIAA-CREF recently shortened its name to TIAA. Read more here.
Healthy Meals: Multigrain Pasta with Sweet Potato and Leeks
Multigrain penne and veggies make this pasta dish delicious and healthy. If you want to lower the calories per serving, try reducing the amount of olive oil and parmesan cheese used.
Find the recipe here or send us your healthy recipes and tips.
Productivity Tips Prize Drawing
Thanks to everyone who shared productivity tips in the February 24 myHR survey. Reader recommendations ranged from simple to sophisticated, with old-school methods being most popular.
Low-tech Tips
Most people who responded recommend low-tech productivity and planning tools such as pen, paper, sticky notes and printed calendars.
Maintaining hand-written to-do lists and journals helps these people in unexpected ways. “I feel like I can think through things better when I have to write versus type,” says one participant. “The act of writing the list instead of typing it feels like you're making more of a commitment to each task,” says another reader, who adds that crossing out a task when it’s complete “feels so darn good.” One staff member likes to use a “real desk calendar” because it doesn’t require turning on the computer or using electricity. That’s great for when you want to stay unplugged to focus on a project.
Digital Tools
A few participants reported using these productivity apps to support their work and collaboration:
- Evernote
- Google Keep, Tasks, and Docs
- iPhone notes
- Outlook tasks
- Mindnode
- Todoist
- Trello
- Slack
Many of these tools, such as Outlook tasks, have convenient automatic reminder functions. “For those tasks that aren't on a hard deadline, the reminder helps me not to lose the task if I postpone it for a week,” notes one survey participant.
Rules of Thumb
One reader uses the 1-3-5 Rule, which is covered in HR Learning and Education’s STEP-UP leadership development program. The 1-3-5 Rule focuses on accomplishing one BIG task, three medium tasks, and five little tasks per day.
Here’s another simple rule of thumb from a reader. “If it will take 2 minutes or less, just do it now!”
Systems
Some readers use more comprehensive systems to support productivity, such as bullet journaling, Franklin Covey, and adaptations of the Kanban method.
Systems such as these can help you manage complex projects and processes that require effective prioritization and continuous improvement.
Mindful To-Dos
One staff member recommends weaving mindfulness practices, such as intentional breathing, into work activities to minimize stress and increase mental focus. “It also helps to add a reminder at the bottom to have a great day, be yourself, and allow others to be themselves. This helps create a positive, non-judgmental attitude for the day!”
Doing What Works Best for You and Your Team
As one reader points out, productivity systems and project management tools can work very well, as long as you actually use them. That’s why it’s best to find the methods and tools that fit your work style so that you will be more likely to use it consistently.
And the prize drawing winners are…
Tracey Caputo, Shana Hart, and Liang Zhao. They will receive hardcover journals and pens courtesy of Penn’s Office of Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Programs.
Look for more prize drawings in upcoming issues of myHR.