myHR: August 23, 2023

Penn Friends and Family Day

The Division of Human Resources and Penn Athletics are pleased to host Penn Friends and Family Day on Saturday, September 30. Formerly called Penn Family Day, this annual fun-filled event will be held on Franklin Field and Shoemaker Green where faculty, staff, and postdocs can not only bring their family members, but also invite friends to join in the fun. 

“Penn Friends and Family Day is the perfect occasion to share our Penn pride and energy with the people we share our work and personal lives with,” says Karen Kille, Manager, Quality of Work-Life Programs. 

“This event overflows with Penn tradition, fun, and camaraderie. It will bring together faculty, staff, and postdocs to celebrate their contributions to the Penn community alongside their families and friends,” Kille adds.  

This year’s Penn Friends and Family Day line-up of activities features a Tailgate Party on Shoemaker Green, just outside of Franklin Field and Penn’s famous Palestra. Lunch will be provided, and your family and friends can enjoy games, inflatable bounce activities, a photo booth, DJ, and face painting. Special guests this year include the Penn Marching Band, Cheerleaders, Division of Public Safety, and Penn Vet Working Dog Center. After lunch, the Penn football game kicks off at 1 p.m.

You can order up to four free tickets for the tailgate party and Penn vs Dartmouth football game (additional tickets are $8 each). Tickets are available now through September 25. To order tickets, visit the Penn Athletics website using the promo code “FAMILY” or click here. 

Check out the full schedule of Penn Friends and Family Day activities, plus a special perk from Morris Arboretum and Gardens on October 1.

 

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Powerful Fall Campus Rec Discounts

One of the best full-service fitness memberships in the region is about to get better this fall. Penn Human Resources has teamed up with Penn Campus Recreation to offer powerful fitness membership discounts starting September 1. This cross-campus partnership underscores the University's commitment to fostering physical, emotional, and financial well-being for the Penn Community. The subsidized discount is available to full-time, benefits-eligible University faculty and staff as well as benefits-eligible postdoctoral researchers and fellows. You can save 50% or more on memberships during the 2023-2024 fiscal year.*

Sign Up Begins September 1

Starting Friday, September 1, you can sign up in person for a discounted Penn Campus Recreation membership at the David Pottruck Health and Fitness Center Membership Office, located at 3701 Walnut Street. Office hours are 9am-5pm, Monday through Friday. You can register by phone at 215-898-6100. However, discounted memberships are not available for purchase on the Campus Recreation web portal.

Flex and Stretch

The Human Resources/Campus Recreation membership program gives you two ways to save: 

Monthly membership for $27.50/month

If you prefer more flexibility, choose a monthly recurring Faculty/Staff membership with a six-month minimum commitment to save 50% off the regular fee. You’ll save $165.

10-Month Membership for $250

Stretch your commitment to well-being and enjoy more savings with a 10-month membership for a one-time payment of $250. This deal, available for purchase exclusively from September 1 to September 30, 2023, saves you $250.

These discounts are not just for new members. Current monthly and annual full-time, benefits eligible members can also enjoy the savings. If you’re already a monthly member, you will automatically be enrolled at the discounted rate on September 1, 2023. Current annual members should contact Campus Recreation for detailed instructions on switching to the discounted rates between September 1 and October 31 to waive any cancellation fees.

Inside Access

Need a convenient place to exercise or unwind before work, after hours, or during a break? Penn Campus Recreation members have access to:

• Two state-of-the-art fitness centers: the David Pottruck Health and Fitness Center at 3701 Walnut Street and the Robert A. Fox Fitness Center at 219 South 33rd Street
• Cutting-edge facilities and expert staff dedicated to helping members achieve their health goals
• The Sheerr Pool and Gimbel Gymnasium located in Pottruck
• A selection of free group exercise fitness classes
• Intramural Sport programming to build team spirit and connections
• Discounted rates on other fitness programming such as swim lessons, personal training, and Pilates

Take Campus Rec for a Spin

Campus Recreation invites you to experience the power of membership with these special introductory services between August 28 and September 10.

Two-Week Free Trial

All faculty, staff, and postdocs, regardless of benefits eligibility, can receive a free, two-week trial membership (access to intramural programs and locker purchase not included). 

Requesting a Tour

At the front desk of the Pottruck and Fox Fitness Centers facility, there are self-guided tour directions with information about equipment at each site. If you prefer a guided tour, please visit the front desk at Pottruck and ask for an RA (Rec Assistant) to provide you with a tour.

Pottruck Open House

From August 29 to September 10, all full-time benefits-eligible faculty, staff, and postdocs can access and utilize the fitness facilities at Pottruck by showing their PennCard at the front desk. This includes fitness centers, weight rooms, group exercise classes, Gimbel Gymnasium, the Sheerr Pool, locker rooms, and more! Additional daily programming may also be available.

Group Exercise Classes

All classes on the Group Ex schedule are free August 29 through September 10. Registration is required. Register through the Campus Rec portal, the Penn Campus Recreation app, or at one of the sales stations in Pottruck or Fox. Registration for each class opens 48 hours before its start time.

Use Be in the Know Rewards for Membership

If you redeem your Be in the Know Pulse Cash rewards by choosing a VISA gift card, you can use that card for your Penn Campus Recreation membership purchase. Sign into Virgin Pulse at https://join.virginpulse.com/penn. Look for the Home tab on the main page and select Rewards from the drop-down menu. For Be in the Know campaign details, visit www.hr.upenn.edu/beintheknow.

Penn can’t take the work out of your workouts, but new discount memberships make it easier to use our campus’s convenient world-class fitness facilities.

To learn more about fitness membership discounts, check out the Penn Faculty/Staff Pilot Membership Program section of Penn Campus Recreation’s Membership FAQ page. If you have additional questions, please email dria-pennrec@pobox.upenn.edu.

For additional wellness resources, visit the Penn Healthy You web pages.

*Please note that the discount is not available to part-time or temporary employees, Health System affiliate employees, alumni, spouses, or dependents. This discount membership pilot program ends July 1, 2024.

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Penn Student Loan Forgiveness Program Going Strong

It has been nearly one year since Penn began providing a student loan service program through PeopleJoy, a financial wellness benefits organization. Since its launch last September, 29 Penn employees have received more than $2 million in loan forgiveness through the free service. Another 563 Penn employees are inquiring with PeopleJoy about student loan debt relief.  

“I am beyond grateful to Penn for providing the opportunity to work with PeopleJoy to navigate the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. I am thrilled to share that all $87,215 of my student loan debt has been forgiven. I feel like I won the lottery.” says Chambrel Jones, Chief of Staff to the dean of the School of Engineering and Applied Science.  

On August 29, PeopleJoy will hold the Student Loan 101 virtual webinar at 12 p.m. to provide details about how to use Penn’s free service. In this session, PeopleJoy will provide faculty, staff, and postdoctoral researchers and fellows with information about the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program, give updates about legal challenges to federal debt cancellation, and discuss consolidation vs. refinancing. Register today to learn how you can take charge of your student loan debt. 

To use Penn’s free service, visit the PeopleJoy platform at upenn.peoplejoy.com. If you have questions about Public Service Loan Forgiveness, review the PSLF FAQs and visit the HR website. 

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Workday Learning on the Job

Whether you work in a Penn lab, drive a Penn van, handle accounts payable, or work with student or patient information, Workday Learning provides a convenient and easy-to-use platform that manages your on-the-job training at the University. In place since March 2023, Workday Learning offers solutions that University training providers use to help staff, faculty, students, contractors, and others stay safe, secure, and compliant with regulations and policies. 

Workday Learning is part of your unique Workday record. Since its launch in the spring, Workday Learning has been tracking training you may have started or completed or been assigned. The platform contains a history of your courses, including training from the former Knowledge Link system, which may date back 10 years or more. (Note: UPHS continues to use Knowledge Link. If you have a position with UPHS responsibility, you can access a Learning Portal to access training in both Knowledge Link and Workday Learning platforms.) Workday Learning is also connected to LinkedIn Learning, with more than 10,000 courses available to you for professional development. 

Workday’s ability to handle data allows for sophisticated methods to assign, track, and manage training – all methods that the University is developing more fully. This fall, for example, you will learn about the “Learner Groups” that are available to you to self-select in your Workday profile. Learner groups are just one way that training can be automatically assigned if you need additional required training.

If you have questions about Workday Learning, you are invited to a virtual town hall on Wednesday, September 13, 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. ET. The University’s IT Learning Solutions team will provide a brief overview and answer your questions. Space is limited and registration is required. 

For more information, including links to tip sheets and short demonstration videos, please visit the Workday Learning Guide. The recording of the town hall will be placed on this page after the event.

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Boost Your Communication Skills

The skill of effective communication is at the forefront of a successful work environment. Today, we have more tools than ever to send messages to coworkers. Still, workplace communication remains a challenge because it’s more than just an exchange of information. It’s about understanding yourself, the listener, the message, and its context. 

Learn how to improve your communication skills by attending the September 5 Art of Effective Communication virtual workshop from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. 

“Successful communication is often about tailoring your style to that of the listener,” says Amma Napier, Senior Talent and Organization Development Consultant, Talent Development. 

Napier will facilitate the workshop while sharing insights based on her broad experience leading teams and individuals to find answers to common communication questions. 

Workshop participants will learn about:

• Different communication styles and strategies. Every individual has a different way of talking with others based on their style. Maybe you’re an introverted manager trying to engage with an extroverted coworker. Identify a person’s communication style, then use the appropriate strategy to enhance the conversation.
• Virtual communication. When communicating virtually be conscious of the intentions you ascribe to others. For example, if you are in a Zoom meeting and someone has their camera off, don’t assume the person is disinterested or disengaged. Avoid “attribution errors” by exercising empathy and asking questions. Also, foster healthy conflict in the hybrid workplace by setting ground rules ahead of time, encouraging different points of view, and focusing on ideas, not individuals.
• Two-way communication. Practice active listening by talking less and listening more. Listen in a way that gains the full meaning of what’s being said and makes the other person feel heard and understood. Also, ask good questions that explore an individual’s views, and avoid judgment. Active listening can help you tune in to your peers, appreciate their situation, and maintain productivity.

Napier says that at the end of the workshop, participants will be asked to make a commitment to themselves to do something differently.

Beyond saving time and frustration, a new approach to communication can deepen your connections, improve teamwork, and build greater trust among your colleagues.

Register today for the Art of Effective Communication workshop and learn communication skills that will create better working relationships. 

For more information about Penn’s Talent Development programs, visit the Learn and Grow webpage.  

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Samantha Fromm, A Lab Technician's Lab Technician

Throughout the year, myHR will highlight selected 2023 Models of Excellence honorees as the fall term call for 2024 nominations and the spring awards ceremony approach. This issue features a profile of Samantha Fromm, a Supervisor and Technician in the Veterinary Clinical Laboratory in the School of Veterinary Medicine. This spring, she was honored for her exceptional skills and commitment to animal health with a Pillars of Excellence Award at the University-wide Models of Excellence staff recognition program.

Fromm works in the cytology and pathology section of the Penn Vet diagnostic laboratories, which provides critical diagnostic information to all clinical services of the Ryan Veterinary Teaching Hospital. The lab delivers quality results for Penn Vet students, doctors, and the animals under their care thanks in part to Fromm’s expertise.

Known as Sammi to her coworkers, Fromm began her Penn career more than 15 years ago. In her early years as a vet technician, her keen attention to detail was remarkable even in a field that demands meticulous focus. As her technical skills developed, so did her ability to collaborate and manage challenging situations. Today, Fromm is a lab technician’s lab technician, renowned for her ability to operate chemical analyzers while handling doctor, student, and technician questions with speed and accuracy. In addition to technician duties, Fromm supervises the daily workflow of the cytology and pathology section, overseeing and reviewing quality control and maintenance of analysis equipment. She also trains new and experienced technicians, as well as students, and serves as a consulting technician for challenging cases. 

Fromm says the biggest factor in her success is “just making sure I am accountable.”

“Whenever we ask to double-check a result, we find out that Sammi has already done it, anticipating our request, showing an extraordinary sense of responsibility, and going well beyond what her routine duties would be,” says Dr. Martina Piviani, Associate Professor of Clinical Pathology and Section Chief. This was one of many examples of the outstanding efforts that Pivani and her colleagues shared in Fromm’s Pillars of Excellence award nomination.

The nomination also cited praise from other veterinarians and professors, including Dr. Mary Beth Callan, Professor of Medicine. “On more than one occasion Sammi has nailed a diagnosis for the Internal Medicine service through her careful review of blood smears [a test that checks the condition of blood cells],” says Callan. “Furthermore, Sammi takes a genuine interest in the patients, not just their lab samples. She has graciously run patient samples after hours when she knows the results will affect patient care.”

Fromm takes pathology work beyond analyzing cells. She regularly visits hospitalized animals, getting to know the dogs, cats, and meeting their owners so she can follow their treatment.

“Samantha can pour her best effort into the seemingly smallest tasks,” says Piviani. Whether it’s managing microscopic cell samples or respectful, upbeat communication with colleagues, the results make a huge difference for patients and people.

Fromm is also famous for her “speCATular” puns and other animal care jokes which relieve the stress that can build up in a demanding clinical teaching environment.

“I like to tell people they are strong independent dachshunds as a good mantra for encouragement,” says Fromm. “It is what I used to say to my rescue dachshund.”

Perhaps Fromm’s experience caring for a tenacious dog helped her to build a reputation for maintaining kindness and patience in a fast-paced, high-volume laboratory. Or maybe it’s her own tenacity that drives her to train fellow technicians and students on top of her other work. Each week, she patiently reviews specimen testing techniques with veterinary students. Fromm’s teaching abilities and skill have made her a primary lab contact for students and residents, as well as a collaborator. In 2022, she was listed among the authors of an article in the journal Veterinary Clinical Pathology for her work supporting residents’ research.

Fromm’s basic protocol for excellence is to “Always show up, care, and do whatever I can to help to make things the easiest and most efficient for my coworkers, patients, and the owners who love the patients.”

Fromm combines skill, curiosity, and determination with a little dose of humor to help vets diagnose illnesses and teach technicians and students the art and science of veterinary lab work.

If you know a staff member who has made outstanding contributions to Penn’s mission, consider nominating them for a Models of Excellence award. The 2024 Models of Excellence call for nominations is open from September 11 through October 27, 2023. To learn more about the University’s campus-wide staff recognition program, visit www.hr.upenn.edu/models.

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Staff Exit Survey in Workday

Effective August 1, 2023, staff who leave employment at the University for a voluntary reason may provide feedback on their Penn employment experience through the Workday exit survey. The online questionnaire asks departing staff about their satisfaction with benefits, compensation, and relationship with their manager.

After a staff member submits their resignation through Workday, they will receive an automatic notification to log in and answer a short list of questions before their last day of employment. Survey participation is voluntary. The answers are confidential to the Division of Human Resources as well as the staff member’s school or center HR department.

Staff who change jobs within the University or who leave University employment for involuntary reasons will not receive the automatic Workday notification to complete the exit survey.

If you have questions, please contact the Penn Employee Solution center.  

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Healthy Meals: Simple Stiry Fry

Stir Frys are a great way to add extra veggies to your meal. This colorful Simple Stir Fry is packed with broccoli, peppers, baby spinach, chickpeas, and quinoa. It makes a great dish for lunch or dinner and works well for leftovers the next day. 

Click here to send us your healthy recipes and tips.

Ingredients:

For the Stir Fry:

• 1 cup (185 g) quinoa, cooked
• 1/2 tablespoon (7.5mL) toasted sesame oil 
• 1-16 oz (440g) can of chickpeas, rinsed
• 1-12oz (340g) bag frozen broccoli florets (chopped) 1/2 large onion, diced
• 1/2 red bell pepper, roughly chopped
• 1-6 oz (142g) bag baby spinach
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon minced garlic
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• Optional Garnish: Green onions or slivered almonds

For the Sauce:

• 2 tablespoon (30mL) low sodium soy sauce or coconut aminos
• 2 tablespoon (32g) creamy peanut butter
• 1 tablespoon (15mL) rice vinegar
• 1 tablespoon sriracha sauce (more or less to taste)

Directions:

1. In a large pan skillet, heat sesame oil over medium high heat.  
2. Add onion, garlic, ginger, broccoli, and bell pepper. Cover and cook, stirring occasionally until softened, about 3-4 minutes.
3. In a small bowl, whisk together stir fry sauce ingredients (low sodium soy sauce, nut butter, rice vinegar and sriracha).
   *NOTE: Adjust sriracha to desired spice preference.
4. Add chickpeas, quinoa, spinach and the stir fry sauce to the skillet and cover, stir occasionally until spinach is wilted.
5. If using the egg, crack into the skillet and mix until scrambled and cooked. Plate and garnish with green onions or almonds as desired. 

Meet With a Registered Dietitian Today!

• One-on-One, virtual sessions you can schedule at any time that works for you
• 100% covered under many insurance plans
• Available to spouses and dependents

Fill out the Ramp Health Nutrition Counseling Sign Up Form  or call 800-484-7720. 

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Did You Know: Financial Wellness Workshops This Fall

Keeping your finances in order takes time, commitment, and a solid plan to help you manage your money and grow a nest egg. Penn continues to provide financial wellness workshops to help you achieve your goals. Participants in the Be in the Know 2023-2024 wellness campaign can earn points towards Pulse Cash rewards for “Bonus Actions 2023-2024: Financial Wellness Event” workshops. Check the HR website regularly for a full list of events and to register.