myHR: May 7, 2025

Retirement Information Sessions Make Planning Easier

Is your upcoming retirement on your mind? To help you prepare for the next phase of your life, Penn will host the next series of Thinking About Retirement webinars in June.

Specially designed for Penn staff and faculty, Thinking About Retirement offers three different information sessions, each covering an important aspect of retirement benefits. You can register for any of the sessions by selecting the links below.

Thinking About Retirement, Spring 2025 Sessions

At the Penn Benefits and Medicare session, representatives from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, along with Benefits specialists from Human Resources, will explain the Rule of 75, retiree healthcare options, and how they integrate with Medicare.

At Set Your Retirement Date, a TIAA retirement plan counselor will discuss such topics as budgeting in retirement, income options, and investments to help you get the most out of your 403(b) retirement savings plan.

At Social Security Benefits Planning, a representative from TIAA will share valuable details about how this program impacts your plans for retirement. You will also get an overview of Social Security benefits, eligibility rules, how to apply, benefits for your spouse, and more.

Benefits specialists from Penn Human Resources will be available at each online session to answer your questions about Penn’s retirement savings plans, health care benefits, and other aspects of retiree benefits for you and your dependents.

For more details and resources, visit www.hr.upenn.edu/thinkretirement.

More Mental Health Awareness Resources

The last myHR featured a Mental Health Awareness month preview of Human Resources events, programs, and benefits that support a fundamental aspect of well-being. Now that May is here, we invite you to try mental health and emotional wellness resources available on Penn’s Personify Health wellness platform through June 30, 2025.

Journeys®

Journeys are daily self-guided courses to help you build healthy habits. There are Journeys developed specifically for emotional health related topics, such as mental health and well-being, managing stress, purpose & belonging, and healthy relationships. Journeys also offer basic guidance for health situations such as anxiety & depression, grief & loss, and substance abuse.

To access Journeys, log in to the Personify Health platform, then select Journeys under the Health drop down menu. You can also access related informative videos by selecting the Media link.

RethinkCare Videos

For deeper digital learning and support, check out the array of RethinkCare video sessions and courses, available through the Personify Health platform. Their “Professional Resilience” collection offers dozens of courses and a vast video library to enhance your emotional well-being. To quickly access the collection, select the Programs tab on the platform then enter “rethink” in platform’s search box. Click the get started button to open the RethinkCare’s online collection.

Coaching

If you would like additional support, you can schedule one-on-one health coaching through the wellness platform. Coaches provide judgement-free assistance for goals like reducing stress and sleeping well. You can opt for message coaching or phone coaching to fit your schedule. To explore this resource and schedule sessions, log in to the Personify Health platform, then select Coaching under the Health drop down menu.

Be in the Know 2024-2025 wellness campaign participants can earn points and Rewards Cash by completing Journeys, RethinkCare videos, and Coaching on the Personify Health platform by June 30. For more details, visit the Be in the Know page or see the “Ways to Earn” list. (Penn and Be in the Know welcome WebMD as their new wellness platform partner starting July 1, 2025.)

Wellness Break Opportunities

Human Resources May Mental Health Awareness events continue throughout the month, such as the Monthly Wellness Walk on May 14. For the complete list of programs and registration links, visit our Mental Health Awareness events listing on the Human Resources event calendar. There, you can also discover other related wellness activities.

Need Support Right Now?

If you have questions or concerns and you want to talk to someone right away, contact the Penn Employee Assistance Program (EAP) at 866-799-2329. Penn’s EAP provides confidential access to counselors 24/7.

Along with the EAP, behavioral health care coverage is included in all Penn health plans. To find your provider’s network, visit the behavioral health care coverage page.

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Prep Smart for Your Manager Evaluation

Penn’s year-end staff performance review process is underway, and one-on-one meetings between staff and managers are an essential step. These meetings provide time to reflect on the past year and plan for what’s ahead.

In your meeting, you’ll discuss your self-evaluation and your manager’s evaluation, both completed in Workday.

This conversation gives you a unique opportunity to highlight your achievements, talk about the next steps in your career, and align on expectations. It’s also a chance to strengthen your working relationship with your manager. That’s why planning for your meeting is so valuable.

Here are some tips for a successful manager meeting:

• Read your Workday performance review in advance.
• Prepare an agenda or jot down key points you want to discuss.
• Be clear and to the point.
• Listen actively.
• Approach the meeting with a mindset of growth and learning.
• Stay respectful and professional.
• Collaborate to find solutions and set future goals.

The performance review process supports clear communication about your accomplishments, skills, and professional development over the past year. It includes ratings on overall performance and proficiency ratings in several behavioral competencies. The metrics help guide your discussion.

The review process is complete once both you and your manager acknowledge the review in Workday. This shows you’ve seen it and had your one-on-one conversation, not that you necessarily agree with every part.

All review tasks must be completed by Friday, June 13, though your school, center, or department may have earlier deadlines. For process support, check out Workday’s Performance Management for Managers and Employees and Goals and Check-ins tip sheets. Visit Penn HR’s resources to find professional development resources.

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Take Our Children to Work Day Thanks

Thanks to the creativity and generosity of schools and centers throughout the University, 475 members of the Penn community and around 700 children joined us for Take Our Children to Work Day on April 24. In response to the day’s events, Human Resources received an outpouring of praise from participating families.

We’d like to share some of the comments from the Penn community as another way to show our appreciation for the University’s generous Take Our Children to Work Day sponsors.

“I just wanted to extend a heartfelt thank you to all of the Penn departments who hosted such a thoughtful and joyful Take Our Children to Work Day experience. My son had a fantastic time, and I was so grateful for the chance to step outside of my usual work routine, explore different parts of campus, and connect with other Penn parents. As an educator, I truly appreciated all the care, creativity, and intention that clearly went into designing these experiences for the kids. It was meaningful, interactive, and clearly rooted in a trust in the creativity of kids and a deep sense of community-which made the day especially memorable. THANK YOU!”

“My son loves The Big City—from the lively excitement of the Penn Relays to the peaceful moments spent relaxing on a shaded bench along Locust Walk, he enjoys it all.”

“It was quite an adventure! We got around the city by train, bus and trolley. We visited Pennovation Works and built a bottle brush robot, then made our way to the BioPond to pet turtles and crawfish. My niece said it was the ‘best day of her life’.”

“The nursing simulation was AMAZING.”

“This is honestly one of the best perks of Penn employment. The activities are diverse, age appropriate and provide a wide scoping view of our University.”

If your department would like to sponsor an event for next year’s Take Our Children to Work Day on Thursday, April 23, 2026, please contact the Work-Life team at worklife@hr.upenn.edu or (215) 573-2471 for more information or to schedule a meeting.

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Embracing Change

“Intelligence is the ability to adapt to change,” said Stephen Hawking. In today’s fast-paced and unpredictable work environments, adapting our thoughts, behaviors, and responses isn’t just helpful, it’s essential. Join Human Resources for Cognitive Flexibility, a new and dynamic workshop, on June 17, from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m., where you’ll gain tools to pivot effectively in both everyday tasks and long-term change.

In this interactive workshop, facilitator Sam Lunney will explore what it means to develop “cognitive flexibility” — our ability to shift perspectives, switch tasks, and adjust behavior in the face of new demands.

As Lunney explains, “Cognitive flexibility is the ability to shift your thinking, adapt to change, and approach problems from different perspectives. It’s a key skill for managing complexity, navigating ambiguity, and resisting the mental drain of multitasking in today’s fast-paced work environments.”

“Instead of pushing yourself to do more, cognitive flexibility invites you to think differently. It’s about choosing your responses thoughtfully—pausing, assessing, and reframing—rather than reacting on autopilot or juggling everything at once,” Lunney adds.

Participants will learn to recognize and respond to change on both micro and macro levels. Whether it’s an unexpected email that reshuffles your priorities or a major organizational shift, cognitive flexibility allows us to respond thoughtfully instead of reactively.

You'll also explore techniques to build mental agility through micro and macro cognitive flexibility, such as:

• Bookmarking Tasks: Reduce disruption by jotting down where you left off before switching tasks.
• Task Chunking: Group similar tasks together to reduce mental strain and improve focus.
• Scheduled Interruptions: Plan communication windows to minimize unexpected distractions.

ACT-ing with Flexibility

The workshop also introduces tools from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), including:

• Acceptance: Let go of resistance to difficult emotions. Recognize them and move forward with clarity.
• Cognitive Defusion: Separate yourself from your thoughts. Instead of “I’m failing,” try “I’m having the thought that I’m failing.”
• Presence: A mindful pause and a deep breath can reset your perspective in real time.
• Values and Action: Let what matters most guide your next step, especially in times of uncertainty.

Get Creative with Framestorming

Instead of rushing to solutions, participants will also practice “framestorming,” a reframing strategy that challenges assumptions and opens new paths to innovation. For instance, if internal emails are going unanswered, rather than insisting on quicker replies, ask: “What if we communicated in ways that don’t require email at all?”

This simple shift in perspective can unlock smarter, more connected solutions.

Register today for Cognitive Flexibility and come out of difficult times empowered and ready to move forward.

For more professional development programs, visit the Learn & Grow section of the Human Resources website.  

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Healthy Meals: Quinoa & Spinach Patties

These savory quinoa patties are packed with protein, veggies, and bold flavor—perfect for a satisfying vegan meal or hearty snack. Easy to make and endlessly versatile, this recipe is a must-try for anyone looking to add a nutritious twist to their weekly rotation.

Click here to send us your healthy recipes and tips.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup uncooked quinoa
• 2 cups water
• 4 eggs, whisked
• 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese
• 3 large scallions, sliced thin
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 cup steamed spinach, chopped
• 1 cup plain breadcrumbs
• 1 tablespoon olive oil

Directions:

1. Rinse the quinoa using a small, meshed strainer and place in a medium sauce pan with 2 cups of water. Bring the water to a boil and reduce to a simmer.
2. Cook until quinoa is tender and has absorbed the liquid, about 20 minutes. Let it cool.
3. In a large bowl, combine the cooked quinoa, eggs, parmesan, scallions, garlic, salt, steamed spinach, and breadcrumbs. Let sit for 2-5 minutes. The batter should be moist, but not runny. Form patties using 1/4 cup as a serving size.
4. Heat the oil in a large non-stick skillet over medium-low heat. Cook the patties covered for 8-10 minutes on each side, or until browned and golden.

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: Benefits Open Enrollment Ends Friday, May 9

Penn’s annual Benefits Open Enrollment ends Friday, May 9. Don’t miss your opportunity to make changes to your health plans, life insurance, and flexible spending accounts for the 2025-2026 plan year. You can enroll or make changes to your elections in the Benefits, Comp and Pay Hub in Workday. To learn more about your options, visit the Open Enrollment web page. You can also review the 2025-2026 Open Enrollment Benefits presentation.