myHR: October 2, 2024

Ready to Go the Distance with Penn’s Way?

Penn’s Way, the University workplace charitable giving campaign, gives staff and faculty the opportunity to support and build community through our collective action. We can all help our community if we work together. The campaign theme, Going the Distance for Our Community, reflects the commitment we have made to those in need.

The University is joining our stride to the final goal by matching our contributions dollar for dollar. Penn will double the distance of your donation with 100% match for every dollar you donate.

This year’s Penn's Way Campaign runs from October 1 through November 22. Please join us in supporting our communities by donating today. By using the Penn's Way website to donate and complete your pledge, you can help your preferred charities in a safe, efficient, and simple manner. Plus, Penn doubles your contribution!

Through our Penn's Way Campaign, we can help build stronger neighborhoods, improve quality of life, and provide options for healthier living for all people in our region. Let’s go the distance together with Penn’s Way and double the contribution for your organization. Our call to support others is deeply rooted and unwavering, and the Penn’s Way campaign honors the culture of generosity and caring that exists in our workforce. 

Share why you give by posting your personal story to social media using #OurWayPennsWay.

Thank you for supporting Penn’s Way!

Finding a Flu Shot

Fall is here and that means flu season is not far behind. Getting a flu vaccination is an important public health measure. Staff, faculty, postdocs, and students can fight the flu this fall and winter by attending Penn’s annual Flu Vaccine Clinic, offered by Wellness at Penn. The on-campus clinic will be held from Wednesday, October 16 through Friday, October 18 in Gimbel Gym at Pottruck Health and Fitness Center, 3701 Walnut Street.

The walk-in clinic is fast and free to students, staff, faculty, and postdocs. You do not need to register in advance. Please bring your PennCard. The clinic hours are:

• Wednesday, October 16, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Thursday, October 17, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Friday, October 18, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Flu shots will also be offered at select locations as part of three combined 2024-2025 Be in the Know biometric screening and flu shot events. Pre-registration is needed for these options, using Penn’s Health Advocate portal. Human Resources will be offering these combined events on:

• Thursday, October 24, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., New Bolton Center, Alumni Hall, 382 W. Street Rd., Kennet Square, PA
• Thursday, November 7, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Houston Hall, Hall of Flags, 3417 Spruce Street
• Monday, November 18, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Morris Arboretum, Widener Visitor Center, 100 E. Northwestern Ave., Philadelphia, PA

You have other options for getting a flu shot if you are not on campus during any of the above dates.

You can use your medical insurance card to get a flu vaccine at in-network locations such as a physician’s office, urgent care center, or pharmacy. In accordance with the Affordable Care Act, flu vaccines are considered preventive services, so if you go to an in-network provider you will not have a copay through your medical insurance plan. If you have health insurance outside of Penn, please check with your provider for available flu vaccine options.

Faculty, staff, and postdocs who are enrolled in one of Penn’s health plans can also get a flu shot at their local CVS pharmacy with no copay using their CVS Caremark card.

If you are a Be in the Know 2024-2025 participant, you can earn points towards Pulse Cash rewards by submitting flu vaccine proof using the “My Care Checklist” on the Virgin Pulse wellness platform. The checklist is under the “HEALTH” tab. Submit credit for three preventive care activities during the campaign year (July 1, 2024-June 30, 2025) and you’ll earn 1,000 points.

For more information about the upcoming flu season, visit www.cdc.gov/flu.

October is Work and Family Month

As leaves turn from green to gold, red, and brown and the seasons change, Penn remains committed to helping faculty, staff, and postdocs maintain a balance between work, personal goals, and family responsibilities.

Each week in October, National Work and Family Month, is an opportunity to focus on an important aspect of a healthy home and work environment. The benefits, services, and events listed below are just a sample of the professional and personal support available year-round to Penn community members and their loved ones.

Week 1: Physical and Mental Well-being

Family and personal well-being depend on caring for both physical and mental health. These October Penn activities will help you keep your body at its best and your mind well-informed.

• Attend the virtual Breast and Prostate Cancer Awareness workshop October 2 from 1 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
• Join Dr. Erica Weitz for Balancing Work and Family Life, a Penn Cobalt webinar, on October 3 from 12 p.m. to 12:30 p.m.
• Download the Be in the Know fall on-campus Biometric Screening calendar and get ready to register for your screening.
• Mark your calendar for the Penn Wellness walk on October 9, flu vaccine clinic October 16-18, and COVID-19 booster clinic November 13-15 (advanced registration required).

Week 2: MindWell

MindWell at Penn connects you with emotional well-being resources and behavioral health benefits.

• Keep Penn’s Employee Assistance Program number handy for 24/7 access to intake and in-network counseling. Call 1-866-799-2329.
• Find your Penn medical plan behavioral health network, where participants can access in-network care for you and your enrolled dependents.
• Explore Penn Cobalt, a web-based platform that matches faculty, staff, and postdocs to mental health resources.
• Register in advance for upcoming events like Flourishing through Uncertainty: How to Stay Sane, Optimistic and Grounded on October 16 at 12 p.m.

Week 3: Financial Wellness

Feeling confident about your money positively affects your well-being. To support your financial wellness, Penn offers resources and educational sessions like these:

• Be prepared with the Estate Planning workshop facilitated by MetLife on October 16 from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.
• Learn how Penn’s loan forgiveness service can help you take charge of student loan debt by attending the virtual Take Charge of Your Student Loans: Learn about Public Service Loan Forgiveness workshop on October 17 from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.
• The Thinking About Retirement live webinars October 10, 15, and 31. Each 90-minute webinar covers a key part of benefits and income for those about to retire.
• Review your beneficiaries for your retirement plans on TIAA.org and your life insurance on Workday.

Week 4: Parenting and Elder Care

Take advantage of a wealth of family-friendly programs to meet your everyday needs.

• Register on Penn’s Bright Horizons Portal to access child and elder care benefits and support.
• Let go of caregiving perfectionism and find ways to set healthy boundaries with the Finding Balance in Busy Lives webinar on October 22 from 12 p.m. to 12:45 p.m. and Healthy Screen Time for You and Your Family virtual workshop on October 24 from 12 p.m. to 12:30 p.m.
• Sign up in advance for the November 13, 12 p.m. to 12:30 p.m., Curated Resources for Your Family webinar presented by Bright Horizons.
• Visit the Caring for Your Family and Self webpage on the HR website.

Week 5: Self Care

Success at work and at home starts with your own well-being. Take care of yourself with these activities and resources.

• Try Penn’s popular online 30-Minute Chair Yoga Plus Core class on October 28 from 12 p.m. to 12:30 p.m.
• Get cooking with Eating to Beat Chronic Disease workshop, hosted by RAMP Health Registered Dietician Julia Frascino, on October 30 from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.
• Do a self-care self-check with Self-Care Wheel worksheets and activities at Positivepsychology.com.
• Sign up for a Penn Campus Recreation Subsidized Gym membership.

Staff Performance Review Process Begins November 1

The staff performance review process will begin on November 1 in Workday. Eligible staff and their managers can use Workday to document work performance and progress on goals during the previous six months.

Staff and managers are encouraged to have ongoing performance conversations as part of the review process. This helps facilitate individual professional growth, achieve department goals, and support Penn’s strategic objectives.

As you prepare to conduct your mid-year performance review, here is what you need to know:

• The mid-year performance review process is an opportunity for you and your manager to discuss goals and performance between May 1 and October 31, 2024, a six-month period.
• The review launch date is November 1, 2024 and completion date is January 10, 2025. Your school, center, or your department may have its own intermediate, earlier deadlines between the launch and closing dates.
• All eligible staff receive a Workday notification on November 1 to start their self-evaluation. Staff will also receive periodic reminders to complete the review process steps. Staff in the following groups are non-participants:
  • covered by collective bargaining agreements
  • Penn Medicine clinicians, residents, interns
  • staff who are on long-term disability as of November 1
  • new hires or internal transfers who are in the middle of or recently completed their introductory period review.
• After the direct report completes the self-evaluation, their manager will receive a Workday notification to provide the manager evaluation. The manager evaluation will be available to the direct report after the manager submits it.
• Managers and employees should meet to discuss the mid-year review content. Each must acknowledge in Workday they have had this conversation.

• All reviews are completed in Workday, the University’s single system of record for human capital management.
• Help text is available throughout the process. A tip sheet with detailed instructions, an overview of the process, and video resources are available in the Guide to Performance Management on the Workday website. The guide has a link to a short video, which demonstrates how employees and managers complete the review process.

If you have any questions, please contact your manager, the HR representative in your school or center, or the Penn Employee Solution Center at solutioncenter@upenn.edu or by calling 215-898-7372.

Penn Holds COVID-19 Booster Clinic

As we enter the fall season it is important to stay up to date with the COVID-19 vaccine to help keep our campus and surrounding communities healthy and safe. That’s why Penn is holding a free COVID-19 Booster Clinic November 13-15 at the Wellness at Penn office, 3535 Market Street, Mezzanine.

The clinic is open to all Penn staff, faculty, postdocs, and students. You must register in advance for an appointment on the SunRay webpage. Please bring your Penn Card. Both Pfizer and Moderna will be offered. The clinic hours are:

• Wednesday, November 13: 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
• Thursday, November 14: 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
• Friday, November 15: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

If you are unable to attend Penn’s booster clinic, you can find vaccine appointments at local pharmacies by visiting www.vaccines.gov.

If you are a Be in the Know 2024-2025 participant, you can earn points towards Pulse Cash rewards by submitting COVID vaccine proof using the “My Care Checklist” on the Virgin Pulse wellness platform. The checklist is under the “HEALTH” tab. Submit credit for three preventive care activities during the campaign year (July 1, 2024-June 30, 2025) and you’ll earn 1,000 points.

For more information about COVID-19 vaccines, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.

Healthy Meals: Pumpkin Oatmeal Cups

Fall is here and that means pumpkin spice is making its annual comeback. To get your pumpkin fix, try these pumpkin oatmeal cups. They are full of fiber and flavor, making them a perfect snack. Whether you make them for breakfast or just as a sweet treat, these oatmeal cups are a great way to start the season.

Click here to send us your healthy recipes and tips.

Ingredients:

• 1 and 1/3 cups milk of choice
• 2 large eggs
• 1/2 cup honey
• 2/3 cup canned pumpkin
• 3 cups old-fashioned whole oats
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
• 1 teaspoon ground flaxseed
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

Optional: 1 cup add-ins: chocolate chips, chopped pecans/walnuts, or dried cranberries

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray a muffin pan with nonstick spray.
2. In a large bowl, whisk all the ingredients together, except for the optional add-ins. Using a spoon or rubber spatula, fold in the chocolate chips and nuts (if using).
3. Spoon batter evenly into muffin cups and fill to the top.
4. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until the edges are lightly browned and tops appear set. If the tops appear to brown very quickly, tent a piece of aluminum foil on top.
5. Cool for 5 minutes before serving. Cover leftover oatmeal cups tightly and refrigerate for up to 1 week.

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.

Did You Know: Thinking About Retirement Fall Webinars

Are you approaching retirement? Learn about Medicare, how to create a solid retirement income plan, and Social Security at the Fall 2024 Thinking About Retirement online webinars. The sessions will be held October 10, 15, and 31 from 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. For more information and to register, visit the Thinking About Retirement webpage.