myHR: October 1, 2025

Penn's Way Going the Distance for Our Community

Penn’s Way, the workplace charitable giving campaign at Penn, 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.

This year’s Penn’s Way Campaign runs from October 1 through November 21. Please join us in supporting our communities by donating today.

Your gift goes further because the University will match employee contributions dollar for dollar up to $2,500, and 50% from $2,501 to a maximum of $20,000. 

Through our Penn’s Way Campaign, we can help build stronger neighborhoods, improve the quality of life, and provide options for healthier living for 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.

If you have any questions about the campaign, please email Hilary Lopez at hlopez@upenn.edu.

Thank you for supporting Penn’s Way!

Mid-Year Performance Review Process Begins November 3

The staff performance review process will begin on Monday, November 3, 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, 2025, a six-month period.
• The review process begins November 3, 2025, and ends on January 9, 2026. Your school, center, or department may require earlier deadlines between these university launch and closing dates.
• All eligible staff receive a Workday notification on November 3 to start their self-evaluation and 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 3
• new hires or internal transfers who are in the middle of or have recently completed their introductory period review.
• After the staff direct report completes the self-evaluation, their manager will receive a Workday notification to provide the manager's evaluation. The manager's 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 that 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. You can use resources such as a tip sheet with step-by-step instructions or access a short video demonstration; resources are available in the Guide to Performance Management on the Workday website.

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.

Flu Shot Options This Season

You can close your doors and windows during the winter to lock out the cold, but the flu isn’t so easy to keep at bay. Staff, faculty, postdocs, and students can fight the flu this season by attending Penn’s annual Flu Vaccine Clinic, offered by Wellness at Penn. The on-campus clinic will be held from Wednesday, October 15, through Friday, October 17, 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 15, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Thursday, October 16, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Friday, October 17, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Can’t make it to Pottruck? Flu shots will also be offered at select locations as part of three combined 2025-2026 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: 

• Monday, October 27, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Morris Arboretum, Widener Visitor Center, 100 E. Northwestern Ave.
• Thursday, November 13, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Houston Hall, Hall of Flags, 3417 Spruce St.
• Tuesday, November 18, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., New Bolton Center, Alumni Hall, 382 W. Street Rd., Kennett Square, PA

You have other options for getting a flu shot (and on-campus biometric screening this fall) 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 2025-2026 wellness campaign participant, you can earn 1,000 points and $50 cash incentive towards your total rewards by completing an on-campus biometric screening, submitting your results from your primary care physician, or downloading a script and completing a Quest appointment. Getting a flu vaccine also earns points towards rewards under the preventative health options. All Be in the Know cash incentives will be added in your paycheck (less applicable payroll taxes) and paid on a monthly basis starting October 2025. 

For more information, visit www.hr.upenn.edu/beintheknow or the WebMD platform’s Rewards page. 

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

October is Work and Family Month

Work and Family Month was established nationally by Congress in the early 2000s. Although its recognition is not unique to Penn, the University brings its own distinctive approach to celebrating it.

Throughout October, Penn highlights the importance of balancing professional and personal life by offering a variety of programs designed to support the well-being of faculty, staff, postdocs, and their families. Check out these programs to find ones that will most benefit you.

Week 1

• Attend the 30-Minute Guided Meditation on October 3 from 12 p.m. to 12:30 p.m. and gain important skills to help you maintain focus and mental acuity, and develop emotional intelligence and fitness.
• Download the Be in the Know fall on-campus Biometric Screenings schedule and get ready to register for your screening and earn 1,000 points and a $50 cash incentive towards your total rewards.

Week 2

• Attend Penn’s popular 30-Minute Chair Yoga Plus Core session on October 6 from 12 p.m. to 12:30 p.m.
• Keep Penn’s Employee Assistance Program number on hand for 24/7 access to intake and in-network counseling. Call 1-888-503-2380.
• As part of the Financial Planning: Invest in Yourself Series, attend Session 2: Portfolio Construction Process with MetLife workshop on October 7 from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. Learn about integrating tax strategies, selecting investments, and managing market volatility.
• Relax your mind and body at the Lunchtime Chair Yoga session on October 8 from 12 p.m. to 12:45 p.m. This 45-minute virtual session offers a gentle, accessible form of yoga that’s done while sitting in a chair or using a chair for support.
• Learn how Penn’s loan forgiveness service can help you take charge of student loan debt by attending the PeopleJoy workshop on October 8 from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.
• Register for the Mindful Movement and Meditation workshop on October 9 from 12 p.m. to 12:30 p.m., where you can practice present moment awareness with kindness and compassion, and gentle mindful movement and guided meditation that focuses on the breath, body awareness, and other practices to cultivate well-being.

Week 3

• Grab a colleague and join the Penn Wellness walk on October 14. It’s a special collaborative event with the Department of Finance Engagement Committee in honor of October’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Also attend the free flu vaccine clinic October 15-17.
• Register for the Thinking About Retirement presentations on October 15 at Houston Hall in the Ben Franklin Room. Each 90-minute session covers a key part of benefits and income for those about to retire.
• Learn how screen time affects your child and how to create healthy practices at home at the Navigating Tech and Social Media workshop on October 15 from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.
• Register for the Digital Decluttering for Smarter Workflows workshop on October 16 from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. and explore how you can stay organized, maintain accessible, clear, and safe file systems, and work efficiently in a constantly evolving technological landscape.

Week 4

• There are five habits everyone could benefit from. Find out what those are at the Small Habits Sports Psychologists Wish Everyone Did: Micro-Practices for Daily Well-Being workshop on October 21 from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. These habits will help promote success and growth in your lives regardless of whether you’re an athlete and show you practical techniques and tips on habit formation.
• Work smarter and feel stronger by attending the Time and Energy Management workshop on October 21 from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. This interactive workshop will explore practical tools and strategies to help you stay focused, energized, and balanced.
• Try Lunchtime Chair Yoga on October 22 from 12 p.m. to 12:45 p.m.
• Visit the Caring for Your Family and Self webpage on the HR website.

Week 5

• Attend the New and Expectant Parent Briefing workshop on October 28 from 11 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. and learn about local and university childcare and parenting resources including the lactation program, childcare locators, back-up care, adjusting to new schedules, flexible work options, and more.
• Register for the PNC Bank: Budgeting – Making it Work workshop on October 29 from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. to learn how to identify your personal obstacles to budgeting and manage your day-to-day spending to increase your financial security.
• Attend the How to Use Your Penn Fertility and Family-Forming Benefits with Carrot workshop on October 30 from 11 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. to learn more about the Carrot benefit, including how to chat with medical experts, access educational resources, find a vetted provider, and use your employer-sponsored funds.

Strengthening Your Email Communication

Mark Twain might have channeled modern email when he said, “Please forgive the length of this letter; I didn’t have time to write a shorter one,” but that doesn’t mean you can’t tighten up your emails to make them punchier, more informative, and better reads. The Writing Emails that Get to the Point workshop on November 11 from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. will give you the skills necessary to create more effective messages. 

Led by Talent and Organizational Development Consultant Samantha Sonet, this free, virtual workshop will discuss the power of the subject line, and best practices for creating concise emails with a clear call to action.  

“We spend so much of our workday crafting, reading, and responding to emails that we don't often consider whether our message makes sense, is too long, or confusing,” Sonet says. 

“While this workshop is not intended to make crafting emails an exciting endeavor, it will help you sharpen your email writing skills so that you can create more effective and engaging communications,” she says. 

Register today for this engaging session and find out how to grab your audience’s attention with shorter, more powerful emails. 

For more information about Penn’s Talent Development programs, visit the Learn and Grow webpages on the HR website.

Healthy Meals: Squash and White Bean Chili

This hearty, comforting dish brings together the natural sweetness of squash with the creamy texture of white beans in a rich, savory broth. Perfect for the fall season, this vegetarian chili is packed with flavor from aromatic spices like cumin, chili powder, and smoked paprika. Tender chunks of squash add a vibrant pop of color. Whether served with sour cream, fresh cilantro, or a side of cornbread, this chili is a nourishing and satisfying meal.

Click here to send us your healthy recipes and tips.

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup nutritional yeast
• 1 medium yellow onion, diced
• 2 large garlic cloves, minced
• 1/2 bunch cilantro, stems and leaves divided
• 1 medium carrot, diced
• 1 red bell pepper, diced
• 2 large jalapenos, deseeded and finely diced
• 1/2 teaspoon cumin
• 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
• 3-4 cups cannellini beans, drained and rinsed = 2, 15.5 oz cans cannellini beans
• 3-3 1/3 cups butternut squash, diced into 1/4” cubes = 1 large butternut squash or 10 oz bag of frozen
• 3 1/2 cups vegetable broth, divided
• Salt and black pepper, to taste

Directions

1. Toast the nutritional yeast. Add the flakes to a large non-stick pot and cook over medium heat for 3-5 minutes, stirring frequently. The flakes will darken, become fragrant, and start to “smoke” when they are toasted.
2. Add the diced onion, minced garlic and chopped cilantro stems to the pot along with 1/4 cup of the vegetable broth. Reduce the heat to medium-low, and sauté the onion, garlic and cilantro until translucent, about 3-5 minutes.
3. Add the bell pepper, carrot, jalapeño, cumin, and smoked paprika to the pot along with another small splash of broth. Sauté for an additional 1-2 minutes.
4. Finally, add the beans, cubed butternut squash, and the remainder of the vegetable broth to the pot; bring to a boil over high heat, and then reduce the heat and simmer for 20-25 minutes, stirring every few minutes to help break down the squash.

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: Be in the Know Fall Biometric Screenings

Free on-campus biometric screenings will be held at convenient University locations through November 25. Complete a quick and confidential screening and earn a $50 cash reward as part of the Be in the Know campaign. To sign up for an appointment, visit the Health Advocate website. Click the HEALTH tab, then select Get a Health Screening. Choose Health Screening Event, click Schedule Now, and follow the steps to book your preferred time and location. For details, visit the Be in the Know webpage.