Penn@Work: December 2017/January 2018

A Caring Penn Community

During this time of the year, we find ourselves busy getting ready for the winter holidays or setting goals for the New Year. It can be a joyous time of giving and sharing with family and friends. As we look forward to 2018 and create plans for how we will take better care of ourselves, we must also remember to take care of each other.

As I reflect on the year, I was encouraged by the support and generosity that Penn faculty and staff provided for one another. The Campaign for Community’s Campus Conversation was a welcome reminder about the importance of coming together, not just in difficult times, but in our day-to-day actions. The Division of Human Resources will continue to foster an inclusive and supportive environment for the entire Penn community. You can be sure that Human Resources will also continue to provide the programs and services faculty and staff need to meet their personal and professional needs.

In fact, during our Special Winter Vacation, many Human Resources services will remain available for faculty and staff between December 23 and January 1, including the Employee Assistance Program and the Penn Benefits Center.

Whether you’re setting new goals for yourself or supporting colleagues and coworkers in their decision making, the Division of Human Resources will be here every step of the way.

Here’s wishing you the best this holiday season and throughout the New Year!

Sincerely,

Jack Heuer, Ed.D., Vice President for Human Resources

Human Resources moves Into the Franklin Building

On December 15, the Division of Human Resources set up shop in the Franklin Building.

Benefits, Recruitment, Records, Staff and Labor Relations, and the Office of the Vice President are now located at 600 Franklin Building. Compensation and HRIM will move to 433 Franklin Building.

Quality of Work-Life (QOWL), Communications, and Learning & Education (L&E) will continue to be at 3624 Market Street, Suite 1A.

The move has been in the works for the past six months. During that time the HR Move Team – Angela Cabrera, Angela Merritte Mansaray, Bronwyn Gurley, David Chau, Gary Truhlar, and Wendy Harris – has been working hard to plan every detail of the move to ensure a smooth transition for staff. As a result of the team’s efficiency, there was minimal interruption of services provided to faculty and staff during the move.

With the excellent support of staff from Facilities & Real Estate Services (FRES), the space was redesigned to be more customer focused. The new space features additional consultation rooms that give greater opportunity for Penn faculty and staff to meet with HR professionals, Retirement Savings counselors, Wellness specialists, and other advisors about their personal and professional development needs. The space will also include more windows, conference room space, and an upgraded reception area.

Joseph Gerrard, Recruitment Specialist, says he liked his former office, but that he is happy to see the move team’s work come to fruition. “The team who is putting this move together has been working a ton on this,” Gerrard says.

Melissa Brown, Benefits Coordinator, says she had been “looking forward to the move for the newness.” Brown says the new space will also give coworkers an opportunity to work in closer proximity to one another, easing their task of collaborating.

“Because of how the new space is configured we will get to interact even more with the rest of our HR team members,” she says. Angela Merritte Mansaray, Senior Benefits Specialist, Retirement, says “my hope is that all faculty and staff will enjoy our new light-filled space and surroundings. The space will be a breath of fresh air for Human Resources.”

My Job

Spring ahead with Penn’s Professional Development Programs

Work-life integration is an ongoing process. It works best when you make time Winter is here, but it’s time to think spring! Registration for Penn’s spring term professional development programs is open now, so you can stretch ahead for success in 2018.

The Human Resources Learning & Education staff has prepared a practical and inspiring array of programs to bring out the best in you and your team—from free lunchtime seminars to in-depth courses.

Penn’s popular professional development programs fill up quickly, so register now at knowledgelink.upenn.edu.

Skill-Building Courses Penn makes it easier to build professional development into your schedule and budget by bringing world-class professional development courses to our campus. Enrollment is available for a nominal fee—just a fraction of what you would pay for similar off-site programs. Classes like these will help you meet your school or center’s goals:

• Project Management (January 18, 2018)
• The Art of Presentation (February 20 & March 28, 2018)
• Leading with Emotional Intelligence (April 5, 2018)
• Coaching Skills for Managers (May 17, 2018)

Free Brown Bag Learning Sessions

Learning and Education offers an assortment of lunchtime seminars and workshops to fit your learning style, including Career Focus Brown Bags that share tips for managing your career and Brown Bag Matinee video screenings.

“Learning with Lynda” classes blend online learning with classroom sessions. Participants are encouraged to take the online Lynda course in advance of the session, then attend the on-campus session to practice the skills. Upcoming sessions include:

• Building Accountability into Your Culture (January 9, 2018)
• Communicating with Empathy (March 15, 2018)
• Creating Great Workplace Habits (May 31, 2018)

The “TED Talk Tuesday” series provides an opportunity to watch workplace-relevant talks and engage in dialogue with colleagues. Here’s a sample from our TED Talk line-up:

• How Too Many Rules at Work Keep You From Getting Things Done (January 23, 2018)
• Super-Resilience: How to Fall Up (February 27, 2018)
• The Tribes We Lead (April 17, 2018)

Leadership Development Penn’s four outstanding leadership development programs— STEP UP, Essentials of Management, AMP UP, and Leadership@ Penn—will be accepting new participants as well.

Visit www.hr.upenn.edu/PennHR/learn-grow/leadership-development for registration and application details for each program. Visit www.hr.upenn.edu/learn-grow to see the complete line up of Spring 2018 programs and look for our new course guide. We look forward to helping you plan your career development!

Professional and Personal Development Program Highlights

Improve your skills and get ahead in your career by taking advantage of the many development opportunities provided by Human Resources. See a complete list of programs and registration information at knowledgelink.upenn.edu or by contacting Learning and Education at 215-898-3400.

Tools for Career Assessment and Development: 1/17; 12:30-1:30pm; free

A career plan is essentially a map you can use as you drive your career. In this program we will examine questions for assessing and developing your career. You will compare your career options using a variety of tools. By the end of the session you will have the resources needed to develop a plan for career success.

My Health & Wellbeing

Be in the Know Begins with Biometric Screenings

Penn’s 2017-2018 Be in the Know wellness campaign continues! Learn how you can join in, learn more and earn more for wellness. You can collect a total of $300 in incentives this campaign year.

Step 1: Biometric Screenings

Congratulations to the over 5,400 Penn faculty and staff members who received a free biometric screening this fall! They’ve completed Step 1 and learned valuable health information. Now they’re ready to go beyond the screenings, gain more wellness knowledge and qualify for Be in the Know cash.

Step 2: the Online Health Assessment

After you complete your biometric screening, don’t forget to take the online health assessment. This quick and confidential questionnaire, available at penn.staywell.com, builds your health awareness. When you complete both Core Actions— the screening and the online health assessment—you earn your first $100 cash incentive.

Step 3: Bonus Actions

You can complete qualifying Bonus Actions anytime in Be in the Know 2017-2018 to earn points toward an additional $200. Visit www.hr.upenn.edu/beintheknow for a complete list of options.

If You Missed the Fall Biometric Screenings

A select number of on-campus biometric screening events will be held in March 2018. Dates and registration information will be announced soon. You can also submit biometric screening results from your doctor along with the Be in the Know Biometric Screening Consent Form. Simply download the form at www.hr.upenn.edu/docs/default-source/work-and-lifesupport/biometricscreeningconsentform.pdf and follow the submission instructions.

Visit the www.hr.upenn.edu/beintheknow for all the details about this year’s campaign.

Quality of Work Life Workshop Highlights

These free workshops offer information and support for your personal and professional life challenges. For a complete list of workshops and to register, visit www.hr.upenn.edu/PennHR/learn-grow/trainings-courses-and-webinars/onsite-programs or contact Human Resources at 215-573-2471 or qowl@hr.upenn.edu.

Mindfulness Monday: From Mindful to Mindful: 1/22; 12:30pm-1:30pm; free
Mindfulness practice develops awareness of your present thoughts and feelings to help you manage different situations. In this once-a-month experiential workshop, you’ll see how mindfulness can help you become more engaged and effective both at home and in the workplace. No prior meditation experience necessary.

Wellness Program Highlights

From expert nutrition and weight loss advice to exercise and disease prevention strategies, we can help you embrace a healthy lifestyle. For a complete list of workshops and to register, visit www.hr.upenn.edu/PennHR/learn-grow/trainings-courses-and-webinars/onsite-programs or contact Human Resources at 215-573-2471 or qowl@hr.upenn.edu.

Indoor Wellness Walk: 1/19; 12-1pm; free

This month’s New Year’s Resolution-themed walk, held in the Palestra, will occur rain or shine – no excuses not to come! Whether you wish to lose weight, have more energy, or just be healthier, it is important to remember to reach your goals one step at a time. We hope you will be able to join us for this event cosponsored by Human Resources and the Center for Public Health Initiatives.

My Future

For the Latest Penn Workplace News in 2018

The print version of Penn Current will cease publication with this issue. Stay up-to-date with Division of Human Resources happenings in the new year by subscribing to the myHR newsletter.

Visit www.hr.upenn.edu/about-hr/news for details.