Your First Weeks and Months of Employment Checklist

WITHIN YOUR FIRST WEEK:

Meet with your supervisor to review and discuss:

Your job description, essential duties and responsibilities, and how they fit into the work unit's objectives
Your department's goals and mission
Performance goals and expectations
Training needs and key people you should meet
Professional ethics and confidentiality practices, if applicable
Review how to handle and report on-the-job accidents/injuries

Familiarize yourself with your department

Learn more about your department's structure, administrative and operations procedures, manuals, and protocols by initiating conversations with your supervisor, peers, and by reviewing any other materials available in your area

Familiarize yourself with office processes

Using campus services, as appropriate: telephones (e.g., voicemail, call forwarding, how to handle messages for others, etc.).
Using the computer network (e.g., e-mail, myHR, Time & Labor, the UMSL homepage, Human Resources website, etc.)
Using campus mail and U.S. mail processes for your department
Using office equipment (computers, copiers, fax machines, etc.)
Knowing the no-smoking policy in campus buildings
Using Time & Labor and your reporting responsibilities, as well as the consequences of failure to report time appropriately
Reviewing pay-dates, the direct deposit process, and items generally withheld from gross pay so payday holds no surprises
Knowing about expected work schedule, meal and break periods
Knowing about overtime and shift expectations
Requesting scheduled time off (personal, sick, or vacation time) and limits during the first six months of employment
Requesting unscheduled time off (whom and when to call in; requirements to document the need for absence)
Reporting to work in cases of inclement weather
Requesting to leave the job site during work hours
Understanding the six-month probationary period, as well as how and when your performance will be evaluated
Reviewing work-unit expectations about access to and use of department resources: phones (e.g., no personal long distance calls), copiers, etc.
Obtain your university ID

Enroll in benefits within the first 30 days from your benefit eligibility date or your date of hire. If you have any questions, contact your Campus Benefits Representative, 516-5639.
Review department-level work rules, how-to manuals, etc.
Complete the online Preventing Sexual Harassment Program within your first 30 days.

For those supervising others, it is mandatory that you also complete the online Preventing Employment Discrimination training. All other university employees are expected to take the course also.

For questions about the training or the university's policies and procedures regarding discrimination, contact the Office of Equal Opportunity and Diversity.
Familiarize yourself with the campus - take advantage of the Mentor Program! A mentor can be very helpful in doing this. You can still sign up! Contact Karen Cedeck for more information.

Regularly meet with your supervisor to set goals, review your performance and continue to seek his/her feedback.
Identify learning and professional development opportunities. Discuss with your supervisor what the appropriate opportunities may be.
Get involved with the campus community. Talk to your supervisor and coworkers about campus groups, publications and other professional activities and resources that are available that might be of interest to you. There are organizations listed on this website and on the university's website.

Human Resources