Employee Resource Reminder | Penn State College of Health and Human Development

As we enter a new academic year, we want to remind employees of the numerous resources available to the Penn State community.

Values, Ethics, and Compliance

Mission: HHD is a collaborative community of faculty, staff, students, and alumni seeking to improve human health, development, and the quality of life for all people through innovative education, interdisciplinary research, and effective outreach with a scope that encompasses cells to society from conception through old age.

Vision: HHD will be leaders and learners working in, and having actively fostered, a culture of inclusiveness, equity and integrity who have collaboratively and adaptively leveraged science to prevent and solve problems and create opportunities to maximize health, optimize quality of life, and enhance human potential for all people and populations.

Penn State Values

The Penn State Values should guide our actions and decisions as members of the Penn State community:

Integrity: We act with integrity and honesty in accordance with the highest academic, professional, and ethical standards.
Respect: We respect and honor the dignity of each person, embrace civil discourse, and foster a diverse and inclusive community.
Responsibility: We act responsibly, and we are accountable for our decisions, actions, and their consequences.
Discovery: We seek and create new knowledge and understanding, and foster creativity and innovation, for the benefit of our communities, society, and the environment.
Excellence: We strive for excellence in all our endeavors as individuals, an institution, and a leader in higher education.
Community: We work together for the betterment of our University, the communities we serve, and the world.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Statements

All members of the University community are expected to exemplify and promote a positive and respectful workplace. Please be reminded of the College’s Mission, Vision and Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging and the University’s Statement on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

Resources for Reporting Issues and Concerns

All members of the Penn State community are urged to report wrongdoing – if they see or suspect illegal, unethical, or unsafe conduct, employees can report potential issues and concerns through Reporting at Penn State. The University does not condone wrongful conduct or retaliation by any member of the Penn State community.

Arrest and Conviction Self-Disclosure

Individuals currently employed or engaged by the University (whether paid or unpaid) are required to notify unit HR of certain arrests or convictions (i.e., charged with a misdemeanor or felony) within 72 hours of occurrence by using the Penn State Arrest and Conviction self-disclosure form as outlined in University Policy HR99 – Background Verification Requirements.

Health and Well-being

Calm App

The College recognizes the need for self-care and encourages the use of strategies to stay healthy and well. To help support wellness, a free subscription to the Calm app is available to faculty, staff and graduate students of the College. Sign up for the free Calm premium subscription.

Employee Assistance Program

Health Advocate, the University's Employee Assistance Program, offers eligible employees confidential assistance when experiencing personal concerns. Available to employees and certain family members, the EAP offers up to five counseling visits per concern at no cost. Individuals can call 1-866-799-2728 or visit the Health Advocate website for assistance 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Health Advocate also offers a variety of other resources to help with health, personal, financial, and legal concerns

Flexible Work Arrangements (FWA)

As part of the University’s commitment to promoting productivity and work/life balance, employees and supervisors are expected to regularly assess and update FWAs to ensure alignment with evolving needs of operations and our employees. Information on the HHD Guidelines for flexible work can be found on the HHD FWA webpage along with helpful FAQs.

Family and Medical Leave

Should an eligible employee be absent for three or more days for the same condition (own illness/injury or to care for an eligible family member), the absence may qualify under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). The University has obligations to provide eligible employees with information about rights under FMLA. Absence Management may be contacted at Absence@psu.edu. When an employee is ill, they are still expected to follow their department’s procedure for notifying the supervisor of the need for time off work.

Work-Related Injury or Illness (Employees)

All employees are required to report workplace injuries or illnesses as soon as possible (or within 48 hours of the incident). Reports of work-related illness or injury should be reported to your direct supervisor first, and the supervisor must report the injury via Broadspire online or 877-219-7738. Supervisors will also share the Workers’ Compensation Signature Packet with the injured employee.

*Injuries requiring immediate medical attention should delay these instructions and contact 911 immediately; these steps can be completed after medical attention is provided.

Human Resources Processes and Information

Change of Address (Employees)

It is important to keep your personal contact information updated in Workday. In the event you have a change in address or phone number, please update the information at Penn State Accounts following this guide. Changes to work address can be updated by submitting a WorkLion Inquiry.

Workday Deadlines (Employees, Supervisors)

Employees and supervisors are reminded to be mindful of submitting time by payroll deadlines, especially for employees who are paid biweekly and/or are non-exempt. Some find it helpful to place reminders on their Outlook calendar to prompt them to complete entries and remind them of the deadline. You can find the schedule of monthly and bi-weekly payroll deadlines online. Payroll closes at 5:00 PM (Eastern Time) on those dates.

HR Resources, Knowledge Base Articles, and Policies (Employees)

Penn State's HR website, HR Services (814-865-1473), and HR knowledge base are available to obtain information about Benefits, Recruiting, Workers Compensation/Occupational Medicine, Talent Management, and Performance Management. Worklion Manager Tools is a central resource repository for supervisors for such actions as Supervisory Organization Changes or Initiating a Separation.

Policies can be accessed here: University Policies and Guidelines

Student and Student Employee Support Resources

Student Resources

Our employees may witness a student or student employee who needs assistance. Please familiarize yourself with these resources to recognize signs of need or distress and ways to respond/assist.

Community Resources (All)

NOTE: This is not an exhaustive list of resources available – if you have a suggestion of additional resources to include in future communications, please submit an update by emailing Lisa Garbacik, HRSP, lag5874@psu.edu, Erica Lutz, HRC, elj10@psu.edu or Sara Lobb, HRC at sdl14@psu.edu.

Thank you for all you do for our students, our employees, and our community.