Office of Human Resources

We encourage all new employees to attend an orientation session. These sessions are offered every other Tuesday in Dempsey Hall. Check out the events calendar on the HR home page to view the current schedule. You don’t need to register for these sessions, just simply show up!

There are two different sessions offered:

• New Employee Basics– These sessions are open to all new employees, regardless of employment type or classification. Attendees will get an overview of campus and hear about some of the perks of working at UWO! 

• Benefits Orientation– These sessions are open to benefit-eligible employees. Attendees will receive a packet of information with your enrollment deadline and instructions on how to make benefit elections. New employees must make their benefit elections within 30 days, so it’s important to attend a session soon after you start.  Click here for a copy of the benefits presentation used during orientation.

Alex – In an effort to make benefits elections less stressful for new employees, the UW System offers ALEX, an online tool for anyone who wants a better understanding of the benefits plans offered at the UW System. Please note that you cannot actually enroll in any benefits plans through ALEX.

UW System – General benefit information for new UW System employees, including summaries and eligibility information

WI Department of Employee Trust Funds – ETF administers retirement, insurance and other benefit programs for state and local government employees, including employees that work at UW System campuses.

Each fall, the Provost’s Office coordinates an orientation event for new Faculty and Instructional Academic Staff. For more information about their orientation program, please visit the Academic Affairs website.

Your Benefits

Adding a child to your family (due to birth, adoption, legal guardianship, etc.) may create an event in which you can enroll your child in your current benefits plans. More information about the eligible events may be found at the following links:

• Birth & Adoption
• Legal Guardianship

Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA)

Employees considering taking at least a week off from work due to their new child are highly encouraged to file for Family Medical Leave Act coverage. To review eligibility rules for FMLA, click here. While Family Medical Leave is unpaid, employees may use any accumulated paid leave such as sick leave, personal holidays and vacation days (if applicable). Sick leave can be accrued even if an employee is on a paid leave of absence. Employees are advised to utilize their My UW System Portal to view their current leave availability and contact the Human Resources to set up a meeting with a Payroll Specialist if they have more questions.

Employees may request intermittent leave based on their work schedule at the discretion of their department chair or program director. Probationary faculty may request a stopping or suspending of the tenure clock according to the Faculty Handbook. More information on Family Medical Leave at the University may be found in the Faculty and Academic Staff handbook. The Family Medical Leave Act request form can be found here.

Childcare

UW Oshkosh Children’s Learning and Care Center provides quality and affordable childcare to UW Oshkosh students, employees, and the community.  Enrollment forms should be turned in with as much advance notice as possible. Scheduling is done on a first come-first served basis, with currently enrolled children having first priority, followed by UW Oshkosh students who have financial aid, then UW Oshkosh students without financial aid. UW Oshkosh employees and community are accepted after the student priority deadlines.  The cost of campus childcare varies by age of child and whether they are enrolled in half-day or full-day schedules. 

Employees may choose to enroll in the Dependent Day Care Flex Spending Account to put away money pre-tax for childcare costs or costs related to other dependent care.  Questions about campus childcare? Contact: Dr. Susan Finkel-Hoffman Director, at finkel@uwosh.edu or , Jacquie Pluim Assistant Director, at plium@uwosh.edu. There are also other highly rated childcare options in the Oshkosh community.  Parents and guardians can search the Youngstar child care quality rating toolkit for additional options.

Lactation Resources

UW Oshkosh is required by the Fair Labor Standards Act to provide “reasonable break time for an employee to express breast milk for her nursing child for 1 year after the child’s birth each time such employee has need to express the milk.”  UW Oshkosh is also required to provide “a place, other than a bathroom, that is shielded from view and free from intrusion from coworkers and the public, which may be used by an employee to express breast milk.”  The Gender Equity Council has a list of lactation spaces on campus that are currently available to employees and students.  This list is often updated; if you notice any issues with current lactation spaces, or if you are in need of additional space, please contact the Gender Equity Council.   Discrimination or retaliation against lactating parents is a violation of federal law. 

See this Fact Sheet for more information about your rights.  You can also contact the Office of Equal Opportunity, Equity & Affirmative Action office for guidance. Employee health insurance providers are required by the Affordable Care Act to cover the cost of a breast pump and lactation support services.  The Birthing Center at Aurora Medical Center in Oshkosh includes certified lactation consultant support services.  The Breastfeeding Alliance of Northeast Wisconsin also has a list of lactation resources in the Fox Valley.  The UW Oshkosh Children’s Learning and Care Center is a breastfeeding-friendly childcare provider.  The center has a lactation room on-site and the staff in the infant rooms work with nursing parents to cater to their baby’s individual needs.

We realize that some employees not only start a new career at UW Oshkosh, but they also join a new community. If you are relocating to work at one of our campuses, here are some resources you may find useful:

Oshkosh Area:

• • • Oshkosh Area Chamber of Commerce
    • Propel Oshkosh – Propel Oshkosh is a development and networking group for young professionals that was started in 2003. Propel is overseen by a volunteer board of directorsand committees and is an affiliate of the Oshkosh Chamber of Commerce.
    • Oshkosh Convention and Visitors Bureau
    • Oshkosh Area School District

Fox Cities Area:

• • • Fox Cities Chamber of Commerce
    • Pulse Young Professional Network
    • Fox Cities Convention and Visitors Bureau
    • Appleton Area School District
    • Menasha Joint School District
    • Neenah Joint School District

Fond du Lac Area:

• • • Envision Greater Fond du Lac
    • Young Professionals of Fond du Lac
    • Fond du Lac Convention and Visitors Bureau
    • Fond du Lac School District

Additionally, if you are interested in learning more about the housing market in Oshkosh, click here!