New online system wins award for improving employee orientation

May 21, 2012

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — A University of Florida team has received national recognition for creating a vanguard online program that helps new employees transition to campus work life.

The College and University Professional Association for Human Resources awarded the GatorStart Project Team, composed of nine staff members in UF’s Human Resource Services and Enterprise Systems, a national HR Innovation Award for a program that allows new employees to complete essential “paperwork” online.

“It’s exciting to start a new job, and we wanted to get the person off on the right foot,” said project leader Melissa Curry, director of recruitment and staffing.

UF is one of only two universities nationwide to offer such a streamlined program. Launched in February, GatorStart is designed to have each employee begin his or her job duties the moment he or she arrives at UF, rather than to sit through days of orientation and filling out paperwork.

Forms such as W-4s, direct deposit and intellectual property agreements can all be completed at the GatorStart website. Whether it’s a new faculty member or a student with a part-time job, employees will no longer be presented with too much information because the new system recognizes the appropriate paperwork for each new hire.

“The primary thing was to look at sustainability,” Curry said. “Payroll forms take a lot of paper, and we’ll know in the next few months how cost-effective this new online system is.”

While on the website, recruits also watch the “Go Gators” 30-second TV spot and an orientation video created to build excitement among new employees joining the UF community.

The award presentation will take place in Boston Sept. 10. In addition, the College and University Professional Association for Human Resources will give $3,000 to a UF endowment or scholarship of choice.

To learn more about GatorStart, visit http://www.hr.ufl.edu/.