New Employee Orientation: Ann Arbor Campus -
Department Questions for New Employees to Ask

The following checklist covers a lot of department and job specific topics to supplement your New Employee Orientation.  We suggest you meet with your supervisor and discuss the following:

  • Department’s Mission, Vision, Values.  Ask what they are and how they fit into the larger organization.
  • Emergency Response Plans.  Ask the following questions:
    • How do you report an emergency
    • Where to go in bad weather and how to get there 
    • Where to go in case of a fire or bomb threat
    • What is your Building Emergency Action Plan
    • Each building has a coordinator, and floor marshals who are responsible for implementing evacuation plans, and alerting you to building construction and/or repair.  Find out who performs these functions for you.
    • How do you get help if you are threatened?  Asked another way, does your department have a code that you can use to alert someone to call 911 if you are dealing with an irate person and cannot do it yourself?
  • You are responsible for reporting any injury to your immediate supervisor.  Where are the forms and how does this work in your area?
  • What sick/vacation plan applies to you and what are the departmental policies for obtaining vacation time, or using sick time?
  • Reporting your time:
    • What timekeeping mechanism does your department use? 
    • Do you need timesheets? 
    • Do you report your time online?  If so, how does it work?
    • What are the overtime policies?
  • The University celebrates 7 Holidays.  Some departments close between Christmas and New Years day.   Some do not.  Ask what applies to you. (Be sure to mention if you celebrate a holiday other than those listed.)
  • As a new hire, you may be in a probationary period.  Ask your supervisor if you are, and if so, what are the parameters.
  • What is on your work plan and who is your mentor/trainer?
  • How are performance reviews handled and what are their frequency?
  • “We” love to use acronyms!!!    Find out which ones your department uses.   Ask if there is a dictionary of the “language” associated with your area.
  • Does your job require access to administrative systems?  If so, you need to find out about training, handling confidential information, signing the confidentiality statement, and getting an Mtoken.
  • Review the following policies:
    • Sexual Harrassment
    • Americans with Disabilities Act
    • Affirmative Action and Anti-Discrimination
    • Confidentiality
    • Dress Code
    • E-mail and internet usage
  • Review general administrative procedures for your department:
    • Office/desk/work station
    • Keys
    • Mail (Incoming and Outgoing)
    • Shipping
    • Business cards
    • Telephones and usage
    • Building access hours
    • Conference rooms
    • Travel and expense reports
    • Office supplies
    • Purchase requests
  • Get introductions to department staff and key personnel
  • Get a tour of the facility including:
    • Rest rooms
    • Mail rooms
    • Copy centers
    • Fax machine location
    • Bulletin board
    • Printers
    • Office supplies
    • Kitchen
    • Coffee/vending machines
    • Water coolers
    • Parking
    • Emergency exists and supplies
  • Review hardware and software including:
    • Sign-on and passwords
    • Email
    • Intra/internet
    • Data on shared drives
    • Administrative information access
    • Databases