What is a work place buddy?
A workplace buddy is someone who helps a new colleague in the beginning of their employment. They should offer guidance and support, be a resource to the new employee and introduce them to the IFI culture. However, the mentoring shall not be a comprehensive job. The most important thing is to help the new employee with where to go if they need help with anything.
Why work place buddies?
Work place buddies provides new employees with a reliable, motivated, single point-of-contact for their basic questions when starting their new job. Many new employees may not know much about the university before arrival. They could even come from another sector or country. Buddies possess valuable insights, which can make for an easier start for the new employee. The buddy arrangement comes in addition to the formalized onboarding coordinated through group leaders or other managers.
Checklist
First week
- Meet and greet on the first working day
- Have lunch with new staff member with colleagues
- Give tour of key areas of the department. Include 4th floor IT and administration and introduce to relevant persons.
- Inform about IFI's homepage for new employees
- Help with access IT systems and relevant communication channels
- Help with practical issues like employee card, keys, laptop and office supplies.
- Explain use of refrigerator, microwave, dishwasher, coffee machine, cleaning routines and recycling.
- Inform about upcoming and regular activities such as seminars and meetings
- Share knowledge about the section: How are we organized, roles and practices.
First month
- Regular check-ins and see if there are any questions
- Introduce the new member to colleagues in other research groups as appropriate
- Show how to make room reservations
- Assist til DFØ if necessary
- Inform about other department activities as appropriate, e.g., master week, research seminars, summer party etc.
- Have lunch or coffee with new staff member regularly
If foreign employee:
- Inform about university courses for new foreign employees and courses in Norwegian
- Assist with information about social security, bank, cell phone, etc.
If ph.d.-candiate:
- Share knowledge about the ph.d.-programme and important milestones like setting up a meeting with the Ph.D. coordinator within the first month, submit project application within the first 2 months, 3rd-semester reporting.
If postdoctoral research fellow:
- Share knowledge about the mandatory professional development plan for postdoctoral research fellows to be submitted within the first month.
Second and third month
- Regular check-in and see if there are any question
- Plan a social event with the new colleague and invite the unit
- Remind the advantages of working at IFI and UiO (employee discounts and benefits, educational and cultural events, etc.)
- Remind about opportunities for competence development at UiO