University of Wisconsin–Madison

Welcome New Employees

Welcome to the University of Wisconsin–Madison. We are glad you are here to start or continue your career. During your first week, it is essential to complete critical tasks, including setting up how you will be paid. To get started, review the overview documents below.

Overviews are available in the following languages:

Get started

 

Questions?

If you have questions that are not answered by these resources on this page, please contact your department HR office.

Do First

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I-9

Who?

All employees who get a payslip (excludes employees with zero-dollar appointments)

What?

The Form I-9 is a federal government form used to verify a person’s eligibility to work in the United States. Form I-9 verifies that you can work in the United States.

Why?

You must complete a Form I-9 to work in the United States. You cannot work if you do not complete Form I-9. You can be terminated if you do not complete an I-9 on time.

When?

You must complete:

  • Section 1 no later than your 1st day of work for pay.
  • Section 2 within 3 business days of your 1st day of work for pay.

How?

Complete your Form I-9 in 2 steps.

  • Complete Section 1 in Workday no later than your 1st day of work for pay.
  • Then, complete Section 2 with the I-9 Coordinator in person.

Help and Online Resources:

Get help at the New Employee Welcome Center.

NetID

Who?

All employees

What?

Your NetID is your unique UW–Madison username and password.

Why?

You must use your NetID to:

  • log into MyUW, Workday, and Office 365.
  • access your work email, payroll, and benefits.
  • complete required training.
  • use other online resources at work.

When?

Activate your NetID as soon as you have your activation key.

How?

Activate your NetID:

  1. Go to NetID Activation.
  2. Enter your activation key and date of birth.
  3. Agree to terms.
  4. Set recovery questions.
  5. Create a secure password.
  6. Set up MFA-Duo for more security.

Help and Online Resources:

MFA-Duo

Who?

All employees

What?

MFA-Duo is a 2nd safety step when you log into your UW accounts.

  • First, log into your UW account with your NetID and password.
  • Then, MFA-Duo sends a notification to your smartphone or tablet.
    • Approve the notification.
  • You must approve the notification to log into your account.

If you don’t have a smartphone or tablet, request a fob from your division HR Office.

Why?

You must use MFA-Duo to log into MyUW, Workday, Canvas, and your UW email, because it:

  • protects your personal and university data.
  • prevents another person from logging into your account, even if they have your NetID and password.

When?

  • Set up your MFA-Duo immediately after you activate your NetID. You must set up MFA-Duo to access most UW systems.
  • Set up recovery questions and MFA-Duo for security within your 1st week of work.

How?

Set up MFA-Duo (scroll to Additional Information).

Help and Online Resources:

DoIT Help Desk: call (608) 264-4357 or email: help@doit.wisc.edu.

Learn more:

Workday

Who?

All employees who get a payslip

What?

Workday is the online system all employees use to do work-related tasks.

Log into Workday to:

  • see and update your personal and employee information.
  • submit time off requests.
  • track your work hours and leaves of absence.
  • see your payslips.
  • manage direct deposit and tax withholdings.
  • enroll in and change benefits.
  • complete your performance review tasks.
  • complete training and manage career development.

Why?

With Workday, you can manage your employment information — including time off, work hours, benefits, performance evaluations, and professional development — in one online employee portal.

When?

Use Workday as soon as your NetID and Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA-Duo) are active.

Use regularly for:

  • time off and leave requests.
  • pay and benefits updates (especially open enrollment).
  • year-end tax tasks.
  • midpoint and annual performance reviews.

How?

Use Workday:

  1. Log into Workday on your computer or with the Workday mobile app.
  2. Complete “Workday for All Employees” training in Canvas (about 45 minutes).
  3. Explore your Workday homepage: “My Tasks,” notifications, and shortcuts.
  4. Use specific sections as needed: Time Off, Benefits, Payroll, Training, Performance, etc.

Help and Online Resources:

 Call or email:
Learn more:

Payment Elections (Direct Deposit)

Who?

All employees who get a payslip (excludes employees with zero-dollar appointments)

What?

Get paid with Direct Deposit (money goes directly into your personal bank account).

Why?

You can get paid directly into your personal bank account, instead of receiving a U.S. Bank Focus Pay Card or having to deposit a paper paycheck.

When?

Set up Direct Deposit in Workday (with your bank account information) within 5 days of your start date.

If you do not add your bank information, you may:

How?

Help and Online Resources:

Call or email your supervisor or your division HR Office.

Tax Withholding

Who?

All employees who do not have Glacier accounts

What?

Set up federal and state tax withholdings (money taken from your payment to pay taxes).

Why?

Know exactly how much money from your pay is withheld and reported for taxes.

When?

Update your federal and state tax withholdings on your 1st day of work.

  • You can change your withholdings if you have life changes that may affect income tax (like moving to a new state, change in marital status, additional jobs, or additional income).
  • If you live and work outside of Wisconsin, enter your Alternate Work Location in Workday to calculate your state taxes. Call or email your division HR Office to ask if this applies to you.

How?

Help and Online Resources:

Call or email your division HR Office.

Glacier

Who?

All foreign national employees, Resident Aliens, and Nonresident Aliens who are paid or receiving funds through the university payroll

What?

Glacier is a software program that works with Workday to ensure wages are taxed correctly.

Why?

Glacier determines the correct tax withholding and tax residency status.

When?

  • You will receive a Glacier account after your hire date.
  • You must update your Glacier account within 5 days of your hire date.
  • You must submit Glacier documents and copies of required documents within 2 days of updating your Glacier account. Changes might include visa type, extension of immigration status, departure dates, or presence in the U.S.

How?

Help and Online Resources:

See the International Payroll and Taxes website.

Wiscard

Who?

All students, employees, retirees, emeriti, UW–Hospital, UW–System, and UW–Extension affiliates

What?

Your Wiscard is your official UW photo ID.

Use your Wiscard:

  • to enter buildings on campus.
  • to use UW libraries, Rec Well facilities, and buses.
  • as a physical ID for university services.
  • as an optional debit account for dining, bookstore, and vending purchases (often with a 5% discount).

Why?

Your Wiscard is your official UW ID. You need it to access buildings and services.

When?

  • Faculty and staff: You can get your Wiscard about 14 days before your start date.
  • Students: Get your Wiscard after class enrollment or during orientation.
  • Your 1st card is free and valid for 5 years.

How?

  • Go to the Wiscard Office (room 149 in Union South, 1308 W Dayton).
  • Bring a government-issued photo ID, like a passport or U.S. driver’s license.
  • Wiscard staff take your picture, and you will get your Wiscard immediately.
  • You can activate your campus debit account in person or online.

Help and Online Resources:

Wiscard Office:

Card lost or stolen? Cancel it in the online portal and contact the Wiscard office.

Time Sheets and Time Logging

Who?

Look at the lists below (4.a and 4.b). Find your employee classification to learn how you will report your hours.

What?

Report hours worked.

(4.a) Use Time Clock or the Timesheet to report the hours you work, if your employee classification is:

  • Hourly University Staff.
  • Nonexempt Academic Staff.
  • Student Hourly.
  • Nonexempt Graduate Assistant.

(4.b) Request time off in Workday as needed (do not report the hours you work), if your employee classification is:

  • Exempt Academic Staff.
  • Exempt University Staff.
  • Faculty.
  • Exempt Limited Staff.

Why?

Report your hours correctly, so you are paid correctly.

When?

(4.a) If you use a Timesheet or Time Clock, report the hours you work for every shift.

(4.b) If you use Workday:

  • If you do not report your hours every shift, enter paid time off as you use it.
  • If you do not use paid time off within a month, submit a “no leave taken” report in Workday by the 5th of the following month.

How?

See instructions: Entering Time in Workday – Employee.

Help and Online Resources:

Call or email your supervisor or your division HR Office.

Do Second

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Payroll Calendars

Who?

All employees who get a payslip (excludes employees with zero-dollar appointments)

What?

The Payroll Calendar (see left menu for year) shows your:

  • pay periods.
  • pay dates.
  • deductions (how much and how often money is taken from your wages for UW benefits).

Why?

Know when you will be paid.

When?

  • Pay periods are 2 weeks.
  • Usually, you are paid on a Thursday. Dates can change for holidays or if banks are closed.
  • If you start work in the middle of a pay period, your 1st wages will be smaller than your future wages.

How?

Print the Payroll Calendar to track when you are paid. You can print in the New Employee Welcome Center.

Help and Online Resources:

Call or email your supervisor or your division HR Office.

Leave Reporting

Who?

Employees who earn leave benefits (vacation, sick leave, legal holidays, personal holidays, and other leaves of absence)

Read your welcome email from LinkUW to see if you earn leave benefits.

What?

Report your Paid Time Off and Leaves of Absence.

Types of paid leave you may be eligible for:

  • Sick leave
  • Legal Holiday
  • Vacation
  • Personal Holiday

You may also be eligible for paid leaves of absence for parental leave, jury duty, or organ donation.

Why?

UW wants to help employees balance their work and personal lives. We understand that you will sometimes need to request time off or a leave of absence.

When?

When you use paid time off, record it right away, so you are paid correctly. LinkUW will give you instructions.

How?

Learn about your different paid leave types when you meet with your payroll and benefit contact at LinkUW.

Help and Online Resources:

Contact

My Benefits

Who?

All employees who are eligible for benefits through Employee Trust Funds (ETF).

You can use My Benefits even after you leave or retire from UW.

What?

My Benefits is an online portal where you can:

  • enroll in, see, and change your employee benefits through ETF.
  • see your Statements of Benefits from 2012 to now.
  • request a disability retirement estimate.

Why?

You can safely:

  • see your benefits.
  • see how much you pay for benefits.
  • enroll in benefits.
  • change benefits if you have a qualifying life event.
  • see and update information about your dependents.
  • submit required documentation.
  • review prior WRS Statement of Benefits.

When?

You may access My Benefits anytime throughout your employment to review, enroll and change benefits.

You may continue to have access to this account in retirement as well.

How?

Note: Get to My Benefits by clicking the My Benefits tile in MyUW.

A screenshot of a MyUW tile with a heading that says MY Benefits and containing an ETF logo. It says Launch Full App at the bottom.

If this is your first time logging into My Benefits, you will need to set up an account in My Benefits.

To set up your My Benefits account, you must have a:

  • Social Security number (SSN).
    • If you do not have an SSN, enter your Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) in the SSN field.
    • If you do not have an SSN or ITIN, enter your UW-issued Reporting ID in the SSN field.
  • personal email address (not a work email address).

Learn more about My Benefits.

Help and Online Resources:

For help with:

  • creating your My Benefits account, read the Wisconsin ID FAQ or call 608-471-6667.
  • understanding your benefits or using My Benefits to enroll in or change your benefits, contact LinkUW: help.linkuw@wisc.edu.

Benefits: Wisconsin Retirement System for Non-Student Employees

Who?

You may be eligible for benefits from Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) if you are:

  • University Staff
  • Faculty
  • Academic Staff
  • Limited Appointee

Read your welcome email from LinkUW to see if you are eligible for WRS benefits.

What?

The Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) provides retirement benefits to UW employees and to most public employees across the State of Wisconsin.

See Benefits for employees covered by the WRS.

Why?

If you are eligible, you can enroll in benefits like:

  • Health, Dental, Vision, and Pharmacy.
  • Pre-Tax Savings Accounts.
  • Disability Benefits.
  • Life Insurance.
  • Accident Insurance.
  • Income Continuation Insurance.
  • Deferred Compensation.
  • Supplemental Retirement Program.
  • WRS Retirement Benefits.

Read your offer letter to see if you are eligible for WRS benefits. If you have questions, email help.linkuw@wisc.edu.

When?

Enroll in your benefits within 30 days of becoming benefits eligible.

  • Add a reminder on your calendar to enroll in your benefits within your first 30 days of work.
  • You cannot enroll in benefits after the 30 days unless you undergo a Qualifying Event or during annual Open Enrollment in October.

How?

Choose, review, or change your benefits in My Insurance Benefits.

NOTE: If this is your 1st time logging into My Insurance Benefits, you must set up an account in My Benefits.

Help and Online Resources:

Contact Link UW: help.linkuw@wisc.edu.

Benefits: Graduate Benefits Program

Who?

Employees not eligible for WRS:

  • Graduate Assistants
  • Employees-in-Training (including postdocs)
  • Fellows and Scholars
  • Short-Term Academic Staff

Look at your welcome email from LinkUW to see if you are eligible for WRS benefits.

What?

Benefits for employees who are not eligible for Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) benefits.

See Benefits for employees not covered by WRS.

Why?

If you are not eligible for WRS, you can still enroll in benefits like:

  • Health, Dental, Vision, and Pharmacy.
  • Pre-Tax Savings Accounts.
  • Disability Benefits.
  • Accident Insurance.
  • Life Insurance.
  • Deferred Compensation.
  • Supplemental Retirement Program.

When?

Enroll in your benefits within 30 days of becoming benefits eligible.

  • Add a reminder on your calendar to enroll in your benefits within your first 30 days of work.
  • You cannot enroll in benefits after the 30 days, no exceptions.

How?

Choose, review, or change your benefits in My Insurance Benefits.

NOTE: If this is your 1st time logging into My Insurance Benefits, you must set up an account in My Benefits.

Help and Online Resources:

Contact Link UW: help.linkuw@wisc.edu.

MyUW

Who?

Anyone with an active NetID can login to MyUW

What?

MyUW is your online portal for UW resources.

When?

Anytime

How?

Log into MyUW to access:

  • Workday (report hours, request time off, see payslips, and more).
  • My Benefits (enroll, change, and see your benefits).
  • UW email, Box, Google, and Zoom accounts.
  • LinkedIn Learning for professional development.
  • other accounts for UW employees.

Help and Online Resources:

Call or email your supervisor or your division HR Office.

Required Training

Who?

All employees

What?

Why?

If you do not complete required training, you may not be eligible for pay raises and you may be terminated.

When?

Every training has a specific deadline. You must complete some training within your first 30 days of work.

How?

Many training courses are online and self-paced. Find your required training on Workday’s Learning Home page. Ask your division HR Office for paper or translated training options.

Help and Online Resources:

Call or email your division HR Office.

Safety

Who?

All employees

What?

Safety information for employees.

Ergonomics Guidance from Environmental Health and Safety (EHS):

  • Ergonomics:
  • focus on how you physically do your work, including equipment, environment, activity demands, and employee posture.
  • improve comfort, reduce strain, and prevent injuries at work.

Campus Safety information from UW Police Department (UWPD):

Why?

UW is committed to ensuring a healthy work environment and quick response during emergencies.

When?

We encourage you to:

  • complete the ergonomics self-assessment within your first 30 days of work.
  • download the BadgerSafe app before your 1st day on campus.

How?

Help and Online Resources:

Call or email:

Transport and Parking

Who?

Everyone who comes to campus or parks a car at UW or on Madison streets

What?

  • Biking on campus
  • Bus passes for UW employees
  • Rideshare (carpooling)
  • UW parking
  • City parking rules

Why?

  • Know your options. Learn about permits and parking near your workplace.
  • Plan for your commute. Reduce stress and limit frustrating surprises.
  • Avoid parking tickets. Understand specific parking rules for residential areas, snow emergencies, and alternate side winter street parking.
  • Explore alternatives. Learn about Madison Metro and city bike paths and resources.

How?

Help and Online Resources:

Explore UW Transportation Services (various campus locations).

For City of Madison parking help, call:

  • 608-266-4275 for parking enforcement issues (violations).
  • 608-266-4170 for parking tickets.
  • 608-266-4761 for parking permits.

Helpful Resources

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Cultural Linguistic Services (“CLS”)

Who?

All employees, applicants, and campus departments

What?

Cultural Linguistic Services (CLS) offers 2 programs to support employees and departments:

  • Workplace Learning
    • Plain language training and consultation
    • Workplace English classes and tutoring
    • Basic computer training
    • Workshops on effective communication
  • Language Services
    • English, Spanish, Hmong, Tibetan, Chinese, and Nepali
    • Translation and interpretation
    • Multilingual training and information

Why?

CLS helps enhance workplace communication through:

  • professional, confidential language support.
  • plain language and effective communication training.
  • Workplace English classes, basic computer instruction, and tutoring.

When?

Anytime

How?

Help and Online Resources:

Learn more: Cultural Linguistic Services.

Divisional Disability Representative (“DDR”)

Who?

All employees and applicants

What?

Help with requesting and managing medical leaves and workplace accommodations under the:

  • Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
  • Family & Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
  • related policies

 

Trained Division Disability Representatives (DDRs):

Why?

DDRs can talk with you about challenges at work that could be related to a medical condition, disability, or your care of a family member.

When?

  • Anytime you need a workplace accommodation because of a disability.
  • When you need to request a medical leave for yourself or to care for a family member because of serious health condition.

How?

Schedule an appointment with your DDR.

Help and Online Resources:

WhatsApp Campus Information Groups

Who?

All employees

What?

WhatsApp Campus Information Groups send you important campus messages in English, Spanish, Hmong, Chinese, Tibetan, or Nepali.

Why?

Join WhatsApp Campus Information Groups to get important campus messages immediately on your mobile device.

When?

Anytime

How?

  1. Download WhatsApp on your phone or tablet.
  2. Add (608) 514-2874 to your WhatsApp contact list.
    • (608) 514-2874 is the number for the WhatsApp Campus Information Groups.
  3. Send a WhatsApp message to (608) 514-2874 with your:
    • first and last names.
    • preferred language for messages.

Help and Online Resources:

Email CLS at info-cls@wisc.edu.

Learn more: WhatsApp Campus Information Groups for UW‒Madison Employees

Professional Development

Who?

All employees

What?

Professional development opportunities to help you develop, improve, and maintain skills to support your career growth.

Why?

UW is committed to providing community focused, campus-wide services that support and inspire excellence at UW.

You have access to thousands of courses, seminars, conferences, online training, and events every year.

When?

Register anytime for in-person, online, and on-demand professional development.

How?

Learn more about your many professional development opportunities:

  • Courses – Find and enroll in courses through our course catalog.
  • Programs – Programs are a series of related courses or events. Take courses separately or complete the series for a certificate of completion.
  • Conferences – Conferences are 1-day or multi-day learning opportunities focused on a common theme.
  • Career Counseling – Meet with a free, confidential Career Counselor for help exploring, planning, and managing your professional development goals and career path.
  • Communities of Practice – Join a group of UW employees who share a specific concern or passion. Meet with a group regularly and learn together.
  • Career Mentoring – Meet with a Career Mentor for personal and professional support and growth over time.
  • LinkedIn Learning – Find thousands of professional online courses in our LinkedIn Learning Career Hub.
  • Develop Your Career.

Help and Online Resources:

Email registrations2@ohr.wisc.edu.

Employee Assistance Programs

Who?

What?

Programs to support employee wellness.

  • EAO offers:
    • free, confidential counseling and consultation for work and personal problems.
    • experienced, licensed counselors who can meet virtually and in person.
  • Ombuds Office promotes fairness in the workplace and offers:
    • free, confidential help with problems at work.
    • consultants (retired UW faculty or staff members with years of experience across campus) who can:
      • meet you individually.
      • provide conflict mediation.
      • attend disciplinary meetings.
    • LifeMatters offers:
      • free, confidential counseling and consultation for work and personal problems.
      • masters-level counselors who can:
        • talk by phone every day of the year, 24 hours a day.
        • connect you with virtual or in-person counselors near you, throughout the United States.
      • legal and financial consultations, convenience services, and discount programs.

Why?

You do your best work when you are happy, healthy, and supported in your personal and work lives.

When?

The EAO and Ombuds Offices are available anytime UW is open.

LifeMatters services are available every day of the year, 24 hours a day.

How?

Recreation & Wellbeing (“Rec Well”)

Who?

All UW employees with an active Wiscard can buy membership

All enrolled UW undergraduate and graduate students receive membership through payment of their segregated fees

What?

Employees can buy a Rec Well membership to use 3 recreation facilities (gyms) across campus:

  • Nicholas Recreation Center – southeast campus, near the Kohl Center
  • Bakke Recreation & Wellbeing Center – west campus, near Lakeshore Dorms
  • Nielsen Tennis Stadium – far west campus, near UW Hospital

Recreation facilities offer:

  • 2 pools, indoor and outdoor tennis, cardio and strength equipment, multi-use courts/studios, ice rink, climbing wall, massage therapy, teaching kitchen, and meditation spaces.
  • additional services, including personal training, group fitness classes, intramural sports, lessons, and wellbeing services.

Why?

At Rec Well, we support you and your health goals, wherever you are in your wellbeing journey. Our nationally known facilities and services can help you be stronger, healthier, improve self-care, and feel a sense of community.

When?

You may purchase membership and/or services online or in person at any Rec Well facility. Eligible employees can ask for facility tours and a free trial week.

How?

Help and Online Resources:

Email hello@recwell.wisc.edu.

Well Wisconsin Program

Who?

All State of Wisconsin employees, retirees, and their spouses

What?

Well Wisconsin is an online health program from the state of Wisconsin and WebMD.

  • You and your spouse can sign up.
  • Well Wisconsin can help you set health goals, track your progress, and learn ways to stay healthy.

Why?

Well Wisconsin gives you valuable information and motivates you to achieve your health goals.

Learn more about the Well Wisconsin Program.

When?

Anytime

How?

  1. Watch the Well Wisconsin Program video.
  2. Go to the Well Wisconsin portal or download the Wellness At Your Side app through the App Store or Google Play.
  3. Register with the code: SOWI.

See more information: Well Wisconsin Flyer Registration.

Help and Online Resources:

Wellness Incentive

Who?

State of Wisconsin employees, retirees and their spouses who enroll in State Group Health Insurance and have a mailing address in the United States

If your mailing address is outside of the United States, you can use online Well Wisconsin resources through WebMD, but you cannot get the $150 Wellness Incentive.

What?

You and your spouse can each get a Wellness Incentive (up to $150) every year if you:

  • enroll in State Group Health Insurance, and
  • complete 3 requirements: health check, health assessment, and a wellbeing activity.

Why?

You can get a $150 prepaid card after you complete 3 requirements (health check, health assessment, wellbeing activity). Note: This is taxable income.

When?

Go to the Well Wisconsin portal for deadlines and more registration information.

If you are a new employee and eligible for State Group Health Insurance in the fall, you might not be eligible for the Wellness Incentive until the next calendar year.

How?

New to Well Wisconsin? Discover how to register for an account.

Earn a $150 prepaid card by visiting your Well Wisconsin portal and completing a health assessment, health check, and wellbeing activity.

Help and Online Resources:

UW–Madison

Who?

All employees

What?

Why?

  • Get to know your community and available resources for working and living.
  • Understand the campus structure, culture, and governance.
  • Build confidence. Knowing where you work helps you feel connected, informed, and prepared.

When?

Anytime

How?

Help and Online Resources:

Call or email your supervisor or your division HR Office.

Language Assistance

For assistance in the following languages, contact Cultural Linguistic Services:

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