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Employee Orientation

Welcome to Ontario Tech University - Orientation

Orientation Program Goals

  • Welcome you to Ontario Tech University
  • Highlight resources and benefits available to you
  • Provide you with context and tools to help you navigate your new environment
  • Help you navigate the university as a workplace remotely

Land Acknowledgement 

We do land acknowledgements to show our respect for the land, a tradition that dates back centuries for Indigenous people. Land acknowledgements have been adopted as a common practice in civic and community spaces across Canada – a small but important step towards reconciliation. For non-Indigenous Canadians, land acknowledgements are an opportunity to reflect on the impacts of colonialism, to be accountable to Indigenous people and thank those who still live on and care for the land. These few words spoken at gatherings can provoke thought and reflection about colonialism and how to engage in reconciliation more meaningfully.

Ontario Tech University acknowledges the lands and people of the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation. We are thankful to be welcomed on these lands in friendship. The lands we are situated on are covered under the Williams Treaties and the traditional territory of the Mississaugas, a branch of the greater Anishinaabeg Nation, including Algonquin, Ojibway, Odawa and Pottawatomi. These lands remain home to a number of Indigenous nations and people.

We acknowledge this land out of respect for the Indigenous nations who have cared for Turtle Island, also called North America, from before the arrival of settler peoples until this day. Most importantly, we remember the history of these lands has been tainted by poor treatment and a lack of friendship with the First Nations who call them home.

This history is something we are all affected by as we are all treaty people in Canada. We all have a shared history to reflect on, and each of us is affected by this history in different ways. Our past defines our present, but if we move forward as friends and allies, then it does not have to define our future.

Mukwa’s Den                                                                                                                   Baagwating Indigenous Student Centre
Shawenjigewining Hall 3rd floor                                                                                    151 Charles St beside Charles Hall

 

                                                                                                     The University

 

Leadership

Dr Stephen Murphy, President & Vice Chancellor
Steven Murphy has served as the fourth President and Vice-Chancellor of Ontario Tech University since March 1, 2018.
Dr. Murphy was reappointed by the university’s Board of Governors to a second five-year term, effective July 1, 2023.
His vision centers on ‘tech with a conscience’: finding ethical solutions to problems in our tech-focused world.

 

 

Dr Lori Livingston, Provost & Vice President


Lori Livingstone has served as Provost and Vice President since July 2019.  She is currently in her second term.

In addition to her academic successes, Dr. Livingston is a former national team coach and leader in women’s field lacrosse, and a former university varsity athlete in ice hockey and field hockey.

Lori is a prominent injury prevention expert who has elevated biomechanics and sports medicine research in Canada.

Mission/Priorities

  • Tech with a Conscience

    We aim to improve the lives of humans and the planet through the ethical application of technology. It's a key component in our teaching and learning practices, administrative processes and innovative research projects.

  • Learning Re-imagined

    We adapt to the ever-changing educational landscape by experimenting with the most effective ways to deliver flexible and dynamic learning, giving more choices to more people.

  • Create a Sticky Campus

    We promote positive social change and encourage an accessible, equitable, diverse and inclusive culture for our campus community.

  • Partnerships

    We help industry, community, government and academic partners be more effective by bringing them together with students and researchers to uncover innovative solutions for our partners' most pressing problems.

  • Telling Our Story

    We've worked hard to build a new university from scratch, and we now have a track record. We're a hidden gem, and now it's time to share our story with the world.

A New Day - Tech with a conscience

In keeping with our Vision which is ‘Embracing technology with a conscience to advance knowledge and promote sustainability.’ we’d like to introduce you to this short video.  Let’s take a look here. 

Values

Ontario Tech is a place where every person belongs and is free to grow their skillsets and mindsets.

We cultivate lasting relationships through:

  • Integrity: Supporting a culture of trust and belonging by consistently promoting equity, fairness, kindness and ethics.
  • Inclusion: Advancing a learning community where we achieve success by prioritizing reconciliation, valuing diversity and eradicating discrimination and hate. 
  • Intellectual resilience: Pursuing excellence in all that we do by respecting different points of view and engaging constructively when exploring ideas and advancing knowledge.
  • Innovation: Inspiring world-changing ideas by re-imagining learning and in so doing, fostering an environment that provokes curiosity, creativity, ingenuity and failure while stimulating growth.

University Facts

Faculty experts engage with more than 300 industry partners to develop unique programs that incorporate:
Program-specific and industry-current software.
Practical, hands-on experience in a real-world setting.
The university houses more than 80 specialized research laboratories and facilities. These facilities show our commitment to attracting leading scholars and creating excellent learning experiences.

 

Canada Research Chairs.

The Canada Research Chairs Program invests up to $311 million per year to attract and retain some of the world's most accomplished and promising minds. Chairholders aim to achieve research excellence in engineering and the natural sciences, health sciences, humanities, and social sciences. Canada Research Chairs are highly prestigious awards established by the Canadian Government in 2000. The key objective of the program continues to be met by providing human and material resources to Canadian universities that have greatly enhanced their research excellence and international competitiveness. Research Chair positions are used to attract and retain the best research talent from around the world.

Locations

 

North Campus

Downtown Campus

 

Where you might see yourself

Our Departments 

Alumni

Automotive Center of Excellence

Athletics and Recreation

Centre for Institutional Quality Enhancement

Communications and Marketing

External Relations and Advancement

Facilities and Ancillary Services

Finance

Human Resources

International

IT Services

Learning Innovation

Office of Campus Infrastructure and Sustainability

Office of Institutional Research and Analysis

Office of the Registrar

Office of the University Secretary and General Counsel

Office of the Vice-President Research and Innovation

School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies

Student Life

Human Resources

  • Total Rewards

    Calander 

    The payroll cycle aligns with the calendar year  January - December

    The performance cycle aligns with fiscal calendar  April - March

    The vacation cycle aligns to the academic year   September - August

    Approved annual compensation increases are applied effective   July 1st

    Compenstion 

    All applicable salary grids can be found within the respective collective agreements.

    Our non-union compensation structure is available on our Employee Resources page.

    Pension

    • Set up your pension and benefit intake meeting
    • pensionandbenefits@ontariotechu.ca
    • Check out the Sun Life app

    Pension & Benefits

    Pension and benefits | Human Resources (ontariotechu.ca)

    Complete and submit your documentation:

    Upon hire

    Within 30 days of any life event

    Benefits – Future life events and benefits changes

    You have 30 days to update your benefits following life events that can include:

    • Marriage
    • Children
    • Separation
    • Divorce
    • Dependent gaining or losing eligibility (age 21 to 25)

    Additional Benefits Include:

    • Staff Development Tuition Reimbursement Program (SDTR)
    • Dependent Tuition Assistance Program (DTAP)
    • Employee Tuition and Waiver Program for OPSEU members only
    • Supplementary Unemployment Benefit (SUB) for Maternity and/or Parental Leaves 

    https://hr.ontariotechu.ca/working-at-ontario-tech/pension-and-benefits/benefits/index.php

    Please refer to your respective Collective Agreement or employment policies found under the Policy Library

  • Organizational Development

    Learning and Development 

    Professional Development 

    PSCA FA

    Periodic Paper Process

    CA Article 13 Teaching Assistant/Research Assistants/Invigilators

    CA Article 15 Post Doctoral Fellows

    CA Article 14 Sessional Instructors

    Annual Paper Process

    CA Article 17, 19 Faculty

    Platform – My HR Connection

    • The performance development calendar ties to fiscal calendar and begins with Goal Setting
    • My HR Connection is a platform used for documenting goals, status updates, and performance review conversations

    Limited Term

    • The performance development calendar ties to fiscal calendar and begins with Goal Setting
    • Paper Process
    • Not mandatory but can be used to support staff and managers in dialogue about successes and efficiencies aiming at continuous improvement
    • Forms are available on the performance development website

    Mandatory Employee Training

    Complete these trainings within your first 4 weeks of hire or when:

    • demonstrated lack of understanding or knowledge of module content
    • conditions in the workplace change
    • new or updated legislation is introduced
    • new information becomes available

    It can take 7 – 10 days to have your profile set up in Canvas for you to be available to enroll in these trainings.

    Engagement Opportunities

    Ontario Tech values opportunities to bring employees together to share their thoughts and ideas and to learn from each other.  We promote social change and encourage accessible, diverse and inclusive culture that our community wants to be part of.  We want to make this a place to make lasting connections.

    Awards and Recognition 

    At Ontario Tech University we recognize that without the contributions and dedication of faculty and staff, we would not be the institution we are today. We have developed award and recognition programs to acknowledge those people who have made an outstanding impact on the university, and to celebrate their accomplishments.

  • Employee and Labor Relations

    Collective agreements

    A collective agreement is a written contract between an employer and a union that outlines many of the terms and conditions of employment for employees in a bargaining unit.

    The university has collective agreements with:

    • OPSEU – representing professional, administrative and technical staff
    • UOIT Faculty Association – represents tenured and tenure track faculty, teaching faculty and limited term faculty members
    • Public Service Alliance of Canada - representing Teaching Assistants / Research Assistants / Invigilators
    • Public Service Alliance of Canada - representing Post Doctoral Fellows
    • Public Service Alliance of Canada - representing Sessional Instructors

    What we do:

    Manage all aspects of employee and labour relations for unionized academic and administrative staff, particularly those aspects associated with collective bargaining and/or negotiated collective agreements and the grievance/arbitration process.

    Act as main point of contact for senior leaders, managers, staff and faculty for advice and assistance with the interpretation, application and administration of collective agreements.

    Contact us:

    Roy Conliffe                                                        
    Director, Employee and Labour Relations                          
    Roy.conliffe@ontariotechu.ca

    Jacqueline King
    Labour Relations Specialist                                             
    jacqueline.king@ontariotechu.ca
    905.721.8668 ext. 2357
                                                                         

    Caitlin Vlaskalin
    Labour Relations Specialist
    caitlin.vlaskalin@ontariotechu.ca
    905.721.8668 ext. 6136

    Dianne King
    Labour Relations Specialist
    dianne.king@ontariotechu.ca
  • Wellness at Work

    Let’s listen to a message from our President, Dr. Steven Murphy, about the importance of mental health.

    Wellness at Work

     

    Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

    Who is eligible for the EAP?   
    Eligible employees, as per their respective benefits plans and in accordance with their collective agreements, along with their dependents, are eligible and are invited to join TELUS Health one.

    What does your EAP provide?
    24-hour, seven-day-a-week toll-free access to confidential counselling and support services.
    An advisor to help you choose which path to take (e.g. counsellor, legal advisor, accountant or community resource).
    Complete confidentiality.
    Discrete, off-site convenient locations across Canada.
    Extensive information on various community services and support groups, as well as a willingness to research a wide range of problems to assist each individual with their varied and unique situation.
    Highly trained and experienced professionals.
    How do you contact the EAP or find out more information?
    You can speak in confidence with an EAP advisor by calling 1.844.671.3327, or visit this link to access more information.

    Environmental Health and Safety 

    Ergonomics 

    Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) are commonly referred to as repetitive strain injuries (RSIs), cumulative trauma disorders (CTDs) or repetitive motion injuries (RMIs). These types of injuries are associated with risk factors involving work postures, repetitive and forceful movements, vibrations and temperatures. However, these injuries can be prevented. 

    • The Ergonomics and safe computer usewebpages (linked above) has been developed to help faculty, staff and students assess their workplace conditions by providing resources that can assist them in setting up their workstations for a more efficient and safe work environment.
  • Health and Disability Management

    Short Term Disability Absence Program

    Applies to full time continuing employees:

    • employee eligible to apply after 5 days of consecutive absence due to illness or injury.
    • first 6 months of medically substantiated Short-term Disability income benefits paid at 100% and at 75% for up to the next 6 months.
    • on-going submission of medical documentation to Sun Life required
    • employee eligible to apply for Long-term Disability benefits after Short-term Disability benefits are exhausted.

    Leave of Absence Support

    Depending on employee group common leave types may include :

    • Bereavement
    • Compassionate care
    • Critical illness
    • Family caregiver
    • Family medical

    Workplace Accommodation

    The University is committed to creating a community that is inclusive of all individuals.

    Goals of accommodation program: 

    To meet disability related needs of the employee and job seeker.
    To assist employee with performing the essential duties of their job to a reasonable standard.
    To have employee and job seeker enjoy the same benefits and privileges as before and experienced by others.

    Resources:

    Accessibility
    Accommodation Policy
    Ontario Human Rights Commission Duty to Accommodate

    Accessibility Working Group (AWG)

    • Established in September 2010 with intent of creating a campus that is inclusive and barrier-free to all individuals with disabilities and in response to the Ontarians with Disabilities Act, & eventually the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA).

    Accessibility Hub

    • Ensures equal opportunity among the university community to achieve success in academic and/or employment endeavors.
    • Success in learning and employment outcomes are the result of a shared responsibility.
    Further Information:

    Contact Information

    Julie Day
    Health and Disability Management Specialist
    julie.day@ontariotechu.ca
    905-721-8668, ext. 3649

    Leslie Burns
    Environmental Health and Safety Officer
     leslie.burns@ontariotechu.ca
    905-261-7455

    Elise Arbic
    Employee Health and Wellness Manager
    elise.arbic@ontariotechu.ca
    905-809-0727

    General Inboxes: wellnessatwork@ontariotechu.ca and healthandsafety@ontariotechu.ca

  • Recruitment

    We are a diverse and collaborative community of hard-working individuals, who strive to create an atmosphere of academic excellence.

    • Our employees can access the career pages through My HR Connection to view internal and external job postings.
    • Postings are also available to the public through this link on our careers page,
    • You'll always find carrer development and growth at Ontario Tech.

    The employee dashboard in My HR Connection will provide you access to your recruitment profile. This will enable you to view job offers, internal job postings including other recruitment resources.