4.6 – Orientation Program
Standard: There shall be an orientation program for all personnel employed by the agency.
Suggested Evidence of Compliance: Provide outline of the orientation program and a representative example of materials distributed at an orientation. The orientation program should include:
a. Philosophy, goals, and objectives;
b. The history and development of the agency;
c. Pertinent sociological and environmental factors of the community and specific neighborhoods
in which the individual is to serve (environmental scan); and
d. Review of program/parks policies and procedures manuals, job duties, staff procedures, first aid
and safety concerns and guidelines and forms review.
COMMENTS: Are there records that new employees have completed the orientation? How is this checked?
RESPONSE: Employees are required to sign the New Hire Orientation Attendee Acknowledgment Form upon completing the orientation program. WC Human Resources would contact us if the new employee didn’t attend their scheduled orientation.
4.6 – EOC 17 New Employee Orientation Attendee Acknowledgement
Narrative:
PRC employees are required to undergo two orientation programs.
County Orientation is conducted by the Westchester County (WC) Department of Human Resources (HR) during a full day in person interactive training inclusive of an orientation folder with such items in it as the WC Employee Handbook, Code of Ethics, health coverage and retirement options, Civil Service Policy and Procedures, Security and Technology Policies, Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action and Sexual Harassment training.
PRC Orientation is divisional, job and site-specific, and conducted by the supervisor of the facility where the employee is assigned. New employees receive the PRC Administration Manual or the PRC Employee Handbook and PRC Master Maintenance Operations Plan and are shown where policies are located on facility bulletin boards. With a multi-disciplined workforce to accommodate the purpose and use of over 50 facilities, orientations vary at golf courses, conservation, parks, pools and beaches including seasonal lifeguards, a civic center, recreation, farms, gardens, trail maintenance and the trades of general maintenance.
Each year, except during Covid-19 pandemic, the Annual PRC Conference (Conference) is held at the Westchester County Center where all employees are brought together for a day to learn about the parks system, review the past year, and discuss the current year’s goals and objectives. Speakers present topics such as park history, and current trends affecting facilities.
PRC strives to create a sense of its historical importance and impact on the quality of life today. The end result of orientation is that any employee will understand how PRC functions, where their job fits into its collective success, and what the benefits are to them and residents.
a. Philosophy, goals, and objectives;
Each diverse facility holds its site-specific orientation and tour conducted by the supervisor and includes Goals and Objectives. The Conference covers the overall PRC objectives and special aims.
b. The history and development of the agency;
These are covered during the site-specific orientation and the Conference where sessions have been dedicated to PRC history, and interesting developments such as “Stories of PRC – Then and Now.” History is detailed in the PRC Administration Manual and the PRC Employee Handbook.
c. Pertinent sociological and environmental factors of the community and specific neighborhoods in which the individual is to serve (environmental scan);
Orientation is focused on a customer-centered approach ensuring staff understands PRC’s ethical code when working in communities. In situations where language may be a barrier, staff is provided with a resource to facilitate conversations with the public.
d. Review of program/parks policies and procedures manuals, job duties, staff procedures; first aid and safety concerns and guidelines and forms review.
Employees receive the HR Orientation folder containing County policies and procedures and the PRC’s Administration Manual, Employee Handbook, Master Maintenance Plan, and Tools and Equipment Policy. Seasonal employees attend an orientation program dedicated to them at the beginning of the season.
Agency Evidence of Compliance:
4.6 – EOC 1 HR Orientation Objective/Philosophy Email
4.6 – EOC 2 New Hire Orientation Agenda
4.6 – EOC 3 WC Orientation Attendee Acknowledgement Form
4.6 – EOC 4 WC Employee Handbook
4.6 – EOC 5 Plain Language Guide To Government Ethics
4.6 – EOC 7 NYS Retirement Forms
4.6 – EOC 8 DoIT Security & Technology Policy
4.6 – EOC 9 WC Harassment & Discrimination Training Manual
4.6 – EOC 10 WC Completed Multi Acknowledgement Form
4.6 – EOC 11 PRC Administration Manual
4.6 – EOC 12 PRC Employee Handbook
4.6 – EOC 13 PRC Master Maintenance Operations Plan
4.6 – EOC 14 Facility Bulletin Board – Photo
4.6 – EOC 15 PRC 2020 Conference Sessions
4.6 – EOC 16 PRC 2024 Conference Sessions
a. Philosophy, goals, and objectives;
4.6a – EOC 1 2024 PRC Goals and Objectives
4.6a – EOC 2 2022 Goals and Objectives Conservation
4.6a – EOC 3 2022 Goals and Objectives Golf
4.6a – EOC 4 PRC 2020 Conference Sessions
4.6a – EOC 5 PRC 2024 Conference Sessions
b. The history and development of the agency;
4.6b – EOC 1 PRC 2020 Conference Sessions
4.6b – EOC 2 PRC 2024 Conference Sessions
4.6b – EOC 3 PRC Administration Manual: Section 105 Overview
4.6b – EOC 4 PRC Employee Handbook: History
c. Pertinent sociological and environmental factors of the community and specific neighborhoods in which the individual is to serve (environmental scan);
4.6c – EOC 1 Plain Language Guide to Government Ethics
4.6c – EOC 2 PRC Administration Manual: Section 229 Language Access
4.6c – EOC 3 Customer Service and You at Lasdon Park Brochure
d. Review of program/parks policies and procedures manuals, job duties, staff procedures; first aid and safety concerns and guidelines and forms review.
4.6d – EOC 1 PRC Administration Manual: Section 400 Safety and Security Policies and Procedures
4.6d – EOC 2 PRC Employee Handbook
4.6d – EOC 3 PRC Master Maintenance Operations Plan