Your First Days

Your first days at McMaster will be filled with excitement, new faces, new names to learn and a wealth of information. To help guide you through your first few days with the FHS, review the following essential steps and additional information. Please contact your HR Representative if you have any questions or concerns.

Essential Steps
Additional Information

Activate your McMaster email

On or after your official start date with the FHS, and once you have activated your MAC ID, your McMaster employee email account will be automatically created for you. No action is required to activate it. You become eligible once your start date has arrived. McMaster Mail can be accessed online at https://office365.mcmaster.ca/office-365/email-calendaring/

Meet your supervisor and team members

During your first days you will have the opportunity to meet with your new supervisor, and be introduced you to your new co-workers and many of the key people you will be working with in your new role. Take this opportunity to try and meet as many people as you can – even outside of your immediate work area. The FHS prides itself on its collaborative work environment and you never know who you might get the chance to work with.

Take a tour of your new environment

No matter where you are located within the FHS, you will have a lot to explore and discover within your new environment. Ask a co-worker or your supervisor to give you a tour of your area, specifically the nearest washrooms, food locations, and where to find supplies necessary for your day-to-day work.

Attend Welcome and Orientation meeting with FHS HR

What to expect:

Brief orientation to the Faculty of Health Sciences
Overview of benefits available to you as a member of McMaster University
Enrolment in payroll, benefits and pension/retirement plan (if applicable)

Please bring:

Completed enrolment forms
SIN card
Void cheque
Original signed offer letter
Work permit/VISA (if applicable)
Proof of Ontario health insurance (if applicable)
Passports for yourself and your dependents (if applicable)

Obtain your Photo ID badge

All McMaster staff and faculty members are required to have a Working @ McMaster ID badge You may obtain this badge through the Campus Store. This badge acts as your library card, and you also have the option of adding on a campus gym membership, or a meal plan that can be used at various food locations across campus. *Please note Campus Store hours have changed please contact axiomrep@mcmaster.ca directly to obtain this badge.

Please note: If you require swipe access within a HHS building including the Health Science Centre (HSC), you will need to request a FHS Photo ID badge. Please send a current headshot photo of yourself for the badge, as well as your full name and McMaster ID number to hrlink@mcmaster.ca. An HR representative will contact you once it is ready for pick up.

Photo Requirements
• Be recent and similar to a passport photo (head shot only, looking straight into the camera)
• Have a neutral or smiling expression
• Be in colour, in focus and of good quality (scanned photos of your driver’s license, passport or health card are not acceptable)
• Be on an uncluttered background and of you alone (no other people or animals permitted in photo)
• Not contain props (i.e. hats, sunglasses or graduation caps)

Complete health and safety training

As of your first day of employment, the core health and safety training, AODA Human Rights and Privacy on Primer training sessions will be available for you to complete in Avenue to Learn. Any additional training that is needed relative to your specific position will be discussed with you by your Manager and can be found on the FHS Safety Office website. You will need to manually register for any additional site-specific training sessions through Mosaic. To do so, click on the ‘Regulatory Training Tile’ found on the Mosaic home page. Then search by course name. A list of the core health and safety training sessions and how to register for additional training can be found on the Health and Safety FAQ.

Complete employment equity census

McMaster University believes in promoting equity and fairness, and celebrating our rich diversity. All McMaster employees are invited to take part in our Employment Equity Census. This six-question census takes less than 2 minutes to complete and it’s entirely confidential. For more information, please visit our Diversity & Equity website.

You have the option of completing the census online or on paper. Follow the instructions below to complete the census. You will also have the option of completing the paper copy during your welcome meeting with Human Resources.

To complete online:

Access Mosaic, McMaster’s administrative information system using your MAC ID and password to log in
Click ‘Mosaic Home’ at the top of the page, and select ‘Employee Self-Service’
Select ‘Employment Equity Census’

To complete on paper:

Download and print off the Employment Equity Census
Mail in an envelope marked ‘confidential’ to:

Employment Equity Specialist
Human Resources Services
Gilmour Hall 304
1280 Main St W
Hamilton ON, L8S 4L8

Meet your FHS Ambassador

An FHS Ambassador is a dedicated member of the Faculty of Health Sciences that partners with new employees during their first few months of working in the Faculty and at McMaster University. Your Ambassador may offer advice and guidance regarding the day-to-day aspects of working in the Faculty, and provides an open, positive space to welcome new employees, answer questions, and help navigate the organization’s culture.

Your HR Representative will facilitate your initial introduction to your FHS Ambassador.

Setup your voicemail and phone

Visit UTS Telecommunications to review dialing instructions for making phone calls on campus (e.g., local versus long-distance calls), learn how to setup your voicemail, read the reference guide for your phone, and review directions on using a variety of telephone features.

Recommended Resources

Did you know?
Roberta Bondar, the first female Canadian astronaut in space, graduated from McMaster’s MD program in 1977, and joined the FHS as an Assistant Professor of Medicine from 1982-1984. In 1983 she was selected as one of the six original Canadian astronauts and began her training as a member of the Canadian Space Agency in 1984. She launched into space on January 22, 1992 for an eight day mission aboard the Discovery shuttle, where her and her team conducted scientific experiments in the First International Microgravity Laboratory.

McMaster Holiday Schedule

Review the McMaster Holiday Schedule to see a list of holidays observed by the University. Areas of the University may remain open, so please refer to your collective agreement for details on designated paid holidays and hours of work for your employee group.

Your First Days

Activate your McMaster email

Meet your supervisor and team members

Take a tour of your new environment

Attend Welcome and Orientation meeting with FHS HR

Obtain your Photo ID badge

Complete health and safety training

Complete employment equity census

Meet your FHS Ambassador

Setup your voicemail and phone

Recommended Resources

Did you know?

McMaster Holiday Schedule

Introduction to the Faculty of Health Sciences

Tour the FHS Facilities

Floorplans

Senior Academic Leadership

FHS Strategic Plan

FHS Safety Office

FHS Human Resources

FHS Faculty Relations

Human Resources Services