New Employee Benefits: Getting Started
Step 1: Attend New Hire Orientation
All newly eligible full-time faculty and staff members, including employees moving from part-time to regular full-time, should attend the New Hire Orientation. These live, online sessions are led by the onboarding specialist and a member of the benefits team and last approximately 2.5 hours.
Register for Orientation
Select a date to view the orientation schedule, access the virtual meeting link, and add the orientation to your calendar.
Step 2: Learn More About Your Benefits
While new hire orientation includes key highlights of your benefits, the online self-paced benefits orientation provides comprehensive information about:
- Health plan options
- Retirement plans (mandatory and voluntary)
- Voluntary benefits
- Employee resources
- Workplace protection programs
- Your benefits support team
Once you have completed this course, you may register for an interactive drop in session to clarify eligibility, complete applications, and optimize your benefits.
Access Benefits Orientation
Go to HR Workspace > Benefits (located at top left of menu bar) > New Employee Benefits Orientation Course > Launch
Step 3: Complete the Benefits Acknowledgement Form
Due Date
Within one week of your hire date
Step 4: Enroll or Decline PEBP Health Coverage
Eligible full-time employees must enroll in or decline health insurance coverage through PEBP (Public Employees’ Benefits Program).
Enrollment Deadline
You must either enroll in or decline health coverage by the last day of the month in which your coverage becomes effective.
Examples
- If your hire date is the 1st of the month, your enrollment deadline is the last day of that same month.
- If your hire date falls between the 2nd and the last day of the month, your enrollment deadline is the last day of the month in which your coverage becomes effective.
Coverage Effective Date
Your coverage effective date is the date your coverage begins.
Examples
- If your hire date is the 1st of the month, your eligibility is effective on the 1st of that month - not your first day of work.
- If your hire date is after the 1st of the month, your eligibility is effective on the 1st of the following month ( even if the first working day of the month does not fall on the 1st) - not your first day of work.
- If you do not elect or decline health insurance coverage in the PEBP e-Portal by the deadline: You will be automatically enrolled into the Consumer Driven Health Plan (CDHP)-PPO (which is the high deductible PPO) for employee-only coverage and applicable premiums will be deducted from your pay.
- You cannot decline or change coverage until the next Open Enrollment period in May, unless you experience a qualifying life event.
- Any changes made during Open Enrollment become effective July 1 of that year.
Important: Review the following before declining/opting-out of PEBP health insurance:
- If you decline/opt out of PEBP health insurance, you are also opting out of PEBP dental and vision coverage.
- Once you opt out, you will remain unenrolled until/unless you choose to re-enroll during a future Open Enrollment or if you experience a qualifying life event.
- If you decline/opt out of PEBP health insurance, you will not receive the $25,000 life insurance benefit (which is provided at no additional charge).
Step 5: Enroll in Voluntary Benefits
Voluntary benefits are optional, employee-paid benefits available to benefits-eligible employees through the Public Employees’ Benefits Program (PEBP) and the Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE). Most are available through payroll deduction and are in addition to your regular health insurance premium. Enrollment with PEBP health insurance is not required to enroll in voluntary benefits offered by PEBP or NSHE. Voluntary benefits include flexible spending and health savings accounts, cancer care, disability, life insurance and more.
For more details on your options, how to enroll, important deadlines, and costs, visit the Voluntary Benefits webpage.
Step 6: Designate Your Beneficiaries
Employees should add or update beneficiaries for all elected benefits.
- HSA Accounts
- NSHE Voluntary Benefit Plans
- PEBP benefits (PEBP e-Portal)
- Retirement Plans (See Step 8)
- Unpaid Compensation
Step 7: Complete Workday Onboarding Tasks
All onboarding tasks in Workday must be completed in a timely manner. These tasks may include:
- Personal information verification
- Tax forms
- Direct deposit setup
- Employment documentation
Workday will send automated notifications when action is required.
Step 8: Create Retirement Account
All university employees are required to participate in a mandatory retirement plan in lieu of Social Security.
Your mandatory retirement plan is determined by your employee type (faculty, classified staff, postdoctoral scholars, or temporary/letter of appointment employees).
Academic and administrative faculty and postdoctoral scholars participate in the NSHE retirement plan administered by TIAA.
After receiving your first paycheck, you may:
- Create your account
- Select investment options
- Manage your retirement contributions
- Designate beneficiaries
TIAA Phone Number
TIAA Access Code
406412
Classified employees participate in the Nevada Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS).
Complete the PERS Survivor Beneficiary Form. Submit by mail or email to the addresses listed at the top of the form.
After 90 days of employment, you may create a PERS online account to:
- Review contributions
- Update personal information
- Manage your retirement account
PERS Phone Number
Letter of Appointment / Part-Time Instructors / Temporary Hourly Employees participate in the NSHE FICA Alternative retirement plan administered by VOYA.
After your first paycheck, you can create your VOYA account to:
- Review retirement contributions
- Manage your account information
- Track your balance
- Designate beneficiaries
VOYA Phone Number
Quick Checklist for New Employees
Within Your First Week
- Attend New Hire Orientation
- Complete Workday onboarding tasks
- Complete Benefits Orientation in REBELPeople
- Submit Benefits Acknowledgement Form
Within First 30 Days
- Enroll or decline PEBP health insurance
- Enroll in Workday voluntary benefits
- Add or update beneficiaries
After Your First Paycheck
- Create TIAA account (Faculty/Postdoctoral)
- Create VOYA account (LOA/Part-Time/Temp Hourly)
After 90 Days
- Create PERS Online Account (Classified Employees)
Contact Us
If you have questions about your benefits, contact your benefits specialist or request an appointment.
The information included on this website is informational only. In the event that the content on this site or any oral or written representations made by any person regarding benefits conflicts with or are inconsistent with the provisions of the plan documents or other governing authority, the provisions of the plan document or governing authority will always prevail.