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Auburn employees do their best work when they feel connected, welcomed, and valued. UHR is committed to creating a workplace where employees feel a true sense of belonging from their first day and throughout their careers. Through thoughtful onboarding, meaningful appreciation efforts, and expanded outreach, UHR is helping build a workplace where every employee feels part of the Auburn family.
Onboarding and New Employee Orientation
A strong sense of belonging starts before an employee’s first day. UHR’s onboarding experience is designed to help new employees feel informed, supported, and connected to the Auburn community.
From pre‑hire communication to New Employee Orientation (NEO) and beyond, onboarding introduces employees to Auburn’s mission, values, and culture while giving them the tools they need to succeed. NEO sessions cover essential information about benefits, policies, and campus resources, but they also focus on connection. New hires meet colleagues, support teams, and others across campus who can help them settle in. They can also take part in the Coffee and Conversations series, where they can learn more about campus and community programs.
By offering a welcoming and structured start, onboarding helps employees feel confident as they begin their Auburn journey.
Employee Appreciation Week
Employee Appreciation Week is a campuswide celebration of the people who make Auburn exceptional. Throughout the week, UHR partners with departments across the university to host events, share messages of gratitude, and highlight the contributions of Faculty, Staff, A&P, and temporary employees. Employee Appreciation Week reminds employees that their work is valued and seen.
Events include:
- Departmental Appreciation Day – Departments host their own celebrations, from games and picnics to recognition activities.
- Yoga Class – Campus Recreation offers a yoga session for employees; last year, several dozen employees attended.
- Departmental Showcase – Campus groups highlight their programs and services; several hundred employees attend each year.
- Walk @ Lunch – Employees join 30‑minute campus walks at various locations.
- Employee Recognition Program – Honorees include Spirit of Excellence recipients, Employees of the Year, Years of Service honorees, recent Auburn graduates, and Supervisor Pathways/Aspire Auburn graduates.
UHR Outreach
As Auburn’s workforce grows and becomes more geographically dispersed, UHR has expanded its outreach to ensure employees feel supported no matter where they work. This includes visiting off‑campus sites such as Fort Benning, where employees may not have regular access to on‑campus resources. These visits allow UHR to answer questions, provide guidance, and build personal connections with employees in unique and essential roles.
UHR staff also meet directly with units across campus to answer questions and offer support. These conversations help employees understand their options and make informed decisions. As an example, the Payroll and Records teams provide customized training sessions for departments. These sessions help employees navigate Auburn’s processes, understand requirements, and build confidence in their responsibilities.
By bringing training directly to departments, UHR strengthens relationships and ensures employees have the support they need to succeed.
Employee Relations Training
Employee Relations (ER) continues to offer training that helps employees engage more intentionally with one another.
- At the annual UHR HR Conference, ER introduced Psychological Safety to 45 employees, helping them learn how to create environments where team members feel valued and comfortable sharing ideas.
- In 2025, ER presented Judging Too Quickly five times, reaching 126 employees and helping them build skills to pause, reflect, and consider different viewpoints.
- The course Cultural Wallpaper was offered eight times and reached 250 employees, teaching participants to recognize everyday behaviors that shape workplace culture and giving them strategies to strengthen it.
ER also partnered with HRD to deliver several Aspire Auburn sessions, offering targeted development to improve supervisory skills and leadership effectiveness.
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Employee Relations - By the Numbers
Employee Communications
Employee communications help Auburn employees stay informed and connected by sharing information in ways that are clear, accessible, and easy to engage with. Through channels like email updates, AU News articles, websites, digital signage, and social media, employees receive timely information from UHR.
These communications also help employees understand how their work fits into the broader mission of the university. When updates explain the purpose behind new initiatives or highlight progress toward strategic goals, employees can see the connection between their roles and Auburn’s direction.
Together, these communication efforts create a more informed and connected campus. By meeting employees where they are—whether in their inbox, on campus screens, or through the platforms they use every day—Auburn fosters a workplace where people feel included, supported, and part of something meaningful.
