Onboarding, Phase 4
Final Steps
This onboarding phase marks your final transition into your Forest Service career. Be sure to touch base with your supervisor and monitor your email for developmental opportunities, training, and orientation resources.
When you start your new job with the Forest Service, you will need to sign up for benefits, learn how to use your work tools, and get to know our employee support programs. You will also complete more training and onboarding tasks while starting your daily work with your team.
Sign Up for Benefits (First 60 Days)
If you are new to the federal government, you have 60 days from your start date to sign up for health insurance, life insurance, flexible spending accounts (FSA), and dental or vision care. If you miss this deadline, you will have to wait until the next annual Open Season or experience a major life change (like getting married or having a baby) to enroll.
Choose Your Beneficiaries
Now is the best time to choose who will receive your money if you pass away. You can name beneficiaries for your life insurance, retirement funds, Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), and any unpaid final wages.
Moving From Another Federal Agency?
Check your first paycheck stub (Leave and Earnings Statement) to make sure your automatic deductions—like retirement, health benefits, and FSAs—moved over correctly. If these deductions are missing from your first paycheck, call 877-372-7248, Option 4 to open a benefits case.
Your onboarding manager will send you all the official signup forms along with your final job offer. You can find more details in the resource links below.
Helpful Resources and Potential Requirements
A Designation of Beneficiary names the person whom you want to receive funds from your benefits if you pass away. It is important to update your designation of beneficiary forms regularly to avoid giving the funds to someone you no longer wish to receive them.
These benefits may include:
Paycheck for unpaid salary. Use form SF-1152
Life Insurance: Use form SF-2823
Retirement savings: Forms vary by your plan and may include: SF-3102 for FERS or SF-2808 for CSRS. For the Thrift Savings Plan funds, use the TSP website and follow the instructions.
Review the beneficiaries page on the intranet for more information including how to submit your documentation.
Refer to the in-depth description of potential Federal benefits that may be available to you. Ask questions of your supervisor and your new colleagues, and through the New Hire Help Desk. Enrollments for many of the most important benefits are time sensitive.
Your supervisor will provide you a written performance plan within 30 days after you report for duty. More information is available on the Human Resources Management Performance intranet page.
Be sure to monitor your personnel records for updates and accuracy.
Personnel Action Records
Find your Notification of Personnel Action (SF 50) forms through the Electronic Official Personnel Folder (eOPF). You can access eOPF through the ConnectHR website. Your eOPF folder will include your appointments to Federal service, promotions and job changes, annual pay adjustments, and other personnel records. You should download and keep a copy off each of records. You will need these to apply for other federal jobs, verify your service information, retirement, and for other needs.
Pay and Leave
Make sure you log in to the Employee Personal Page program every time you receive pay. It's your responsibility to verify that your pay is correct and that all deductions are accurate. This will help you avoid any bills for overpayment and confirm your coverages are correct.
Property
Your supervisor will decide if you will be a Custodian or Accountable Property Officer of government personal property. If required, a property management specialist will help you start paperwork and discuss roles and responsibilities.
Purchase Cards
Your supervisor will decide if your new position requires a Government Purchase Card. If so, you will be provided with the Local Agency Program Coordinator (LAPC) contact. The LAPC contact list and training is available on the WO AQM GPC website.
If your job requires travel, you will need to apply for a Government Travel Charge Card and request access to the travel system. The Travel Help Desk, 877-372-7248, option #3, can provide support.
Be sure to monitor your email for required and optional training. Most courses are virtual through the AgLearn website.
Congratulations on finishing your Forest Service onboarding!