As we approach the busiest pay periods of the year for onboarding in the Forest Service, below is a reminder of the necessary steps that need to be completed on a new employee’s first day of work.

The now fully implemented USA Staffing Onboarding is the online system that new hires and onboarding buddies must use to complete assigned tasks and forms, such as the I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, and SF-61, Appointment Affidavits. 

The onboarding buddy is a designated person who is available and responsible for meeting with the new hire on their first day of work to complete all day 1 onboarding activities. 

Information is posted on the Supervisor Resource Center (internal link). Supervisors can find resources including the Day 1 Guide for Onboarding Buddy and New Hire (internal link). 

Additionally, there is a new seven-minute video illustrating the onboarding buddy process through day 1 activities, Day 1 Video for Onboarding Activities.

If you have questions or issues during this process, contact the Human Resources case manager listed in the official offer letter or the notification of day 1 activities email.

Help is available

Open an HR Help case:

• Call: 1-877-372-7248, Press 2
• Email: hrm_contact_center@usda.gov
• Self-Service: ConnectHR > HR Help link
• For detailed instructions, visit the HR Help How-to Add a Case Guide