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Starting Out At SPACE
Introductory Period
All new employees serve an introductory period of ninety (90) days from their first day of employment. During this period, new employees should expect to receive on-going feedback from their supervisor regarding their job performance.
Orientation & Onboarding
The onboarding process at SPACE serves to integrate all new employees into the organization and familiarize them with the skills and training needed to perform their job. Onboarding at SPACE varies from person to person, but generally it looks something like this:
The following provides further details and pieces of general information for team members and supervisors on what should be included in the onboarding process:
Orientation
To ensure an equitable and standardized onboarding experience for all employees, an orientation period will be provided to all team members who are new to a position, regardless of whether they are new to SPACE. Orientation serves to inform the employee of the specific job duties and their relationship to the organization’s functions and philosophies. The following will be among the components of orientation:
Benefits briefing and enrollment (401K, health insurance stipend, company property)
Completion of routine paperwork for tax purposes
Introduction to SPACE as a total organization, including organization culture, governance, financing, programming, community relations, and internal structure
Briefing on any tech accounts established for and provided to the employee
Briefing on SPACE’s handbook
Welcome Meeting
New staff members will attend a brief welcome meeting with the entire full-season staff. This is super casual and serves as a moment for everyone to start getting to know each other.
Position-specific Training
All employees new to a position at SPACE must receive training specific to their position. Training should be done gradually and should appeal to various learning styles. The first week of a new hire’s employment should be focused on training. In the weeks that follow, the supervisor should follow up regularly to ensure existing best practices and standard operating procedures are being implemented effectively and efficiently, and to answer any questions the new team member may have.
P.O. Box
SPACE does not receive mail directly to the farm. Instead, mail is sent to our P.O. Box:
P.O. Box 370 North Salem, NY 10560
The Chief Operating Officer is responsible for checking the mail weekly.
Reporting Hours (Hourly Employees)
Hourly employees must track their hours daily in Gusto. Failure to do so may result in the delay in pay. Questions regarding hour tracking should be directed to SPACE’s Chief Operating Officer.
Dinner Table Opportunities
One thing that makes SPACE a special place to work is that employees have the opportunity to have meals together as a team, as well as with the residents on site. We encourage employees to coordinate with the Residency Director about attending meals with residents.
Professional Development Opportunities
During yearly performance reviews professional development opportunities can be discussed. From there, the supervisor should meet with the COO to discuss the implications of those development desires on the following year's financial budget. Professional development opportunities may include:
Continued education and training classes
Attending field conferences
New software or tools
Antiracism Training
All Full-time employees, regardless of level, are required to complete basic antiracism training from an approved organization within the first ninety days of employment. During the onboarding process proof of previous training completed within the last five years may suffice this requirement. From there, ongoing and specific training will be completed yearly by all full- time employees.
Team Retreats
Annual team retreats allow SPACE staff to build organizational culture, reflect on their work, and brainstorm possible futures for the organization. These are typically held in the first quarter of each fiscal year. The organization aims to close SPACE to the public for 1-2 days yearly so that all employees can participate.