Welcome to York

There are certain things that you must do and that we need to check before you start your new job.

Right to work in the UK

On-campus right to work appointments are held at 1 Innovation Close.

You must bring documents showing your right to work in the UK before you start work at the University.

Please complete our online right to work form, and use the link you will receive after submitting the form to book a right to work appointment.

We need to see you and your documents together. It's not possible to send your documents in or have someone else bring them in for you.

If you don't have transferable permission to work in the UK, then you will need to obtain work permission before starting work. There are further details in your letter of appointment.

Other employment checks

We need satisfactory references to confirm your appointment. If we haven't already done so, we will now contact your referees.

Your appointment may also be subject to other conditions – please check your appointment letter for details.

Start date

Your appointment letter will normally mention your start date, including the time and where to come on your first day. If your start date isn’t confirmed, or if you’ve asked for a different date, we will contact you as soon as possible to arrange this.

We encourage staff to walk, cycle or take public transport to work.

As part of your employee benefits, you can get an interest-free loan for bus and rail seasons tickets, as well as purchase a tax-free bike for cycling to work.

If coming by car, you will need to pay for parking. You can apply for a parking permit once you've started work. Car parking permits are free for disabled badge holders, and all car parks have bays reserved for disabled drivers.

• Employee benefits
• Staff parking and permits
• Information on travelling to campus for disabled staff and visitors

Travel to campus: transport, maps and parking

Our parkland campus offers a variety of cafes, shops and sports facilities, as well as specialist support and wellbeing spaces for staff. 

Use our interactive campus map to find buildings, departments and facilities.

Read more about the campus

Permission to work

If you haven't yet brought your work permission documents to HR, you must do this first before anything else (this includes, familiarisation, training or any work). For more information on these checks, including alternative documents you can bring, see our work permission web pages.

Your start date will be delayed if you have not brought your documents to Human Resources before you commence working.

Payroll documents

If you have a P45 document from your previous employer, send it in a sealed envelope to:

Payroll, 1 Innovation Close.

If you don't have a P45, complete a PAYE Starter Checklist form (gov.uk) instead.

Staff card

Your staff card acts as a key, identity card and gives access to printing and library services.

Due to remote working, the way that staff cards are issued is currently under review. To find out how to get your staff card, please check the University staff card page.

IT account

Your manager will give you a username and password so you can set up your IT account and start using University computers, wifi and printing.

If you have IT problems, please contact IT Services.

Your workplace

You should get to know your workplace, including the standard procedures involving health and safety, security and evacuation. Your manager should start working through your induction checklist with you to cover these and other useful things.

We want to make sure things go as smoothly as possible for you – please ask your line manager or call HR Services on +44 (0)1904 324835 if you need help with anything.

If you are a new starter moving to York, the University may pay some of your relocation expenses.

Your offer of appointment letter will include the details of any relocation support available to you, this is typically up to 10% of your gross starting salary (subject to a maximum of £8,000). Support with relocation expenses are generally available to new starters who are:

• in grade 6 or above
• on a contract of two years or more
• moving their main residence to take up your new appointment
• moving to a new home within 25 miles of their new work location
• moving from an old home of at least 40 miles from their new work location.

If you're moving from overseas, you can also claim back the cost of a one-way economy air fare for yourself and the family members who are moving with you.

You cannot claim relocation expenses if:

• you wait more than 12 months after your appointment to make your claim
• your partner or another member of your household has received a similar payment.

Full details of the qualifying criteria, permissible expenses and process for claiming relocation expenses are available within the relocation policy.

• Relocation policy and how to apply

The International Welcome Service supports new members of staff relocating to York to take up work at the University.

he service is available to all new colleagues relocating from overseas to York. New starter's requesting assistance are assigned a welcomer, each with their own valuable experience and personal knowledge of living and working in York.

Our welcomers' can provide support with a wide range of issues including:

• Assistance with finding short term accommodation
• Advice on school catchment areas and admissions processes
• Help with setting up a UK bank account
• Insight into transport options around the city and campus

This list is not exhaustive and welcome officers are able to help with a wide range of activities.

Email the International Welcome Service to ask for assistance at welcome-service@york.ac.uk.

• The full-time annual leave allowance is 38 days. This includes the eight UK bank holidays and three or four days closure at Christmas.
• You will automatically be enrolled in a pension scheme upon appointment. The main schemes are USS (for staff in grades 6 and above) and either the People's Pension or the University of York Pension Fund for most other staff.
• As a York employee you have access to a range of benefits and discounts, including savings on childcare, transport, healthcare, shopping and other offers. You will be able to access these when you start.

• Pay day is the last working day of each month – see our list of pay days for the rest of the year.
• You will get a paper payslip in the internal mail. You can also view your payslips using MyView.
• Contact HR in the first instance with any queries about your pay – call extension +44(0)1904324835 or email hr-enquiries@york.ac.uk.

• Health and wellbeing resources and events to improve employee health and well-being at work and at home.
• York Sport Village: All new staff can get the first month of membership at at a reduced cost of £9.99, using the promotion code "YSNEWSTAFF".
• You will have access to PAM, our free and confidential information, support and counselling service. This service is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year by phone, email or online. PAM can provide a wide range of advice including debt and financial management, legal and tax advice, family care and everyday matters, in addition to counselling and emotional support. A York username and password are needed to access these pages, so be sure to check the PAM pages after you have started.
• In case you are ever too unwell to come to work, read our guidance on sickness absence and what to do. When you start your manager will be able to provide you with further details of the sickness absence scheme.

• When you start working here you will see that we really care about your learning and development. From essential skills training to coaching and award-winning leadership development courses, there will be something to support and challenge you to develop yourself.
• When you start, your manager will discuss your induction and your objectives with you to make sure you know what is expected of you. They will also discuss and arrange any mandatory training for your role and your attendance on the University's central induction.
• Before you start, think about your own planned development areas and what you want to get out of your first few weeks at the University.

The University works in partnership with three trade unions:

• Unison
• Unite
• Universities and Colleges Union (UCU)

Learn more about how we work with the campus unions on our trade unions and employee relations pages.