Campus Retail Dining
Student Employee
Guidebook
Mission Statement
Penn State Campus Dining is a caring organization, providing quality food and quality service while supporting the
University‘s mission of teaching, research, and service.
Important Phone Numbers
HUB Dining – 865-7623
HUB Dining Student Employment Office – 865-8740, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Use this number when calling between
8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday
Otto's Café – 865-6886
Blue Chip Bistro – 863-8805
Campus Catering Markets and Kitchen – 865-0975 Use this number when calling between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.,
Monday through Friday
Qualifications for Part Time Employment
Must have a cheerful disposition, ability to learn quickly, strong interpersonal skills and able to work in a team
environment. Employees should be able to work weekends, including football weekends and have a flexible schedule.
Scheduling
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The shifts that you are given are permanent shifts and you are required to work them through the last day of
classes.
Your work schedule is limited to 20 hours per week. This time is cumulative, which means it includes any time
worked in other departments at the University. There will be times when you will be permitted to work more
than 20 hours a week. These times include spring break, semester breaks, and summer sessions. Be sure to
check with the Student Employment Office before you work over 20 hours.
The work week begins on Sunday and ends on the following Saturday.
All employees are required to work a minimum of 2 shifts per week or 6 hrs/week.
Employees working during the fall semester will be required to work one home football game shift.
According to the needs of Retail Dining you may be required to temporarily move during your permanent shift
to another area due to scheduling needs.
Breaks are neither scheduled nor included as part of your shift(s).
Students should notify the Student Employment Office of their intent to return for each semester.
If intending to terminate employment a two week notice is required.
Final Exams
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Complete a finals schedule and return it to the Student Employment Office by the specified date.
You may not be excused from a shift during finals week.
Any student who fails to submit a finals schedule and work the required number of shifts will be terminated.
You will be scheduled for the required number of shifts. When all students have been scheduled, you may
contact the Student Employment Office if you are interested in picking up extra shifts.
Call Off Procedure
If you work for HUB Dining, Blue Chip or Campus Catering Kitchen & Markets you must call off to the Student
Employment Office at 865-8740 between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday – Friday.
If you are calling before or after these hours, or on the weekend, you should call 865-7623 and ask for the manager in
charge. If you work at Campus Catering, Otto’s or Starbucks you must call the unit and speak with the manager.
 To ensure proper unit notification only management and the Student Employment Office can accept call offs.
 Excessive call offs may result in disciplinary action.
 Calls will only be taken on the day of your shift, and you must call at least one hour before your shift.
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All excused and non-excused absents will be required to work a make-up shift.
 If Holiday Policy is in effect during this time then you will be assigned 2 make-up shifts.
Make-up Policy
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Make-up shifts must be at least 11/2 hours in length, and do not need to be the same length of the shift that
was missed.
Make-up shifts must be worked with in two weeks of your absence.
It is the student’s responsibility to inform a student manager of when their makeup shift is scheduled to be
worked.
If you do not work your makeup shift with in this two-week period you will receive a warning & your makeup will
be scheduled for you based on your availability.
If you call off from a scheduled make-up shift, it will result in two warnings.
Substitution Policy – HUB Dining, Blue Chip and Campus Catering
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Days off are to be requested at least one week in advance, but can be requested as far in advance as possible.
A request does not guarantee time off. You should make every effort to cover your shift(s).
Ask coworkers if they will pick up your shifts.
It is your responsibility to check the trade board to see if your shift has been picked up.
Holiday Policy
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Holidays include traditional holidays such as Thanksgiving, Labor Day, etc., but my also include University
related events such as Homecoming & THON.
The Holiday Policy states that calling off during Holiday Policy will result in one makeup shift that will be
assigned by the Student Employment Office.
Holiday Policy may be in effect for one business day before and one business day after each holiday,
closedown or special event.
Please check with the Student Employment Office if you are not sure if the Holiday Policy is in effect.
Training
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On-the-job training will be provided for all positions, with the exception of Starbucks which requires a 32hr
training period for Barista certification.
Contact List
A student employee phone list is distributed to the management staff and is updated on a regular basis. Please be sure
to inform the Student Employment Office if there is any change in your phone number or address.
Bulletin Boards
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The Student Employment Office will maintain several bulletin boards to notify you of meetings, training
sessions, changes/clarifications of policies, job opportunities, and other pertinent information.
The bulletin boards are located by the locker rooms in each individual facility.
Visit our website http://www.hfs.psu.edu/hubdining/HUB_StudentHandbook.pdf for policy updates and/or
changes.
Locker Rooms
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Locks are not provided so you are required to bring in your own lock.
Lockers are shift lockers and items should not be left in the space after your scheduled shift.
No personal belongings are to be stored in the units or offices at any time. Items found in these locations will
be taken to Lost & Found at the HUB Information Desk.
Dress Code
You must be in uniform before clocking in and remain in uniform until after you clock out. Management reserves the
right to make decisions as to what is acceptable appearance.
Jewelry/Body Piercing
 Due to safety concerns, jewelry should be simple, nothing loose or dangling.
 Earrings should be small and limited to one per ear.
 Facial jewelry is restricted to two non-hoop, non-dangling post style only. This includes tongue piercing.
Hair & Fingernails
 Fingernails should be clean & free of nail polish or artificial nails of any type.
 Hair should be kept back from the face. In some instances employees may be asked to wear a hair net in
addition to their hat or visor.
 Facial hair is permitted but must be neatly trimmed and no longer than ¼ inch in length.
Shirts/Pants/Headwear
 A visor or hat must be worn at all times. Hats must be worn face-front. No buttons or decorations should be
added to your visor/hat .
 Shirts must be clean and in good repair.
 Pants, trousers should be black, blue or khaki and should not be made of leather, cargo, nylon, stretch or
sweatpants. Shorts, skirts and ¾ length pants should not be worn.
Footwear
 For your safety and comfort, sturdy shoes (closed in toes and heels) with socks are required.
 A non slip tread is recommended, such as clean, comfortable tennis shoes. Open-toed shoes, sandals,
ballerina flats & heels should not be worn.
Dress Code
 Blue Chip – Employees will be provided with a Chef coat & visor, all other Retail Dining dress codes apply.
 Burger King – Employees will be provided with a Burger King shirt and visor/hat. Employees are required to
wear black pants and black shoes. All other Retail Dining dress codes apply.
 Campus Catering Markets/Campus Catering – Black pants, black shoes, visor/hat and shirt will be provided.
All other Retail Dining dress codes apply.
 Chick-fil-A – Jeans are not permitted. You are required to wear black pants, black shoes and a Chick-fil-A –
shirt, visor/hat, and apron. Facial hair is not permitted in Chick fil-A, all other Retail Dining dress codes apply.
 HUB Dining – Employees will be provided with a HUB Dining t-shirt, visor/hat. All other Retail Dining dress
codes apply.
 Otto’s – Employees will be provided with a Otto’s t-shirt and visor/hat, all other Retail Dining dress codes
apply.
 Starbucks – Black or Khaki pants, black or brown shoes and a Starbucks shirt, visor/hat and apron. All other
Retail Dining dress codes apply.
Inclement Weather
You are designated as an employee performing a service that MAY BE essential. In order to determine
whether or not you are considered essential, review the following:
 If you have reported to work and the University closes, you will be considered essential until your
supervisor releases you
 If the University is operating on a delay, you are essential and need to report at your scheduled time.
 If the University closes before you report to work, you will be nonessential and do not need to report to
work.
 Starbucks employees are considered essential at all times and should report unless notified otherwise by
their unit manager.
 Campus Catering employees must contact their work unit directly to verify operating status.
 Stay tuned to the official PSU radio station (WPSU FM 91.5), or your local station for updates.
 If you are unsure when to report to work, call the Student Employment Office.
Other
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Alcoholic beverages and drugs are not permitted. Anyone under the influence of these chemicals will not be
allowed to work and is subject to termination.
Profanity is not to be used.
Cell phones, iPods or other electronic devices are not to be used.
Smoking is not permitted in any building on campus.
Smoking is permitted only during regularly scheduled break times and only in designated areas.
Sexual Harassment Policy
Sexual harassment is a form of discrimination based upon sex. Sexual harassment can be verbal, physical, or both.
Some examples include:
 Unwelcome sexual advances
 Requests for sexual favors
 Unwelcome touching of a person's hair, body, or clothing
 Repeatedly asking someone out for a date.
 Making disparaging remarks regarding a person's body or gender.
Penn State has an obligation to provide a work environment free of sexual harassment and intimidation. If you feel you
have been harassed in any manner, please contact your manager immediately. Penn State keeps all matters regarding
harassment confidential and actively investigates all allegations of harassment.
Sanitation and Personal Hygiene
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Always wash your hands with soap and warm water:
o Before starting work
o After using the restroom
o After covering your mouth to sneeze or cough
o After returning from a break
Plastic gloves are to be worn whenever necessary to comply with Food Service guidelines. Please let us know
if you have a latex allergy.
Chewing gum, tobacco, and toothpicks are not allowed while working.
Payroll
You will be paid by direct deposit (you must have a checking/savings account). If you do not have a checking or
savings account, the Penn State Federal Credit Union (located upstairs in the HUB) will open a savings account for
you. To open an account you will need $5.00 (this must stay in your account). You will be paid every two weeks. You
may sign up for paperless pay stubs on the ESSIC website at https://essic.ohr.psu.edu/essic.
A schedule of pay periods and pay dates can be obtained from the Student Employment Office.
Time Clock and ID Cards
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In order to be paid, you must clock in and out with your Penn State ID+ Card.
If you forget your ID+ card, report directly to your unit and have the manager or technical service employee
initial your time in and out on the schedule and note that you forgot your ID+ card.
You are to clock in at the exact time you are scheduled and report to your assigned area. You are to clock out
as soon as you are released from your work area.
You must have a tech service employee or a unit manager initial any time changes on the unit’s schedule.
All breaks are unpaid; you must clock in and out for all breaks.
Time Clock Procedures
1. To clock in: Press the appropriate “F” key
 F1 – regular shifts
 F2 – late night (any shift that begins at 10:00PM or later)
 F8 – dish room (HUB only)
2. Swipe your PSU ID card
3. Press the appropriate button for the sub-unit in which you are working
4. You are now clocked in
To clock out:
1. Swipe your card. Do not press any buttons.
Drink Privileges
You are entitled to a free drink at the end of each shift, you may have any size fountain soda, brewed coffee or tea. You
may not have bottled drinks, espresso drinks, juice, frozen drinks, Naked Juice or Life Water.
You must get the drink at the end of your shift while still in uniform. You may not leave and return later in the day to get
your drink. You are also allowed to get a drink during your shift using the smaller employee cups provided (6oz). You
must drink only in the approved areas in each unit and dispose of your cup after each use.
Merit Increases & Advancement
At the middle of each fall and spring semester, the management staff reviews each employee’s record, to determine if
they are eligible for a merit increase. To be considered you must have an outstanding work performance, no warnings
& exceptional attendance and punctuality.
The availability of any increase will be determined by the Penn State policy that is in place during the semester.
Employees interested in obtaining a position with more responsibility, for example crew leader, should notify their unit
manager and submit an application with the Student Employment Office.
Crew Leader
The following criteria needs to be met in order to become a crew leader for Retail Dining:
 Must have completed one full semester of work for Retail Dining.
 Must have a good attendance record.
 Must be knowledgeable in all stations in work area.
 Must be willing to teach and mentor other employees.
 You must be able to commit to extra hours when needed, this will include semester startups, finals week and
special events.
There is a four-week probationary period for new crew leaders. At the end of the probationary period, your
manager will review your performance with you.
Applying for Crew Leader
Obtain an application from the Student Employment office. Once you have filled it out and returned it to the Student
Employment office, you will be notified by the unit manager to set up an interview.
Disciplinary Action
Warnings and further disciplinary action can occur from the following:
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Failure to follow proper call off procedures
Eating while clocked in
Dress code violations
Tardiness
Excessive failure to punch in with your ID+ card
Clocking in early and/or clocking out late without a manager’s permission
Negative attitude and/or failure to cooperate with management or coworkers
Failure to post your shift in the trade board one week in advance
Smoking on the premises
Failing to follow safety or sanitation practices
Use of profanity or obscene gestures
Any other infraction of proper conduct deemed necessary by management
After receiving three warnings, you will be placed on probation. At this time you will be notified that you need to sign a
probation letter. Regardless of whether or not you sign this letter, you will still be on probation. This means that if you
receive one more warning, you will be terminated.
Unacceptable behavior that may result in Termination
Employees are expected to follow Retail Dining’s policies and procedures as outlined in the Student Handbook. There
are certain behaviors that can be considered grounds for immediate termination.
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Not showing up for a shift without calling
Theft or destruction of services, products, or property from Penn State, Retail Dining, its employees, or
customers will be terminated, this includes any food not paid for – including all waste or leftover food after a
unit is closed.
Possession, use of, or working while under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs
Excessive tardiness and/or absences
Failure to attend a mandatory meeting or training without prior authorization
Any other infraction of proper conduct deemed necessary by management
Welcome to Campus Retail Dining, it’s great to have you on the team!