More than 1,500 employees attended the University of Delaware’s annual Benefits and Wellness Fair, held May 16 at the Trabant University Center.

The event, organized by the University’s Office of Human Resources, provided UD employees and retirees the opportunity to meet with 45 benefits providers, nonprofit health agencies and internal organizations representing the myriad benefits and resources available both within UD and the broader community.

Employees learned about better breathing from the American Lung Association, accessibility resources from UD’s Office of Disability Support Services, the role volunteerism plays in healthy communities from the Delaware Medical Reserve Corps, blood donation services from the Blood Bank of Delmarva and much more.

Human Resources staff provided a similar event for employees at UD’s Lewes and Georgetown campuses on Wednesday, May 23.

“Human Resources, in partnership with Employee Health and Wellbeing, strives to meet the needs of the ‘whole person,’ providing access to physical and behavioral health solutions and preventative care options that lead to a healthy and fulfilling work-life balance for our employees,” said Darcell Griffith, interim chief human resources officer. “We were thrilled with the high turnout this year of individuals seeking ways to utilize the benefits and opportunities on campus and beyond.”

Approximately 250 employees went through a new “Screening Zone: Passport to Wellness,” hosted by Employee Health and Wellbeing, which was held on the second floor of Trabant. Each employee had the opportunity to sit with a certified health coach and craft goals specific to their personal numbers. Employees took advantage of five-minute chair massages and free health screenings.

Health and wellbeing professionals staffed 20 preventative health tables; the majority showcased resources that employees can take advantage of right here on campus, including STAR Health — the clinical healthcare services of the University of Delaware College of Health Sciences. The STAR Health Nurse Managed Primary Care Center saw 125 employees at its benefits fair table.

“We educated employees and their families about the Nurse Managed Primary Care Center and the services we can provide,” said center director and nurse practitioner Carolyn Haines. “Many remarked they did not know about us before the wellness fair. Newer employees told us they were very impressed with the wellness fair and that they really enjoyed all of the resource tables.”

In a nutritional and exercise-themed twist, employees could also blend their own smoothies by pedaling on a bike.

“Our aim for this enhanced piece of the Employee Benefits Fair was to bring all health services on campus to one place so employees could connect personally,” said Beth Finkle, director of Employee Health and Wellbeing. “The feedback was tremendous and many employees expressed to our health and wellbeing vendors that they had no idea they had so many impactful resources at their fingertips.”

What’s next?

The UDid It Picnic on Monday, June 4, will kick off Employee Appreciation Week, a celebration that also includes Self Care Day, Movie Night on The Green, Spirit Day and a night at the Blue Rocks game. HR will also launch a new speaker series that will give employees the opportunity to hear from internal and external experts on key topics for success including management, organizational psychology, emotional intelligence, diversity and more.

The Human Resources office will continue to highlight information each month, through its HR News and Information email, to help employees navigate benefits and services.

The feedback received by the Employee Health and Wellbeing team will allow them to construct additional programs to fit the needs of the employee populations and their families.

“Next year we will have a huge continued focus on mental health awareness, collaborative health partnerships across campus and working within departments and managers to infuse wellbeing into the workday,” said Finkle.