Since 2016, the Employee Health and Wellbeing (EHW) program has been based in the College of Health Sciences, and during that time, the program’s development and growth have been enriched by the expertise and dedication of the faculty, staff and students there.

Building on that strong foundation, Employee Health and Wellbeing will move to Human Resources, effective immediately, where it will be part of the newly formed Talent and Organizational Development area. This change will enable EHW programming to be more fully integrated into the overall Human Resources function, aligning EHW with other aspects of professional and personal development, to enhance employee engagement and success. In this way, these programs can be offered holistically across the institution.

Looking ahead, the focus of these efforts will be to:

• Prioritize physical and psychological safety in the workplace while supporting mental health;
• Create a culture of inclusion and belonging, to support collaboration and teamwork;
• Cultivate an engagement strategy that promotes wellbeing, recognition, and mentorship throughout the organization;
• Continue to develop and facilitate learning and development initiatives for individuals, teams and units; and
• Continue to promote health and wellbeing through use of wellness dollars.

Through this new direction, the University will be better able to provide an environment where all employees feel supported, connected and engaged.

Sincerely,

Melissa Bard
Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer

Bill Farquhar 
Dean, College of Health Sciences

Doing so supports a variety of organizational goals including operational excellence, talent recruitment and retention, sustainability and employee wellbeing. Please consult with your supervisor or local HR representative if you have questions or need guidance on issues related to flexible work arrangements.