Understanding Your Staff Pension Plan: September sessions
The Pensions Administration Office is hosting two upcoming September Understanding Your Staff Pension Plan sessions for members of the UBC Staff Pension Plan. If you are interested in attending, please register soon as these sessions fill up quickly.
These workshops help attendees learn about the plan, about pensions in general, and related retirement considerations.
- Tuesday, Sept. 17, 9:30 – 11:00 a.m.
- Tuesday, Sept. 26: 1:30 – 3:00 p.m.
Visit https://staff.pensions.ubc.ca/news/workshops/ to register.
Wellbeing workshops: Fall stress & resilience series
Join HR’s Health Promotions team and Dr. Thara Vayali in a three-part Stress & Resilience wellbeing series this fall, to explore the stress response, recognize your stress levels, build resilience, and discover the connection between empathy and stress.
- Sept. 19: Part 1: Bouncing Forward
- Oct. 10: Part 2: Empathy & Stress
- Oct. 24: Part 3: The Stress Inventory
These free workshops will be held 12:00-1:00 p.m., in Neville Scarfe (2125 Main Mall). Register for free in the HR events catalog.
CTLT Summer Institute 2019: Aug. 19-29 & Sept. 4-6
Interested in teaching, learning or technology? The UBC CTLT Summer Institute features more than 30 free workshops for educators on topics such as open education, student wellbeing, learning analytics, and more. This year’s Institute runs Aug. 19-29, and Sept. 4-6. View the full schedule of events and learn more at institute.ctlt.ubc.ca/summer-institute/.
Staff Welcome Back BBQ 2019: RSVP by Aug. 16
Each year, the President’s Office and Human Resources welcomes UBC staff to the new academic year with the Staff Welcome Back BBQ. Registration is now open for this year’s Staff Welcome Back BBQ (Vancouver campus):
Date: Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2019
Time: 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Location: Flag Pole Plaza [map]
How to register
Your department has a contact for this event who will register all attendees in your department online. You can find the list of Department Contacts here. Registration closes on Aug. 16. The Ceremonies Office will send tickets for registered attendees to your department in early September. Registration information can be found here.
Staff who miss the registration deadline can still register on the day of the event at the onsite registration table, with a valid UBCCard. Note: food cannot be guaranteed for day-of registrants.
Eligibility
This event is open to UBC employees with staff appointments only. This does not include faculty appointments, post-doctoral, student appointments, work-study and co-op positions.
Learn more at https://ceremonies.ubc.ca/staffbbq/.
50/50 Yoga Pilates: Aug. 1
Join HR’s Health Promotions team for a free 50/50 Yoga Pilates class on Aug. 1. 50/50 Yoga Pilates consists of 50% standing Pilates work, which integrates Pilates principles into lower-body work, and 50% yoga mat work to strengthen the core with complementary exercises. There will be some mats available however quantities are limited. Participants who have their own mats are encouraged to bring them.
Details:
Date: Aug. 1, 2019
Time: 11:00-11:55 a.m.
Location: Life Building, ARC Main Level Studio [map]
Register online
Free ergonomics workshops: July 16
We have two upcoming office ergonomics training sessions on July 16. All UBC staff and faculty are invited to attend.
Register for Ergo Your Office: 1hr Tutorial: July 16 (3:00 – 4:00 p.m.)
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What To Expect:
Optimize your computer work environment to improve comfort and reduce the risk of injury.
This one-hour tutorial combines a presentation and a practical session giving you hands on experience adjusting typical office equipment.
By the end of the tutorial you will know how to set up your chair, keyboard/mouse and monitor to promote neutral working postures.
Register for Sit-Stand Desks & Platforms: July 16 (1:00 – 2:00 p.m.)
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What To Expect: This workshop will provide participants with important information about different types of sit-stand desks and platforms available on the market. Understanding the pros and cons of each will assist departments, staff and faculty in deciding which option is most suitable.
Product samples will be available for participants to try out in order to get an idea of how the different models impact positioning and workflow.
Workshop participants will also learn proper set-up for sit-stand desks and how frequently to alternate positions. Participants will receive information on UBC’s Sit-Stand Demo Program and process.
This workshop is for managers, purchasing personnel and staff/faculty who are considering getting a sit-stand desk or platform.
Reminder: UBC Staff Pension Fair: June 20
The Staff Pension Plan (SPP) Pension Fair will take place on Thursday, June 20, 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m at the Robert H. Lee Alumni Centre. This event is a great opportunity for members to learn more about the SPP and gain some pension knowledge. Similar to past years, we will have information tables hosted by UBC Retirement and Survivor Benefits, UBC Investment Management Trust, UBC Employee and Family Assistance Program, and more.
Registration is not required and you are encouraged to drop in at any time that is convenient for you. For more information, please visit https://staff.pensions.ubc.ca/pensionfair/
The Pension Board, management and staff look forward to meeting you and answering your questions.
New PD workshops this August
HR is hosting two professional envelopment workshops this August:
Discovering Personal Effectiveness: Aug. 8 (9:00 a.m. 4:00 p.m.)
Self-awareness is at the heart of professional growth and development. By understanding ourselves, we are able to better connect with others, create meaningful relationships at work, improve our personal leadership and be more effective in our communications.
- Cost: $375
- Register online
Practical Project Management: Aug. 21-22 (9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.)
Many people are finding projects an increasing part of their workload, yet still have their ‘day job’ responsibilities. Getting your project off to the best possible start is essential for success and tackling today’s project focused environment requires a straightforward, down to earth approach. This two-day workshop provides practical, effective tools and proven processes that ensure your projects get off to a clear and solid start, ensuring they stay on track, and your deliverables are achieved on time and on budget.
- Cost: $550
- Register online
If you are interested in these workshops, you may be able to use your professional development funding. Please visit the page for your employee group to learn more.
Rehearsing Conflict workshop performance: June 20
You are invited to attend Conflict Theatre‘s performance on Thursday, June 20, 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., at the Dorothy Somerset Studios.
The plays are created and performed by UBC faculty and staff participating in the Rehearsing Conflict workshop series (June 13-20). Members of the UBC community have come together to share and act out stories of conflict in order to find solutions, challenge assumptions, and build understanding.
Our free workshop performance will involve reflection on the difficult conversations we can face in the workplace, and there will be space for interactive community dialogue. As a forum theatre performance, there will be an invitation to audience members to take part in the action if they choose, but all participation is voluntary. Together, we will consider how we can move through blockages to authentic and productive communication during workplace conflict.
Please RSVP at http://bit.ly/JUNE20PERFORMANCE and email any questions to conflict.theatre@ubc.ca.
Positive Space workshop: June 18
Are your working, learning and living environments welcoming to LGBT2SQIA+ students, staff and faculty? Would you like to learn more how to improve and positively impact the climate for sexual and gender diversity?
The Positive Space foundational workshop covers current language, issues, resources, and best practices in an interactive and experiential learning environment. Participants will gain relevant knowledge and skills to use in their academic, work and campus life.
Upcoming workshop
- June 18: 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Sign up on the UBC Equity & Inclusion Office website.
2019 Annual Welcome Back Staff BBQ: Updated contacts needed
This year’s Welcome Back Staff BBQ at UBC’s Vancouver campus will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2019, 11:30 am – 1:30 pm. Registration/RSVPs will open Monday, June 11.
Department Contacts Confirmation
To help ensure all staff who wish to attend don’t miss out this year, we need your assistance with updating the list of department contacts responsible for coordinating the Welcome Back BBQ Registration/RSVPs.
Check the spreadsheet attached to this week’s HR Network News email for the name of your department contact, and then contact Kailey Patton (kailey.patton@ubc.ca) to either confirm if your contact person is correct, or to let us know the new contact name. The contact person does not need to be an HR Network member, but we do need their name and email address to provide them with important information about the BBQ.
Please note that smaller departments are often grouped together to limit the number of overall department contacts. If you don’t see your department on the spreadsheet, look for the next department into which your unit rolls up.
If you have questions, please contact Kailey Patton at kailey.patton@ubc.ca or 604-822-8985.
Reminder to register by June 12 for the Pick Your Peak Stair Challenge
If you’re looking for opportunities to bring team wellbeing activities into your workplace this summer, the 2019 Pick Your Peak Stair Challenge begins June 17.
This four-week program is open to all UBC staff and faculty in Vancouver and the Okanagan, no matter your level of motivation or ability. You can participate as an individual or register as a team. Weekly random prize draws, photo challenges and meet-up events will help give you the boost you need week-to-week.
Sign up by June 12 at 4:00 p.m. by visiting the Stair Challenge webpage
Congress: June 1-7
Congress 2019 takes place at the Vancouver campus next week. Running June 1-7, Congress is the largest interdisciplinary conference in Canada. There are a number of free events open to the UBC community. You are encouraged to visit https://www.congress2019.ca/calendar to see the full schedule, or check out some of the special programming:
Big Thinking lecture series
The free Big Thinking series is held each day throughout Congress. This year’s series will feature the arts as a platform to engage with scholarship in the humanities and social sciences. More information about the Big Thinking series can be found at https://www.congress2019.ca/program/big-thinking.
Performances, exhibitions and featured events/talks
From soundscapes and visual art to literary readings and musical performances, there will be plenty of free performances and exhibitions to attend during Congress. Featured Talks will see UBC faculty and speakers from around the world discuss key issues in the humanities and social sciences. More information about University programming can be found at https://www.congress2019.ca/program/university.
June 20: UBC Staff Pension Fair
The Staff Pension Plan (SPP) Pension Fair will take place on Thursday, June 20, 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m at the Robert H. Lee Alumni Centre. This event is a great opportunity for members to learn more about the SPP and gain some pension knowledge. Similar to past years, we will have information tables hosted by UBC Retirement and Survivor Benefits, UBC Investment Management Trust, UBC Employee and Family Assistance Program, and more.
Registration is not required and you are encouraged to drop in at any time that is convenient for you. For more information, please visit https://staff.pensions.ubc.ca/pensionfair/
The Pension Board, management and staff look forward to meeting you and answering your questions.
June 10: Equity and Inclusion at Canadian Universities: How Do We Get There?
Academic institutions have embraced principles of equity as a core value underpinning their mission. But what do we mean by equity and diversity?
Can we have diversity but neglect inclusion? Do we have any blind spots on who we embrace under the equity, diversity and inclusion tent? How do we know who we have missed if our ability to measure diversity is varied? How do we inspire and sustain broad support for initiatives in this area?
You are invited to Equity and Inclusion at Canadian Universities: How Do We Get There?, a mini-symposium on June 10, 2019, 10:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., at the Robert H. Lee Alumni Centre. This event is co-sponsored by the UBC Office of the Provost, the Faculty of Science, and the Equity & Inclusion Office.
Please share this invitation with your faculty and staff colleagues involved with faculty hiring, tenure/promotion, or graduate advising for a conversation on how we inspire and sustain broad support for initiatives in the area.
Visit https://equity.ubc.ca/events/howdowegetthere/ to learn more and to register. A livestream will also be available on the day of the event.
Reminder: Staff Hot Lunch with Heather McCaw, Vice-President, Development and Alumni Engagement: May 29
You are invited to attend Hot Lunch on May 29, to meet and network with your colleagues across UBC, and to hear from Heather McCaw, Vice-President, Development and Alumni Engagement. Tickets are $10. Please purchase your tickets by May 24.
Hot Lunch is a cross-campus staff networking initiative hosted by St. John’s College and supported by Human Resources.
IRP HR session on time tracking & absence May 8; April 10 call recording available
Thanks to everyone who participated in the Integrated Renewal Program HR update call on April 10. If you weren’t able to make it, or you would like to review the slides and the call, there is a recording available.
Next call: May 8
Our next IRP HR call-in session will be on May 8, 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. where we will discuss time tracking and absences in Workday. Human resources practitioners at the Vancouver and Okanagan campuses are invited to join.
Agenda
- Integrated Renewal Program (IRP) Update
- HR Work Stream Update – what has the team been working on and what is planned for the next 30 days
- Key HCM functions/demo – overview of time tracking and absences in Workday
RSVP
If you are interested in participating in the call, email integrated.renewal@ubc.ca to RSVP. A member from the IRP team will follow up with an event invite.
IRP will be using Skype for Business to host this call-in session and will include instructions for joining the session in the invite. As we have received a growing interest from the HR community in participating in our monthly call-in sessions, team members are encouraged to join the session from one screen (if available through shared offices or room bookings) to allow for more open participant seats within the Skype session.
Upcoming sessions
IRP has a list of upcoming sessions and topics available on their website.
Faculty Pension Plan Forum: May 15
On Wednesday, May 15, the UBC Faculty Pension Plan (FPP) will host its Pension Forum at the Robert H. Lee Alumni Centre. This annual event is a great opportunity for members to hear the latest news about their pension plan and to meet the UBC FPP trustees, management and staff. There will be a presentation on the Plan’s 2018 investment performance and a review of the 2018/19 initiatives.
We will also offer a live webcast of the presentation for members who are unable to attend the event in person.
Date: Wednesday, May 15, 2019
Time: 10:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. (doors open at 10 a.m.)
Location: Robert H. Lee Alumni Centre (Jack Poole Hall, second floor), Vancouver Campus [map]
Visit the following link for event details and registration: faculty.pensions.ubc.ca/pensionforum
Members who wish to attend in person are required to register by May 3. No registration is required for the webcast.
PD workshop: Presentations That Work: Optimize Your Influence with Colleagues & Decision-Makers: June 26
We are hosting Presentations That Work: Optimize Your Influence with Colleagues & Decision-Makers, a one-day workshop designed for new presenters who want to feel more comfortable in front of others, and for experienced speakers who want to expand their effectiveness and develop an extra edge.
Course information
Date: June 26, 2019, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Location: TEF III, Room 610 [map]
Cost: $350
Register online
If you are interested in this course, you may be able to use your professional development funding. Please visit the page for your employee group to learn more.
Rehearsing Conflict workshop series: June 13-20
The Rehearsing Conflict workshop series, June 13-20, 2019, is a free professional development opportunity for faculty and staff who want to explore and practice new strategies for difficult conversations, strengthen emotional intelligence, and increase resilience when conflict occurs in the workplace.
Using the situation and tools of theatre, participants will play out real stories of conflict from our community and apply new strategies to change outcomes. All UBC employees are welcome to apply.
Apply before May 29 at http://bit.ly/RehearsingConflict2019
Please contact conflict.theatre@ubc.ca for any questions or visit the Conflict Theatre@UBC website.