For Managers/Supervisors: Preview “The Working Mind”: June 20, 2018
Human Resources will be holding a preview of the new training Working Mind session for UBC managers/supervisors on June 20 (9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.). All members of the distributed HR community of practice in Vancouver are invited to attend for free.
About the Working Mind
The Working Mind is a Mental Health Commission of Canada, evidence-based workplace training program aimed at increasing mental health literacy for both supervisors/managers and employees. In advance of rolling out this program to the campus community, UBC managers and supervisors are invited to see how it aligns with UBC’s employment policies and procedures.
The session on June 20 is the the manager/supervisor version, and will include information related to duty to enquire, accommodations, return to work, along with the other program elements.
To register, please email Miranda Massie, UBC Health Promotions Coordinator.
Read more about the program goals and objectives under the cut.
Professional Development Opportunity: Navigating Today’s Communication Challenges: July 24, 2018
Have you ever wondered why your communication efforts click with some people and not with others? Or how others perceive you when you interact with them? Whether working with other people in your department, on a team, or just having a social conversation over lunch, it is quickly evident that some relationships are more productive than others.
As the need to work collectively increases, good discussion skills, effective listening and positive modeling are essential. In this insightful workshop you will learn to assess the communication needs of others and see how you can make simple adjustments in order to communicate more effectively. It will help you develop methods of communicating that will build on your strengths and the strengths of others.
This session is designed for anyone that wants to proactively improve and fine tune their interpersonal and communication skills at work.
Learning Outcomes
- Determine the key attributes of the most effective communicators;
- Identify four distinct communication styles;
- Practice a few simple steps to improving your listening skills;
- Assess their preferred communication style and the pro¿s and con¿s;
- Quickly recognize the communication preferences of others;
- Give and receive positive and corrective feedback;
- Identify the most common communication challenges;
- Determine how to make discussions more effective; and
- State how body language can be used as an effective communication tool
Course Information
Date: July 24, 2018, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Location: TEF III, Room 610
Cost: $350
Register online
You may be able to use your professional development funding towards this course. Visit the PD funding page for your employee group to learn more, or contact pd.workshops@ubc.ca with questions.
Next Office Ergo Rep Training: June 19, 2018
The Ergonomics program at UBC strives to have an Office Ergonomics Representative for each department. Office Ergo Reps are trained by the Ergonomics Advisor in simple computer workstation set-up, signs and symptoms of injuries from poor ergonomic set-up and control strategies to reduce or prevent symptoms.
At this training, Office Ergo Rep participants will learn:
- Basic ergonomic risk factors
- Proper computer workstation set-up
- How to conduct ergonomic assessment for minor issues as well as a quick screen for new hires
Participants will also be provided with training material to share with their colleagues
Course Information
Office Ergo Rep Training
June 19, 2018, 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Cost: Free
Tech Enterprise Facilities III, Room 610 [map]
Register online
Questions? Please contact our Ergonomics Advisor.
Summer Wellbeing Opportunity: Learn to Meditate, July 5, 10 & 18, 2018
UBC Health Promotions is bringing back the three-part Learn to Meditate course this summer. These sessions, designed for the working environment, are for those both new and experienced in the world of mindfulness meditation. Participants will learn to cultivate personal resilience, discover techniques to reduce and manage stress and gain confidence to practice meditation and mindfulness.
Course information
Learn to Meditate
July 5, 10& 18, 2018, 12:00 – 1:00 p.m.
Cost: $35
Room 610, TEF III, 6190 Agronomy Road [map]
Register online
Positive Space Workshops: July 19 & Aug. 15, 2018
Explore how you can positively impact the climate for sexual and gender diversity at UBC and make our learning, working, and living communities more inclusive to all.
Positive Space workshops cover 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 so that they can help make UBC more welcoming to lesbian, gay, bisexual, two-spirit, trans and queer students, staff, faculty, alumni, and allies.
Upcoming dates:
- July 19, 2018, 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
- Aug. 15, 2018, 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Sign up for free on the UBC Equity & Inclusion Office website.
Rehearsing Conflict Summer Intensive Performance: June 21, 2018
UBC staff and faculty are invited to watch Rehearsing Conflict’s free workshop performance on Thursday, June 21, 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. at the Dorothy Somerset Studio (6361 University Blvd). Please RSVP online.
Rehearsing Conflict is theatre with a mission: supporting constructive conflict engagement on UBC campus. To do this, we use forum theatre techniques to explore and perform real stories of conflict from our community to find new solutions, challenge assumptions, and build understanding. In this theatre performance put on by participants in the Summer Intensive workshop, audience members are welcome to watch and can volunteer to join us on stage and take part in the conversation. Everyone is welcome.
Rehearsing Conflict is produced by the Conflict Theatre@UBC program.
Reminder: Staff Pension Plan Fair, June 21, 2018
This year’s UBC Staff Pension Fair takes place on Thursday, June 21, 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The fair will be held at the Robert H. Lee Alumni Centre. This is a drop-in event; no RSVP is required.
The Pension Fair is a great opportunity for members to learn more about their pension plan and increase their pension knowledge. We are also pleased to have the following groups in attendance:
- UBC Retirement and Survivor Benefits
- UBC Employee and Family Assistance Program
- UBC Investment Management Trust (IMANT) Inc.
- CARP (Canadian Association for Retired Persons)
Visit the SPP Pension Fair event page for more details.
Attend the Staff Pension Plan Fair on June 21
The UBC Staff Pension Fair takes place on Thursday, June 21 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The fair will be held at the Robert H. Lee Alumni Centre. This is a drop-in event; no RSVP is required.
The Pension Fair is a great opportunity for members to learn more about their pension plan and increase their pension knowledge. We are also pleased to have the following groups in attendance:
- UBC Retirement and Survivor Benefits
- UBC Employee and Family Assistance Program
- UBC Investment Management Trust (IMANT) Inc.
- CARP (Canadian Association for Retired Persons)
Visit the SPP Pension Fair event website for more details.
New HR Training Opportunity: Preview “The Working Mind” Session on June 20
Miranda Massie (Health Promotions) is holding a preview of her new training session, “The Working Mind”, on June 20 and invites anyone in HR who is interested to attend. The session will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at TEF III (Room 610) and only 25 spaces are available. Please email her by May 31 to save your spot.
About the new training
The Working Mind is a Mental Health Commission of Canada, evidence-based workplace training program aimed at increasing mental health literacy for both supervisors/managers and employees. In advance of rolling out this program to the campus community, all HR staff are invited to preview the training to ensure that it aligns with current UBC policies and procedures.
The manager/supervisor version of the training includes information related to duty to enquire, accommodations, return to work, along with the other program elements.
Please note: Miranda will be presenting the manager/supervisor version on June 20, but all HR staff are welcome to attend. Read on for more info about the program, including details about the employee and manager/supervisor course content.
To register, please email Miranda Massie.
Program goals:
• To reduce stigma and negative attitudes towards those struggling with poor mental health
• To provide learners with a broad understanding of mental health and wellness
• Help participants maintain mental health and improve resilience
• To promote mental health and wellness in the workplace
• To provide managers with the confidence, tools and resources to manage and support employees who may be experiencing mental health problems or illness
Objectives
To give employees/managers the practical knowledge of mental health and mental illness so they can:
• Use the mental health continuum to recognize changes in their mental health and that of others
• Be prepared to use skills to improve their coping and resiliency
• Reduce both public and self-stigma
• Be willing to be a part of a supportive workplace
The employee version includes:
• A focus on dispelling the myths of mental health problems and mental illnesses, aiming to reduce associated stigma
• An overview of the Mental Health Continuum Model
• Self-assessment of one’s own mental health along the continuum
• Strategies one can apply at each point along the continuum
The managers’ version includes additional course content, such as:
• Workplace accommodations and return to work
• How to observe changes in employees along the continuum
• Appropriate actions to take
• How to communicate with employees about mental health illness in a workplace context
Questions? Ask Miranda Massie.
PD Workshop: Practical Project Management June 4 & 5
We have an upcoming two-day workshop on June 4 & 5 – Practical Project Management. This workshop is for anyone who is involved in projects, as either a team member or project manager, and wants to learn the core basics and proven tools to help achieve more consistent project outcomes.
Learning Outcomes
- Establish effective communication lines from the start;
- Develop concise intended outcomes and deliverables;
- Build a Project Charter that is simple, yet effective in getting your projects off to the right start;
- Use the most common tools used in Project Management including Network Diagram Dependency Charts, Gantt Charts and Work Breakdown Structures;
- Sequence tasks to determine start dates, finish dates and milestones;
- Use Critical Path Methodology to ensure projects are completed on time;
- Recognize and prevent common Project Management mistakes;
- Use criteria to measure and track your project;
- Identify and evaluate risks and develop contingency plans
- Effectively determine resource requirements
Course Information
Date: June 4 & 5, 2018, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Location: TEF III, Room 610
Cost: $550
Register online
You may be able to use your professional development funding towards this course. Visit the PD funding page for your employee group to learn more, or contact pd.workshops@ubc.ca with questions.
Alternative Housing Options Seminar: May 24, 2018, 5:30-7:00 p.m.
Renting and owning a home is a significant challenge for many in Vancouver due to housing availability, suitability and affordability. Are there any alternatives to traditional options of renting and owning?
HR’s Faculty Staff Housing & Relocation Services team is hosting a seminar on Alternative Housing Options, on May 24, 2018, 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Topics will include housing co-ops, mixer mortgages, and small homes and laneway homes.
View the full information at http://www.hr.ubc.ca/housing-relocation/files/Alternative-housing-seminar-2018.pdf
All UBC faculty and staff are welcome to attend. Please RSVP to info.facultyhousing@ubc.ca by May 18. Light refreshments will be provided and the seminar is free to attend.
Faculty Pension Plan Forum: May 16, 2018 – Registration Still Open
On Wednesday, May 16, the UBC Faculty Pension Plan (FPP) will host its annual Pension Forum. Members of the Faculty Pension Plan can register for the in-person session at faculty.pensions.ubc.ca/pensionforum.
All members of the Faculty Pension Plan who cannot make the in-person event are encouraged to watch the webcast. The link for the webcast will be posted on the Pension Forum webpage before the event begins.
Date: Wednesday, May 16, 2018
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 faculty.pensions.ubc.ca/pensionforum for details.
PD Opportunity: Selection Interviewing: May 11, 2018 – 4 Spaces Left
We have four spaces left in our May 11, 2018, session on Selection Interviewing: Ensuring Equity. Register ASAP to sharpen your interview and recruitment skills.
Note that this workshop is designed for UBC managers/administrators who have responsibility for the recruitment of staff.
About this workshop
The interview is a vital step in the hiring process, so you want it to be as effective as possible. This workshop will focus on the essential skills of behavioural interviewing so that you can more effectively get to know your candidates and find the best fit for your team.
Learning Outcomes
Through group exercises, discussions and role-play within this workshop, participants will:
- Develop questions and practice behavioural interviewing skills
- Develop tools to select the best candidate for the position
- Understand basic concepts of human rights, employment equity, and the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy legislation
Participants will also review current Human Rights and Employment Equity legislation and discuss the objectives of UBC’s policy on employment equity.
Facilitation Team and Presenters
- Lani McGill, Human Resources Advisor
- Kathryn Stagg, Human Resources Advisor
- Lindi Frost, Director of Employee Relations
- Jude Tate, Director of Equity and Inclusion
Course information
Selection Interviewing: Ensuring Equity
May 11, 2018, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Cost: $25.00
Room 610, TEF III, 6190 Agronomy Road [map]
Register online until May 7; afterwards contact pd.workshops@ubc.ca
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.
Pick Your Peak Stair Challenge Begins May 28, 2018
Staff and faculty are invited to join the 4th annual Pick Your Peak Stair Challenge. This four-week challenge is a fun and inclusive way to encourage our community to keep fit by taking the stairs.
The challenge will include weekly participant prizes, photo challenges, and an overall prize for both the top team and top individual. Teams are encouraged, to build spirit and to stay motivated. Everyone, of all ability levels, is invited to participate.
Visit the Pick Your Peak webpage to learn more and to register. The registration deadline is May 23.
Health & Wellbeing Workshops: May – June 2018
We have a number of health and wellbeing workshops in May and June, free for UBC staff and faculty. Registration is open for all courses.
Please visit the Healthy UBC Newsletter for more information about these courses, or click to register.
- Eldercare 101: May 10, 12:00-1:00 p.m..
- Wellbeing Series Part 1: Self-Care 101:May 17, 12:00-1:00 p.m..
- Wellbeing Series Part 2: Bouncing Forward, Building Resilience: May 30,12:00-1:00 p.m..
- Wellbeing Series Part 3: Workplace Wellbeing: June 12, 12:00-1:00 p.m..
- Sit-Stand Desks & Platforms: May 22, 1:30-2:30 p.m..
- Ergo Your Office Tutorial: May 24, 1:30-2:30 p.m..
- QPR Suicide Prevention Training: June 13, 1:30-3:30 p.m..
Après Sports Day: May 4, 2018, 3-6pm
After Sports Day on Friday, get together with your friends and colleagues at the all-new Après Sports Day after-party featuring a beer garden, food, and live music. You don’t need to have registered for Sports Day to take part – just swing by after work to enjoy and relax on a Friday afternoon.
What to expect: Free healthy snacks, outdoor beer garden, food from Dog House (for purchase), live music, friends, games.
When: May 4, 3:00-6:00 p.m.
Where: East of the new Life Building (check in near Booster Juice inside the building).
Who: Everyone is welcome! Sports Day registration is not required.
Don’t Forget to Bring: ID and cash, debit or credit to purchase beverages, or food from the Dog House.
Brought to you by Human Resources and UBC Recreation.
Hot Lunch: May 30, 2018 (feat. Karen (Kcee) Carriero, Associate Vice-President, Communications)
You are invited to attend Hot Lunch on May 30, to meet and network with your colleagues across UBC, and to hear from Karen (Kcee) Carriero, Associate Vice-President, Communications. Lunch this month will be a Tuscany buffet for $10.
Please purchase your tickets soon, as the events have been quite popular in recent months.
Hot Lunch is a cross-campus staff networking initiative hosted by St. John’s College and is supported by Human Resources.
Faculty Pension Plan Forum: May 16, 2018
On Wednesday, May 16, the UBC Faculty Pension Plan (FPP) will host its annual Pension Forum. This annual event is a great opportunity for members to hear the latest news about their pension plan and to meet the plan’s trustees, management and staff. There will be a presentation on the plan’s 2017 investment performance and a review of the 2017/18 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 16, 2018
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 faculty.pensions.ubc.ca/pensionforum for event details and registration information. Registration is required for attendance in person but not for the webcast.
Benefits Info Session: Understanding Your Travel Benefits: April 30
Summer is just around the corner and many staff and faculty are preparing for vacation. Join UBC Benefits Specialist, Stephanie Mah, in a one-hour session, Understanding Your Travel Benefits on understanding your travel benefits and ensure that your vacation is as stress-free as possible.
This session will also include a Q & A period and we encourage you to come with questions.
Course Information
Date: April 30, 2018, 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Location: Michael Smith Laboratories, Room 102
Cost: Free
Register online
PD Opportunity: Difficult Conversations: Strategies for Dealing with Challenging Situations: June 12, 2018
We have an upcoming workshop on June 12 – Difficult Conversations: Strategies for Dealing with Challenging Situations. This workshop is for anyone who needs to have challenging conversations as part of their work.
Learning Outcomes
- At the end of this seminar, you will be able to know how to identify resistant behaviour in yourself and others;
- have a greater understanding of what the physiological responses to emotional challenges look and feel like;
- be able to identify your personal strategies for managing your own defensiveness as well as others; and
- recognize when to push and when to back off to get your needs met.
Course Information
Date: June 12, 2018, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Location: TEF III, Room 610
Cost: $350
Register online
You may be able to use your professional development funding towards this course. Visit the PD funding page for your employee group to learn more, or contact pd.workshops@ubc.ca with questions.