Inclusive holiday celebrations in the workplace
This winter at UBC, our community is celebrating events and holidays from around the world. Our students, staff and faculty come from many cultural backgrounds and faith identities, and at this time of year, we have an opportunity to celebrate the cultures that make up our UBC community.
Some celebratory events are coming up in the next few weeks, including Yule (Paganism), Hanukkah (Judaism), and Christmas (Christianity). In February, we will see festivities for the Lunar New Year (Confucian, Daoism, Buddhism). See the Days of Significance list to see all the events and celebrations coming up soon.
Ways to celebrate in the workplace
We have a great opportunity to celebrate the season together, in a respectful and positive way that can help build intercultural understanding.
- Display a calendar in your workplace to raise awareness of important cultural/faith events and holidays throughout the entire year.
- Celebrate all faiths present in your workplace.
- Consider having a New Year’s celebration party instead of a holiday party in December.
- Be flexible with the needs of staff around faith and/or holiday celebrations.
- In your workplace or at celebration events, bring together decorations and food from the many cultures in your workplace, and encourage staff to share stories about their favourite traditions.
- Be aware and respectful of religious holidays when planning events and meetings. Check the Days of Significance calendar for details.
Office decorations
Here are some tips to make your office decorations inclusive and respectful of all cultures and beliefs:
- Aim for neutral decor in the front-facing areas of your office
- Ensure your office is accessible and that decorations do not prevent or block access to public services.
- Consider how your office can celebrate dates significant to all members of your workplace. Invite staff from all faith identities to be involved in the office decorating discussion.
- Set an agreed upon limit to the number of days that your office will display decorations, and have a discussion about what other times of year you might want to decorate, in celebration of other events.
- Use the holidays as an opportunity to build community within your office, and with the people your office serves or supports.
If you are feeling excluded as a result of office celebrations, you are encouraged to reach out to a colleague or a supervisor and have a conversation about how you feel and how you would like your culture and beliefs to be included. At UBC we should all feel comfortable to share our culture and beliefs with others. You are welcome to contact the Equity and Inclusion Office or your HR Advisor to discuss.
We hope that this advice provides some suggestions on how to foster community and inclusion at this time of year through encouraging the celebration of our many cultures and faiths on campus.
Relevant links
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.
New guidelines available for the use of preferred names for faculty and staff
As part of UBC’s commitment to create a welcoming, inclusive and nondiscriminatory environment, Human Resources and the Equity & Inclusion Office have created guidelines regarding the use of preferred names for faculty and staff.
Whether for professional, personal or privacy reasons, a number of faculty and staff use names other than their legal names to identify themselves at the university. For trans and non-binary faculty and staff who are protected on the grounds of gender identity and gender expression in BC Human Rights legislation, the use of preferred names can be especially important to ensure safety and privacy. Addressing a person’s preferred name and gender has been recognized by human rights tribunals as best practice for non-discrimination.
These new guidelines provide you with background on the importance of preferred names, their use at the university, and the few legal limitations of using preferred names. We encourage you to review the guidelines: http://www.hr.ubc.ca/administrators/managing-staff/hr-guidelines-preferred-names/.
Thank you for your support in helping to create a respectful and nondiscriminatory environment for our colleagues.
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.
UBC named one of Canada’s Best Diversity Employers in 2019
UBC has been recognized as one of Canada’s Best Diversity Employers in 2019. These awards recognize Canadian companies that stand out through their efforts to create inclusive and respectful workplaces.
Here are a few reasons why UBC was selected as one of Canada’s Best Diversity Employers:
- UBC created an Indian Residential School History and Dialogue Centre to provide former students with access to the records of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, as well as facilitate understanding of the history and impact of residential schools for the UBC community and provide context for contemporary relationships.
- UBC maintains an Equity Enhancement Fund to support collaborative student, faculty and staff projects that advance equity and inclusion — in the past year, the fund was used for several projects to enhance UBC’s curriculum through the inclusion of the indigenous way of knowing, knowledge and perspectives.
- UBC manages the Beyond the Binary project to address gaps in awareness and inclusion of trans and gender diverse individuals through staff and faculty training — topics include trans accommodation needs, respectful language and pronoun usage.
Read more about why UBC is a Top Employer at https://content.eluta.ca/top-employer-ubc.
Would you like to learn more about how to positively impact the climate for diversity in the workplace? The Equity & Inclusion Office offers support and resources to help build a community in which human rights are respected, and equity and inclusion are embedded in all areas of life at UBC.
Positive Space workshop: March 28
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
- March 28, 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Sign up on the UBC Equity & Inclusion Office website.
Feb. 27 is Pink Shirt Day
By working together, we can help to end bullying in schools and in the workplace. Please join us in supporting Pink Shirt Day on Feb. 27, 2019, and learn about how you can help to stop bullying in communities across the province at http://www.pinkshirtday.ca.
At UBC, we strive to provide a safe, respectful and productive environment for our faculty, staff and students. The UBC Respectful Environment Statement outlines our principles about creating a respectful environment for all:
The best possible environment for working, learning and living is one in which respect, civility, diversity, opportunity and inclusion are valued. Everyone at the University of British Columbia is expected to conduct themselves in a manner that upholds these principles in all communications and interactions with fellow UBC community members and the public in all University-related settings.
One of UBC’s initiatives to support a respectful environment is the Bullying and Harassment Prevention website. The website has information and training for UBC faculty, staff and student employees to support a positive workplace.
The UBC community works together every day to build a respectful environment for all. On Feb. 27, wear pink to show your support for an end to bullying and harassment in our communities.
Resources:
- Pink Shirt Day
- Bullying and Harassment Prevention at UBC
- Respectful Environment Statement
- Equity and Inclusion Office: Vancouver | Okanagan
- Contact your HR Advisor or Faculty Relations Manager
Positive Space workshop: Feb. 14
Are your working, learning or living environments welcoming to LGBT2SQIA+ students, staff and faculty? Would you like to learn more about how to improve and positively impact the climate for sexual and gender diversity at UBC?
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
- Feb. 14, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Sign up on the UBC Equity & Inclusion Office website.
UBC Equity Enhancement Fund 2019: Call for Proposals
UBC is committed to advancing equity and inclusion across the university. The Equity Enhancement Fund enables faculty, staff, and students to play an active role in this effort by providing them with up to $25,000 in funding for community-based, collaborative projects.
You are invited to submit a proposal by Feb. 28 to take part in advancing inclusive excellence and fostering an equitable and inclusive community.
Proposals should build faculty, staff, and student competencies related to issues of equity, diversity, and inclusion through community-engaged activities. Proposals should also aim to deliver observable and/or measurable benefits to the representation or experiences of historically disadvantaged groups within the UBC community.
For more information and to submit a proposal, visit the Equity Enhancement Fund for the Vancouver campus or the Okanagan campus
Information session
An information session will be held on the Vancouver campus and will be live-streamed in the Okanagan on Feb. 13 to provide an opportunity to learn more about the Equity Enhancement Fund and inclusion efforts at UBC.
If you have questions regarding this fund, or equity and inclusion generally, contact eef@equity.ubc.ca.
Inclusive holiday celebrations
This winter at UBC, our community is celebrating events and holidays from around the world. Our students, staff and faculty come from many cultural backgrounds and faith identities, and at this time of year, we have an opportunity to celebrate the cultures that make up our UBC community.
Some celebratory events are coming up in the next few weeks, including Mawlid an Nabi (Islam), Hanukkah (Judaism), Yule (Paganism), and Christmas (Christianity). In February, we will see festivities for the Lunar New Year (Confucian, Daoist, Buddhist). See the Days of Significance list to see all the events and celebrations coming up soon.
Ways to Celebrate in the Workplace
We have a great opportunity to celebrate the season together, in a respectful and positive way that can help build intercultural understanding.
- Display a calendar in your workplace to raise awareness of important cultural/faith events and holidays throughout the entire year.
- Celebrate all faiths present in your workplace.
- Consider having a New Year’s celebration party instead of a holiday party in December.
- Be flexible with the needs of staff around faith and/or holiday celebrations.
- In your workplace or at celebration events, bring together decorations and food from the many cultures in your workplace, and encourage staff to share stories about their favourite traditions.
- Be respectful of religious holidays at this time of year when planning events and meetings. Check the Days of Significance calendar for details.
Office Decorations
Here are some tips to make your office decorations inclusive and respectful of all cultures and beliefs:
- Aim for neutral decor in the front-facing areas of your office
- Ensure your office is accessible and that decorations do not prevent or block access to public services.
- Consider how your office can celebrate dates significant to all members of your workplace. Invite staff from all faith identities to be involved in the office decorating discussion.
- Set an agreed upon limit to the number of days that your office will display decorations, and have a discussion about what other times of year you might want to decorate, in celebration of other events.
- Use the holidays as an opportunity to build community within your office, and with the people your office serves or supports.
If you are feeling excluded as a result of office celebrations, you are encouraged to reach out to a colleague or a supervisor and have a conversation about how you feel and how you would like your culture and beliefs to be included. At UBC we should all feel comfortable to share our culture and beliefs with others. You are welcome to contact the Equity and Inclusion Office or your HR Advisor to discuss.
We hope that this advice provides some suggestions on how to foster community and inclusion at this time of year through encouraging the celebration of our many cultures and faiths on campus.
Relevant links
Resources supporting transgender and gender-diverse faculty and staff
At UBC, diversity is welcomed and respected, and considered foundational to excellence in research, education and engagement. UBC recognizes that respect and support for transgender and gender-diverse faculty and staff are central to their success and wellbeing. It is our interactions at work that can help us to feel a valued member of society. The recognition of gender diversity, specifically for people who identify as transgender, two-spirit or non-binary, affirms and acknowledges that gender is highly personal and fluid, and is worthy of respect at UBC.
All human resources practitioners and managers/supervisors have the responsibility to provide a welcoming, inclusive and respectful work environment. By working proactively with an employee who wishes to transition and/or utilize gender-affirming procedures, you can help create a positive experience for the individual and all employees in your unit.
The information in the following resource documents can to help you to building a positive work environment and in modelling behaviour that shows respect for diversity and inclusion that you expect your staff to demonstrate in their relationships with each other and the people they work with across the campus.
Please familiarize yourself with these resources so you can best support transgender and gender-diverse staff, faculty and student employees in your department.
For managers/supervisors/HR practitioners: Supporting Transgender and Gender-Diverse Faculty and Staff at UBC
Information includes:
- Human rights and employer responsibilities
- Definitions to assist you in understanding gender diversity
- Transitioning in the workplace: planning a collaborative, supportive approach
- Guidelines for the manager/supervisor and support team
- UBC and other external resources
- Transition checklist (for working with the employee)
For employees: Transgender and Gender-Diverse Faculty and Staff at UBC
Information includes:
- Transitioning in the workplace: planning a collaborative, supportive approach
- Guidelines for the transitioning employee
- Transition checklist
- Information on health and benefits
- Information on counselling and support/social groups
If you have any questions, please contact your HR Advisor. For more information on campus-wide initiatives on gender diversity, please visit the Equity & Inclusion website.
Pride Week at UBC 2018
Each August, communities across Vancouver come together to kick off the annual Vancouver Pride Week. At UBC, you are invited to join in the celebrations, and show your support for creating positive space across UBC.
Two UBC events you can attend:
- UBC’s annual Pride Convergence: July 30, 4:00-6:30 p.m.
- UBC Pride: Aug. 1, 4:00-8:00 p.m.
Visit https://equity.ubc.ca/celebratepride/ to learn more and register.
UBC named one of Canada’s Best Diversity Employers in 2018
UBC has been recognized as one of Canada’s Best Diversity Employers in 2018. These awards recognize Canadian companies that stand out through their efforts to create inclusive and respectful workplaces. Learn more about this recognition and the reasons UBC was selected at http://www.hr.ubc.ca/blog/2018/03/ubc-named-one-of-canadas-best-diversity-employers-in-2018/.
Orange Shirt Day: Recognizing the History and Legacy Left Behind by Residential Schools
Each year on Sept. 30, we recognize Orange Shirt Day as an acknowledgement of the harm that the residential school system did to thousands of indigenous children. At the same time, Orange Shirt Day has come to mean more – it is an opportunity to do anti-racism work and to reinforce anti-bullying policies; it is a time to come together in reconciliation and truth. Join us at UBC by wearing orange on Friday, Sept. 29.
On April 1, 2017, UBC raised a Reconciliation Pole at the Vancouver campus symbolizing the experiences of residential school students and the path toward reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in Canada. Likewise, at UBC Okanagan, the Story Poles by Les Louis represent the seven bands of the Okanagan Nation Alliance and uses ancestral pictographs to tell their stories.
As a teaching, learning, and research institution, UBC’s efforts are further focused on exploring and advancing knowledge in regards to our collective history and experiences, including through the Indian Residential School History and Dialogue Centre scheduled to be open in 2017/2018 academic year.
Learn more at http://equity.ubc.ca/2017/09/26/orange-shirt-day-every-child-matters/.
UBC named one of Canada’s Best Diversity Employers in 2017
UBC has been recognized as one of Canada’s Best Diversity Employers in 2017. These awards recognize Canadian companies that stand out through their efforts to create inclusive and respectful workplaces.
Why UBC was selected as one of Canada’s Best Diversity Employers in 2017:
- UBC offers an Equity Enhancement Fund to support community-based initiatives that enhance equity, diversity, inclusion and cultural understanding at the university.
- UBC hosts an annual “Thrive” week to encourage dialogue and awareness on mental wellbeing and participates in the “Not Myself Today” campaign — additionally, the university offers meditative and mindfulness programs and provides mental health training to faculty representatives.
- In addition to maintaining an on-campus Positive Space campaign for LGBT communities, UBC’s Institute for Gender, Race, Sexuality and Social Justice supports CampOUT, a community-based summer leadership camp to help queer, trans and allied youth develop leadership skills and build self-esteem.
UBC Named One of Canada’s Best Diversity Employers 2016
UBC has been recognized as one of Canada’s Best Diversity Employers in 2016, as ranked by Mediacorp Canada Inc. This prestigious contest rewards Canadian companies that stand out through their efforts to create diverse, inclusive workplaces.
Why UBC was selected as one of Canada’s Best Diversity Employers 2016:
- UBC organizes an annual Gender Diversity in Leadership Forum to connect female faculty members to leaders in their faculty as well as within the university, and maintains a Leadership Advisory Group, responsible for expanding existing leadership opportunities at UBC and increasing diversity in related succession pipelines
- UBC offers an Equity Enhancement Fund to help promote initiatives that contribute significantly to the enhancement of equity and diversity at the university — funds of up to $25,000 per project are available at the Vancouver and Okanagan campuses
- UBC appointed a Director of Intercultural Understanding Strategy Development to help develop a framework for advancing UBC’s commitment to intercultural understanding, which acknowledges the existing and growing diversity of the university’s student body, faculty, and staff — as part of this initiative UBC conducted interviews with faculty and staff and organized student focus groups in order to identify barriers to intercultural understanding on campus