HEALTH AND PRODUCTIVITY UNITS: ANNUAL REPORT 2021 July 1, 2020–June 30, 2021
Well-being at the University of Iowa is a process focused on lifelong learning that promotes and sustains optimal health, personal connectedness, meaningful experiences, and a purposeful life. When employees have a high sense of well-being, they are better able to bring their best and authentic self to work, and serve the mission of the University of Iowa. This year’s report showcases the value that the Health & Productivity units bring in support of the campus community.
University Human Resources Human Resources provides leadership in shaping an equitable and inclusive culture that drives diversity, excellence and innovation by supporting talent, engagement and the employee work experience.
HEALTH & PRODUCTIVITY Highlights Issues that have always affected the health and well-being of our employees: Finances, Family Concerns, and Emotional Well-Being are even more pressing as we navigate the COVID-19 post-pandemic world. Providing programs to better help our employees manage the stress they are facing has been a focus of the Health & Productivity Units this past year. Financial Well-Being
“Gratitude is a powerful word; one I have been thinking about a lot lately.... My mom passed away earlier this month. Without your help, the road would have been impossible for me to navigate. Your service was invaluable to me at a very difficult time.” –Erin T. McCroskey,
University of Iowa Law Library
Financial stress was already a growing workforce need, with the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbating the challenge for employees. 32% of University of Iowa employees who took their 2020 Personal Health Assessment noted that financial stress gets in the way of them being able to do their best work. To meet this increasing need, Family Services collaborated with partner organization, Horizons Financial Wellness Center, to enhance the current support available to UI employees. New opportunities, including a combination of virtual workshops, one-one-one financial coaching, and web resources, have proven very popular. • 247 employees participated in virtual workshops on topics such as basic budgeting, credit basics, and creating a financial emergency response plan • 64 one-on-one financial counseling appointments • Three videos covering UI employees financial interest areas
Caregiving: Focus on Aging Loved Ones Adult caregivers were uniquely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. With people over age 65 at high risk, caregiving for an aging loved one became a lot more complicated and emotionally concerning. LivWell Seniors were able to assist 165 UI employees in FY21 with caregiving concerns such as safe senior living options, medical, legal and financial resources, and emotional support.
Emotional Well-Being Support and Campus Mental Health Task Force In the University’s continued efforts to address the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the emotional well-being of our faculty and staff, people from across campus joined together to continue efforts to reach people and identify resources. In FY21: • Over 1210 people participated in seven webinars focused on aspects of mental health. • Over 7600 individuals accessed mentalhealth.uiowa.edu. With the effects of the pandemic abating enough to return to some degree of normalcy, a COVID-19 Postvention Mental Health Taskforce has formed with representatives from the UI EAP, University Counseling Service and the Provost’s Office acting as co-chairs. Multiple campus and healthcare offices are working to roll out a comprehensive plan to support faculty, staff and students in Fall 2021.
INCLUSIVE SUPPORT
for Employees During Covid Health and Productivity units were able to help employees no matter when and where they were working during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Weeks of Wellness Beginning in June 2020, “Weeks of Wellness” were implemented as a way to focus on employee well-being at the local level, learn about wellness benefits, address health risk and interest areas based upon Personal Health Assessment data, and embed social time around well-being. Being socially connected for persons working off campus and for those working on campus, yet adhering to social distancing and masking guidelines, was a big benefit of offering the Weeks of Wellness: • 19 Organizational Units reached with live and 24/7 access to well-being programs • 130 local events, activities, challenges offered
College of Engineering Local level planning committees work to tailor a Week of Wellness experience for their colleagues. Microsoft Teams is used for collaboration and surveying employees on their interest areas. When the College of Engineering kicked off their week of Wellness in Spring 2021, Dean Harriet Nembhard encouraged participation in her “Monday Minute” message.
• 1,445 faculty and staff attended at least one event • During Weeks of Wellness, a 5-21% increase in Personal Health Assessment participation is seen
34 Coping with COVID Campus Presentations reaching 1,473 faculty and staff were offered by UI Employee Assistance Program Winter Workday Wellness (WWW) New this year was a pop-up, unplanned program offered in February and March 2021 to help employees combat the normal winter blues coupled with isolation brought on by COVID-19. A liveWELL Health Coach offered a 15-minute mid-day exercise break three times per week! • 107 unique attendees, 52% attending five or more events - 96% agree their personal well-being has or will improve
- 92% agree their ability to perform optimally has or will increase
“Great workout in a short time period—always to the point, friendly, great exercises. I LOVE this format and it was SO GREAT to put it on my calendar as a ‘mandated break.’”
UI Health Care We partnered with UI Health Care to provide wellness opportunities as a part of National Nurses Week and National Hospital Week in May 2021. With a high focus on gratitude and appreciation for the resilience of our health care workforce, the following opportunities were woven into communications and activities during the week: • Virtual weekend and evening yoga • Nutrition Tips for Quick Meals • Diabetes Prevention Program – Health Care-only info session • 1,000 liveWELL Program Gratitude journals delivered to frontline workers
FY21 METRICS AND VALUE
by the numbers
Combined, there were 28,080 total participants in various programs and services offered. This represents 11,628 unique faculty and staff member participants.
AGREEMENT WITH POST-PROGRAM SURVEY for Health and Productivity Units
• My personal well-being has improved–95%
TRAINING SERIES
These 4-part series complement a full menu of trainings/presentations available to employees throughout the year.
Resilience 101
The Four Pillars of Planning for Retirement
• 84 attendees • 89% reported already implementing something to improve their resilience
• My ability to perform optimally has increased–93%
“It is helpful to hear different perspectives in a group and open yourself up to change.”
• My identities were respected–100%
Anti-Inflammatory Eating for Optimum Health
• My satisfaction with working at UI has increased–89%
UI EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM 936 participants in 1,615 sessions • 98% reported feeling understood • 99% reported their identities were respected • 97% satisfied • 92% well-being improved • $164,730 saved by offering an internal EAP
• 166 attendees • 97% are committed to taking action with something they learned • 87% report their effectiveness at work has improved
• 204 attendees with emphasis on Financial, Legal, Legacy, and Caregiving • 100% report that their identities were respected • 100% report an inclusive environment Juggling It All • 68 attendees • 84% learned a new way to think about an issue • 100% committed to taking action on something they learned
The Health and Productivity areas of University Human Resources include: UI Employee Assistance Program • Family Services • UI Wellness/liveWELL We offer programs and services to address many aspects of well-being: Financial • Physical Activity • Workplace Wellness • Family & Relationships • Emotional Support Nutrition • Chronic Condition Prevention • Workplace Flexibility • Resilience • Child Care Resources Elder Caregiving Resources • Managing Stress We work with these partners from campus and the community: Horizons, A Family Service Alliance • LivWell Seniors, Inc. • TIAA • University Employee Health Clinic Recreational Services • UI Health Care • College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, Dept. of Health & Human Physiology