View in browser  |  Ver versión en español

 OFFICE OF THE CHIEF HUMAN RESOURCES OFFICER

August 21, 2024

ALL STAFF AT UC SAN DIEGO (excluding UC San Diego Health and Health Sciences) 

People Leaders:  For staff without ready access to email, please print and post a copy of this email. 

Y’all feel that? I feel it, too. And I’m not talking about an earthquake; I’m talking about the rapid pace of life paired with the constant tasks that show up personally and professionally on the daily. I know the Olympics are over (to my dismay), but sometimes it feels like we’re starring in our own competition, performing more acrobatics than Simone Biles herself. Phew! I’m human, too, and I’m sharing this with you because I’m passionate about emphasizing the human in human resources.

This time of the year, we tend to think we can get more done because things are relatively quiet. I don’t know that there has been any quiet, and I want to name that. I also want to name that working 70 hours is no longer a flex, for those boasting their gold medal in late-night emails or overtime. With fewer resources and seemingly fewer hours in the day, how can we do less with less? Let me impress:

Remember, life is a marathon, not a sprint. Pace yourself, and show yourself and others grace, because the only race we’re in is the one against ourselves. Let’s slow down and smell the roses.

Lead with grace and courage,  

Terri S. Winbush 
Campus Chief Human Resources Officer 

In an effort to enhance the safety of our staff and academics, ensure compliance with California law AB119, and support Space Management, all staff and academics are required to review, confirm, and/or update their work location in the work location form beginning August 20, 2024. Reference this recent campus notice and the work location page on Blink for instructions and additional information.

The Staff@Work Survey asks all campus and health sciences staff to contribute anonymous feedback about perceptions of their workplace so the leadership team at UC San Diego can take measurable steps to address concerns. This year’s survey runs from August 28 to September 27. You will receive a survey for completion via email. This year, we are excited to announce a donation will be made to the Triton Food Pantry with every survey completed! Beginning this year, the Staff@Work survey will run every other year to enable more action planning with your valuable feedback. Check your inbox on August 28 to participate, and don’t miss your chance to share your insights so we can make UC San Diego an even better place to work. Visit Blink for details on past results.

Senior Director of Talent Solutions Samson Blackwell recently sat with UC San Diego Today to talk about our strategy behind finding the best talent for the university, and plans in place to help make the People Proposition the lived experience for employees on campus. Read the article on UC San Diego Today.

As part of the university’s commitment to transparency and public accountability, including the way it compensates faculty and staff, UC is conducting its annual disclosure of systemwide employee compensation for calendar year 2023. The 2023 payroll data, along with a summary analysis, is available online in the UC Office of the President website. Learn more in this recent campus notice.

The Abusive Conduct in the Workplace Policy effective January of 2023 is now available in multiple languages on the UC Office of the President website, including English, Spanish, Tagalog, and Chinese. Learn more about the policy on UCnet.

If you weren’t able to attend our most recent People Leader Summit on July 23, you can view a recording of it on Blink along with a deck of the presentation. We discussed ways to plan for, attract, hire, and retain exceptional people; shared facts and dispelled myths about talent; provided updates from HR;  and more.

Interested in additional opportunities to explore resources, curate ideas and strategies, and connect with fellow people leaders? Consider attending one of our upcoming people leadership training sessions. View the 2024 People Leader Development Program calendar for descriptions and registration information. Highlights include: Supervisory Training Laboratory (October), Team Building: Setting Norms, Goals and Expectations (October), and Supervising at UC San Diego (October-November).

Learn to create elevated online teaching and learning experiences through this course offered by Extended Studies. Taught by experts in the field who know the theory and science behind instructional design, this program will provide guidance with the most up-to-date teaching tools, technologies, and even AI. Develop courses and training using best practices, and meet the challenges of organizations and industry head on. Find out more on the Extended Studies website.

Employee Wellness is excited to announce the launch of Bright Breaks for campus staff and faculty in October. This voluntary program offers hundreds of live and on-demand 7-minute sessions to support you throughout your work week. Topics include movement, stress-reduction, mindfulness and meditation, yoga, nutrition, and more! Bright Breaks are free for all UC San Diego faculty and career employees through single sign-on. Sign up for the waitlist here.

The University of California Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) is a free, one-year lifestyle change program available to all UC San Diego employees and their family members 18+ who have pre-diabetes or are at risk for type 2 diabetes. Sessions are led by a certified DPP coach, with the program cutting the risk of developing type 2 diabetes in half. The next cohort is English-speaking, and takes place on Tuesday, September 24 from 12 – 1 p.m. Fill out this Qualtrics interest form to learn more.

UC San Diego employees can sign up for the monthly Employee Wellness newsletter highlighting wellness-related announcements, upcoming events and programs, wellness info and tips, free programs for employees, and more. Fill out this registration form to sign up.

Staff Summer Celebration, an annual staff appreciation event celebrating the amazing staff at UC San Diego is taking place Wednesday, August 28 from 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. at the Sun God Lawn. This year’s summer fest will feature activation stations, fun giveaways, and entertainment provided by DJ Shammy Dee ’06. Lunch tickets are sold out; however, a ticket is not required to enter the main event space on Sun God Lawn. Visit the Staff Association webpage for more information.

Join the next virtual Staff Town Hall focusing on talent on Tuesday, August 27, 2024, from 10 – 11:30 a.m. Register through Zoom, and help us prepare for the Staff Town Hall as we separate fact from fiction.

We are gathering information to address common myths and misconceptions about hiring and compensation at UC San Diego during our upcoming Staff Town Hall. Please share any rumors, stories, or statements you have heard about the hiring and compensation process at UC San Diego that you would like us to clarify.

Here are a few examples to get you started:

Submit your answers through this Qualtrics form.

Members of the UC San Diego community are invited to attend the virtual Exemplary Staff Employee of the Year Awards ceremony on Thursday, August 29, 2024, at 3 p.m. The Exemplary Staff Employee of the Year Award Program recognizes professional and support staff career employees who make exceptional contributions to the UC San Diego and San Diego communities in support of the vision to be a "student-centered, research-focused, service-oriented public university." Learn more in this recent campus notice, and register through Zoom.