Wellness

Human Resources offers resources to foster your wellbeing as an individual, opportunities to participate in healthy workplace initiatives, and services to support a healthy work environment.

The university encourages employees to be mindful of their health and well-being, but understands that issues may arise that require additional support. To this end, the university engages with Morneau Shepell to furnish an Employee and Family Assistance Program to all Faculty, CUPE, and Excluded employees. This confidential short-term referral service provides 24-hour confidential support to employees and their dependants on a variety of life/work issues. For non-regular, sessional, temporary or casual employees, this service is during periods of active employment.

Human Resources can provide support if an employee is absent from duty due to illness or injury, in cooperation with the union where appropriate. This support may range from confirming the availability of paid sick leave to facilitating a short- or long-term disability referral or assisting with an accommodation or a return-to-work plan. In addition, if concerns arise around the physical or mental well-being of an employee, Human Resources may activate the university’s “Duty to Inquire” to ensure the employee receives the support they need.

Workplace Accommodation Guidelines

      Not Myself Today is a workplace mental health initiative is presented by the Canadian Mental Health Association and facilitated by our Human Resources Department. The initiative is based on the insight that we all have days when we just don’t feel like ourselves.

      Not Myself Today includes an online Mental Health Toolkit for our administrators and managers, champions of the initiative (aka Ambassadors) and our employees, to help us learn the basics, have better dialogue, bring emotional intelligence to our work, address stress, and build a generally more positive, productive work environment.

      There are 5 online modules guiding core learning areas each containing a video, awareness-building materials, engagement activities and resources available online 24/7. These modules are: Addressing Stress; Learning the Basics; Talking Openly; Working with Emotions, and Building Culture. We will bring these modules to life by highlighting them individually throughout the year and keeping them top of mind.

      Join us in being part of this mental health wellness journey. When we feel safe and supported at work, we feel better and are able to fully contribute. Now, more than ever, each of us has an important role to play in building a positive work culture that feels safe, supportive and mentally healthy.

      For more information on getting started, please contact Maliheh Oliver (maliheholiver@ecuad.ca | local 3869)

      As an added bonus, employees who exercise during their noon hour may extend their break by 15 minutes.

      Emily Carr’s Wellness Committee aims to support employees by providing a variety of programs and wellness-oriented workshops throughout the year.

      If you are interested in joining the committee, please contact Susan Milner (smilner@ecuad.ca | local 3825)