Make Your Meetings More Active

  • Include items on your meeting agenda that require participants to get out of their seats (breakout groups, stand and write ideas on an easel).
  • Choose movement friendly meeting locations (walkable neighborhoods, on-site gym, nearby park).
  • Hire a professional instructor (pilates, yoga, tai chi, stretching, Zumba) to lead a class before or during the meeting.
  • Point out the stairs and encourage attendees to use them. Consider including the location of stairs in meeting directions or putting arrows to the stairs in front of elevators.
  • Organize a group walk early in the morning, during a break or before/after dinner.
  • Consider incorporating standing ovations after each speaker to encourage participants to stand and stretch.

Standing Breaks

  • At least once an hour, participants should be encouraged to stand up to improve blood circulation, boost metabolism, and relieve physical discomfort from sitting for prolonged periods of time.
  • Announce that it is fine to stand up and move around, as needed. If possible, provide raised tables for those electing to stand during the meeting.

Stretch Breaks

  • Stretch breaks help participants wake up their bodies and minds.
  • Encourage people to stand up and stretch in place.
  • Try playing a Healthy UC Davis WakeBreak video! These instructor-led stretch videos range from 4 to 15 minutes. 

Breathing Exercise

  • Focused breathing is an energizing activity that can help relax and clear your mind. Simply inhale for four seconds, hold it for seven seconds, and exhale for eight seconds.

Suggested Activity Agendas

LENGTH OF MEETINGSTANDING BREAKSTRETCH BREAKSBREATHING BREAKSMOVEMENT BREAKSWALKING BREAKS
50 - 60 minx x  
2 - 4 hoursxxxx 
All Dayxxxxx

New Virtual Training Opportunity: Nonviolent Crisis Intervention – Verbal De-Escalation

  • by Kimberly McLennan, Trainer

Quick Summary

  • Discover a valuable virtual training opportunity in Nonviolent Crisis Intervention: Verbal De-Escalation, designed to equip staff with practical skills to prevent and manage crisis situations across diverse workplace settings.

NEW! Virtual Training Opportunity: Nonviolent Crisis Intervention-Verbal De-escalation Course

We are excited to share an important new training opportunity that supports safer, more respectful interactions in the workplace: the Virtual Nonviolent Crisis Intervention: Verbal De-Escalation course, developed by the Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI) and Workplace Violence Prevention.

This evidence-based training equips staff with practical tools to prevent, de-escalate, and safely respond to crisis behaviors—skills that are critical across healthcare, education, public service, and customer-facing environments.

What You’ll Learn

Participants will gain essential skills to:

  • Recognize and respond appropriately to various levels of crisis behavior
  • Stay calm and consistent to positively influence outcomes
  • Strengthen nonverbal communication and situational awareness
  • Apply effective limit-setting techniques for verbal de-escalation
  • Use a relationship-centered approach to support individuals in distress

Who Should Attend?

This training is valuable for all staff, including:

  • Customer service and front-line professionals
  • Student-facing staff in educational settings
  • Direct patient care providers
  • Campus safety and security personnel

Whether you're managing day-to-day interactions or high-stress situations, this course offers a supportive framework to build confidence and competence in handling challenging behaviors.

Upcoming Virtual Sessions:

  • July 22 (Initial) | 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
  • August 14 | 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
  • September 16 | 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
  • October 23 | 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
  • November 13 | 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
  • December 17 | 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

How to Register

To register, please log into the LMS (Learning Management System).

We encourage you to share this opportunity with your teams and networks—help us promote a safer and more compassionate workplace for everyone.

Additional Resources:

Mental Health First Aid class: Sign Up Now!

Workplace Violence Prevention: https://hr.ucdavis.edu/departments/elr/workplaceviolence/

Academic and Staff Assistance Program (ASAP): https://www.hr.ucdavis.edu/departments/asap

Ombuds: https://ombuds.ucdavis.edu/

Counselor drop-ins: https://ucdavis.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_byI2jDrEAPyQzMa?Q_CHL=qr

Support U Peer Responder Program: clinicalwellbeing@ucdavis.edu

Harassment & Discrimination Assistance and Prevention Program: https://hdapp.ucdavis.edu/

Workplace Violence Prevention Program

Contact the Workplace Violence Prevention Unit:

 

Tags

Workplace Violence Prevention