UC Davis is taking an important step to strengthen employee well-being by bringing together the Academic and Staff Assistance Program (ASAP), WorkLife, Recognition, and the Staff and Faculty Health and Well-being (SFHWB) programs under one coordinated umbrella: the Benefits and Employee Support department within Human Resources.

This thoughtful alignment brings together the deeply personal and supportive services (and widely regarded teams) that help employees bring their best selves to work—counseling, wellness programs, family care, recognition and more—all in one place, and working more closely together. 

This change also responds to the upcoming retirements of two longtime leaders and reflects our university-wide commitment to budget savings through smart, strategic service consolidation. With the retirements of ASAP director Dr. Carol Kirshnit and WorkLife manager Sandy Batchelor on July 1, UC Davis is unifying these employee-focused programs to ensure we continue delivering the best possible support for staff and faculty at both UC Davis and UC Davis Health.

“Our goal is to make it as easy as possible for UC Davis employees to find the resources they need to thrive—personally, professionally, physically and mentally,” said Elizabeth Delo, Executive Director for HR’s Benefits and Employee Support. “By uniting these programs, we’re not only enhancing our support for employees and their families, we’re also making sustainable, forward-looking decisions that benefit our valued employees.”

What’s Changing July 1

• ASAP will have a new director (recruitment underway) and will continue to provide vital services—including confidential counseling and crisis support—as it always has. The program will now be more closely aligned with other benefit and well-being services under the HR Benefits and Employee Support department, reporting to Elizabeth Delo, executive director.

• Employee Well-being Unit: Our Staff and Faculty Health and Well-being colleagues, Director Stacey Brezing, and Program Coordinator Tong-Reen (Connie) Tan, will move from Safety Services to Human Resources and become part of the Employee Well-being unit. This consolidated team will also include Recognition and WorkLife and will be led by Director Mallory Boeckman, a longtime HR leader with a strong track record in recognition, worklife, and wellness strategy.

“Employee well-being isn’t a single program—it’s a culture that helps improve engagement, retention and our reputation as a best employer,” said Mallory Boeckman, director of Employee Well-being. “I’m excited to lead a team that is dedicated to helping every UC Davis employee feel supported, recognized, and empowered to thrive in all aspects of their life and work.”

Importantly, this transition also responds to employee feedback calling for simpler access to well-being resources, and it will better support UC Davis and UC Davis Health’s continued leadership in the UC-wide workgroup on employee well-being—a group established in response to a Council of UC Staff Assemblies (CUCSA) recommendation to take a more strategic, long-term approach to supporting the whole employee.

This change also comes at a time when UC Davis is deepening its focus on employee experience. Our first-ever Employee Experience Survey conducted across both campuses asked employees to share feedback on what’s working and what could be improved at UC Davis and UC Davis Health. By aligning well-being resources, UC Davis is already taking a proactive step to streamline access, communication and support to directly address employee needs.

“This is an opportunity to build on everything that has made these teams and programs so incredibly valued and impactful,” Delo said. “Our goal is not just to maintain these critical services, but to strengthen them for the long term.”

Work is underway to develop the Benefits and Employee Support webpages on the HR website, and more updates will be shared in the coming weeks. In the meantime, we encourage you to visit the websites for ASAP, Recognition, WorkLife, and SFHWB to learn more about available resources and upcoming programs.