Upcoming Events
Practicing gratitude has many proven benefits.
Join your HR colleagues for the next Gratitude Happy Hour
Monday, April 12
11 - 11:45 a.m.
Join Zoom Meeting (passcode 565984)
Creating Inclusion & Safe Spaces
Monthly, Apr. - June
Begins April 22 @ 10 a.m.
Learn more and RSVP
The need to connect at work is powerful and leaders can create safe and inclusive spaces. Join OE in this highly interactive series that empowers leaders to deal with issues like:
- Talking about race at work
- Coaching skills for leaders
- Creating more inclusion
- Facilitating open dialogue
News About Past Events
"Not Racist" is Not Enough: Become an Anti-Racist
Tuesday, March 23
12:30 - 2 p.m.
Learn more and RSVP
In this Race Matters session, we'll share what it takes to be anti-racist and a tool to help you move through fear to growth on your personal anti-racist journey.
March 17, 2021: HR Connects hosted a St. Patrick's Day Scavenger Hunt!
Pictures coming soon!
November, 2020: Thriving in Turbulent Times series
Presented by Organizational Excellence
The year 2020 has brought a global pandemic, devastating wildfires and hazardous air quality, and social unrest amid a national reckoning with racial inequities and injustices.
With stress and uncertainty affecting all UC Davis Health staff, faculty, students and affiliates, our UC Davis Organizational Excellence team coordinated and presented, “Thriving in Turbulent Times”, a series of free webinars and workshops throughout October and November for UC Davis Health leaders and staff. This series focused on bolstering resiliency so that all employees can continue to thrive, personally and professionally, during this challenging year and beyond. The series was presented by UC Davis Organizational Excellence and sponsored by Vice Chancellor of Human Health Sciences and UC Davis Health CEO David Lubarsky and the UCDH Executive Leadership Team.
Kicking off with a special keynote presentation by Dr. Amit Sood, a world-renowned expert on resilience and well-being, the series featured a variety of themed sessions sponsored by UC Davis Health executive leadership.
In addition to presentations by Barrett McBride, Tracy Preciado, Vicky Tibbs, and Gayle Guest-Brown from Organizational Excellence, other speakers included Carol Kirshnit, Director of Academic and Staff Assistance Program; Sandy Batchelor, WorkLife Manager; Lauren Bloom, Director of the Ombuds Office; and a closing session by Nancy Vitale, a total well-being expert from Partners for Wellbeing.
The sessions were a success and were attended by over 1,000 leaders and staff of UCDH.
October, 2020: HR Fall Social
Hosted by HRConnects!
HR Connects! hosted a Fall Social on October 29th. The Social gave an opportunity for the HR staff to show off their best costumes, zoom backgrounds and carved pumpkins. But it also just gave us an opportunity to connect, chat and laugh with each other. We have a creative bunch in our HR team and we had a great time seeing everyone. We even had some people coordinate their Halloween costumes with their zoom backgrounds. Our winners for this event earned “Pride Not Prize”!
- Best Costume Winner: Gladys Roby – “Corona Witch with hat and mask”
- Runners-Up: Pam Fiorini – “Scream”, Julia Johnson – “Family Unicorn”
- Best Zoom Background: Sagal Elmi – “Dark, scary haunted house”
- Runner-Up: An DeYoung – “PeeWee’s Playhouse (with coordinated Ms. Yvonne costume)”
- Best Pumpkin: Hilary Wolf – “Jack”
We hope to see you all at our next event! Keep an eye out for upcoming announcements!
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September, 2020: Discussion of Documentary 13th
HR Connects hosted HR staff in a conversation to discuss Ava DuVernay’s Oscar-nominated documentary titled 13th about the criminalization of African Americans and the U.S. prison boom. The goal was to provide an opportunity for staff to discuss the documentary and share their thoughts and feelings in a safe and open environment. What took place was a thoughtful, emotional conversation about a documentary that laid bare the truth surrounding this nation’s history from the thirteenth Amendment until today.
- Read more about the conversation...
- The documentary brought forward feelings of frustration, sadness, and disgust for how our nation and its citizens have treated African Americans, and all people of color, throughout history; for the ways in which they have used the government, its laws and the media to aid their efforts. Most HR staff felt that while it was difficult to watch the images and listen to the information presented in this documentary, it was nonetheless important for all of us to hear, see and remember. Many of those who shared their thoughts felt that these conversations are necessary to ensure we continue to listen and educate ourselves to help bring forward true change and not continue to repeat history to the detriment of this nations’ citizens.
We would like to thank those who were able attend and participate. We felt that the contributions from those in attendance made this difficult topic approachable in such a way that it allowed everyone to be able to speak and share their thoughts and feelings.
At the conclusion of our conversation it was also suggested that we host light-hearted events, discussions or activities. We absolutely support and agree with that suggestion and already have some fun activities planned for upcoming months. This conversation felt timely and important to host. Look forward in the next few weeks to an announcement for an upcoming Fall Harvest themed event for staff.
September, 2020: Update from Employee Experience Workgroup
The New HR Employee Experience group would like to thank all HR for participating in our questionnaire in September. The information obtained will further help in accomplishing our purpose – to create a “red carpet” experience that prepares newly hired and transitioning HR employees for personal and professional success and provide the tools and resources needed for ongoing development and long-term contributions to the University. Special thanks to Mi-Chelle Thomas for disseminating the link and email communication to all HR, and to Debbie Ramos for your Qualtrics expertise and support in designing the questionnaire on our behalf.
With gratitude and appreciation: Ellen Jordan, JoAnna Van Brocklin, Patty Covington Fleming, Robert Pettit, Mao Lee, Bev Huizar, Carmen Soriano, and Randa Wilbur
August, 2020: HR Staff Appreciation Event
On August 31, the inaugural HR Staff Appreciation event was held with 160 participants attending the fun and interactive event via Zoom. Special guest Chef Santana Diaz did a phenomenal job cooking flavor bombed tacos that were simple enough to make at home. The topper was the Leadership team’s finale performance of “Thank You for Being HR’s Best!" It was original, creative, and bravely delivered. Thank you to the HR Staff Workgroup volunteers for planning and running the event.
One Word
Click the links below to see what your colleagues had to say about....
- Motivation Image Below (May, 2021)
- Satisfaction (March, 2021)
- Feelings On the New Year (February, 2021)
- What They're Thankful For (November, 2020)
- Remote Work (October, 2020)
