Today@Dal

Presentations, focus groups, action plans.

Across the university, departments are responding to their Workplace Survey results and implementing new initiatives to better support their faculty and staff. Here is an update on what two areas of the university have done as a result of knowing what faculty and staff have said about their workplaces. Perhaps these initiatives will spark ideas that may be suitable for your Faculty or Department.

The Faculty of Health Professions has launched a service milestone recognition program, coordinated through the Dean’s Office. Faculty and staff are recognized for 10 and 20 years of service in Health Professions. The Dean sends these employees a letter of appreciation and Dal Bookstore gift card, announces each of them at the Faculty's annual Holiday event, and publishes their names in the Faculty newsletter. In addition, there is a follow-up story profiling two employees (one staff member and one faculty member) about their specific work within Health Professions and how they feel their School or College has contributed to a positive, thriving work environment which, in turn, has led them to long service within that unit.

The Department of Athletics and Recreational Services has established several regular activities in response to the need for improved communication and recognition. Following the success of their first Operations meeting, they have increased the frequency of future meetings to at least four times a year. A revitalization of their "Yak ‘n Snaks" — a combination social and information exchange — will take place three times each year. They're also launching the ACHIEVE performance support program for employees, and their first set of employee kudos was circulated in January.

Contact your Faculty or Department leader if you want to know more about the Workplace Survey results for your area. The University-level results of the past three surveys have been compiled into one spot at http://bit.ly/DalWorkSurvey.

Look for more updates in future editions of Today@Dal

Comments and questions are welcome to HR@Dal.ca.