Today@Dal

This is the last in a series of articles showcasing the departments and Faculties nominated for the 2014 Healthy Workplace Award.

Can you name all five of Dalhousie’s libraries?  

The Kellogg, Killam, Law, MacRae, and Sexton libraries serve thousands of patrons each year, employ over 140 librarians, administrators and support staff, and are the hubs of many sources of information and resource services.

The range of initiatives undertaken to support employee and workplace health and wellness is impressive, with a mix of individual and group activities so that, even though their employees are spread across multiple locations, all have an opportunity to participate in something. They organized their own 10-week yoga program, held a skating party at the Emera Oval, and participated in the “Spring into Action Challenge,” with all 25 participants meeting the minimum requirement of 30 minutes of physical activity per day for five days each week for six weeks.  

“Healthier and happier employees are more productive and find more enjoyment in coming to work each day” explains Sandra Dwyer, Chair of the Libraries Health & Wellness Committee. Ergonomic assessments of work spaces, a milestone recognition program, a “Be Well” newsletter, and the engagement of employees in better understanding their workplace survey results are just some of the many other ways the University Libraries connect to the many dimensions of workplace wellness.

Donna Bourne-Tyson, University Librarian, is proud that the Libraries have one of the very few departmental health and wellness committees at Dal. She believes that “by supporting these activities and encouraging staff participation morale improves, as does the cohesiveness of the groups as they come closer together through not only working together, but learning and playing together as well.”

Contact HealthyDal@Dal.ca to explore how to advance the health of your workplace.