The Sustainability & Wellbeing team from Unitec has created and introduced a range of online activities and initiatives to ensure that their alumni remain well supported. At the same time, they adjust to different work environments throughout the year, in regards to lockdown and face-to-face teaching.
While the staff works from home, the team has shared multiple tips on how to set up an ergonomic home workspace and how to create fair work-life schedules, including relevant articles and interviews of interest.
Another support has included advice on mental health and wellbeing, including ways to boost immunity and adapt to a new way of living and working. They have also given access to different agencies that they can contact for support and assistance, including the Employee Assistance Programme offered by EAP Services.
While the Unitec Staff Wellness programme is usually run on campus, they have continued on an online format during the lockdown, and still run multiple activities such as meditation, a walking club, hula, Bollywood dance and boot camps. These activities are all voluntarily run by Unitec staff, all of whom were happy to set up online options, so all types of people could continue to engage in their regular wellness sessions.
Not only are the Sustainability and Wellbeing Team setting up significant initiatives to ensure that many people are well taken care of, but many of Unitec’s staff have created online chat forums to share ideas for work and home life, including tips on online team meetings and keeping children entertained while working at home.
Unitec’s Human Resources team isn’t only looking out for their wellbeing, but are making regular personal calls to staff across all schools within New Zealand, and support teams are checking on their welfare, answering questions and advising on issues including mental wellbeing, IT set-up and juggling work-life balance.
This great initiative from Unitec ensures that not only the students are looked after during uncertain times, but that the staff within Unitec has given proper advice and access to well-being sessions, ensuring that they can keep up well while teaching their students.
