The blend of work and life hit the spotlight this year, displaying issues, concerns, imbalances, and injustices, while also creating conversation spaces to discuss individual needs in the shifting landscape of work. The WorkLife Office focuses on five main areas: family, workplace assistance/wellness, career, campus/community connections, and relocation. Over the past year, our goal was to help support faculty and staff who worked remotely, returned to campus, or didn’t return to work through furlough, layoff, or job changes.

This parenting group focuses on learning parenting tips and strategies to support a child’s behavior at home and school. If you want to pass this along in any capacity to parents you think could benefit/would be interested, we would really appreciate it! Please note, there will be a cap on the number of participants, so please sign up as soon as possible. Any questions, please email msucapgroups@gmail.com.

The MSU International Affinity Group is for Spartans with an international background to connect with the goal of building community and sharing experiences. Let us know if you are interested in getting information about this group.

Town & Gown offers weekly presentations on a wide range of fascinating topics with time for discussion. Sessions presented by MSU faculty will be held Tuesdays from 5 - 6:30 p.m. via Zoom. Contact John Waller (517) 775-0899 wallerj1@msu.edu to get email notices. See upcoming sessions and register at the Senior Ambassadors Program website.  

"I'm a CEO who allowed my remote employees to set their own working hours. We're way more productive and much happier as a result" - Jesper Schultz, the CEO of BasicOps, discusses five ways in which permitting more flexible work arrangements enhanced both the company's and employees' performance. Schultz explains that with the surge in remote working, flexibility in the workplace is no longer a luxury, but a necessity. Some of the improvements that Schultz saw in her employees after permitting remote working were increased productivity, fewer sick days, better communication, and even happier employees! While this source doesn't directly discuss remote work in higher education, it can still be used as an example of why and how MSU should continue offering remote work arrangements.

The Outstanding Supervisor Awards honor Michigan State University supervisors who have consistently demonstrated work-life sensitivity and support of the professional/personal needs of the employees in their unit. Watch: What makes an Outstanding Supervisor? (panel discussion).

This year's winners will be announced soon!

Students today face increasing pressures that can lead to emotional distress, depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and even thoughts of suicide. As faculty and staff, we can take small steps that make a big difference. MSU has adopted an online conversation simulation, Kognito for Faculty & Staff, to help us learn to notice signs of distress, use techniques to discuss our concerns, and, if necessary, refer students to appropriate resources.

The diversity statement is becoming a staple of the higher education job application process. Follow these four steps to craft a diversity statement that shares your background, what drives your commitment to diversity, and how you demonstrate that commitment. Have you already had to submit a diversity statement as part of the job application process?

A place for Spartans to connect on family-related topics with the goal of connecting, building community and sharing best practices regarding raising or caregiving for children and caregivers.

A place for Spartans to connect on adult caregiving/eldercare topics with the goal of connecting, building community and sharing best practices regarding adult/elder caregiving and the importance of caring for the caregivers.