| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 68.36 |
| Liaison | Patricia Huynh |
| Submission Date | Dec. 10, 2024 |
University of Waterloo
PA-14: Wellness Program
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.00 / 1.00 |
Mat
Thijssen Sustainability Manager Sustainability Office |
Part 1. Wellness program
Does the institution have a wellness and/or employee assistance program that makes counseling, referral, and wellbeing services available to all academic staff?:
Does the institution have a wellness and/or employee assistance program that makes counseling, referral, and wellbeing services available to all non-academic staff?:
A brief description of the institution’s wellness and/or employee assistance program(s):
As part of the Employee Assistance Program (Policy 67 - https://uwaterloo.ca/secretariat/policies-procedures-guidelines/policy-67) University of Waterloo employees and their dependent family members have a range of health and wellness services under the Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP), provided by Homewood Health Inc, ™. The program is a complement to the current benefits program, at no additional cost to employees.
Waterloo hosts an annual Keeping Well @ Work event for employees to attend which includes a range of keynote speakers and wellness sessions. Prior to the pandemic, this event took place in person on a designated day and vendors were available to provide information booths; however, during the pandemic, the event has transitioned to a virtual format only but spread over a couple of weeks (without vendor booths) which has enhanced accessibility by some employees, especially in satellite campuses or those who cannot dedicate a full day.
In addition to providing confidential short-term Counselling Services, the program also offers Life Smart Services – a series of work-life services for expert advice, information, and coaching that you and your eligible family members can access and use in your own way.
Counselling Services are available in person, by telephone, or online for various reasons, including:
- Stress Management
- Depression and Anxiety
- Alcohol/drug abuse
- Marital and Couple problems
- Family-of-origin conflicts
- Life Smart Services are available by telephone for work-life balance assistance (not available outside of North America), these include:
- Life Balance Solutions – childcare, parenting, elder and family care, relationship solutions, financial consultation, legal advisory, burnout and stress
- Health Smart Coaching – smoking cessation, jumpstart your wellness, nutritional counselling
- Career Smart Coaching – career coaching/counselling, pre-retirement planning, shift worker support
Waterloo’s commitment to a Healthy Workplace is outlined in the President’s statement. Waterloo also signed the Okanagan Charter in 2018, which includes commitments for both employees and students. which signifies a commitment to embed wellbeing into everyday operations, business practices and academic mandates, while providing leadership in new and innovative health promotion projects, initiatives, research, and learning. The Wellness Collaborative has emerged as a mechanism to operationalize the Okanagan Charter by communicating, coordinating and collaborating with all campus stakeholders to build on existing strengths and implement new evidence-based actions. It uses the following principles to guide its work:
- Holistic – addresses physical health, mental health and resilience, social inclusion and belonging, spiritual health; and
- Comprehensive – addresses personal development, the learning and working environment, the built and natural environment, and supportive policies.
- nclusive and diverse – value the wellness of the entire campus community including students, faculty, staff, and CUPE members. To create a healthy university for all, we must draw on the differences in who we are, our lived experiences, and how we think, learn and work.
Considered both a strategy and a structure, the Wellness Collaborative’s goal is to “transform the health and sustainability of our current and future societies, strengthen our community and contribute to the well-being of our people, places and the planet.” This supports University of Waterloo’s long-term aspiration of strengthening sustainable and diverse communities of the Strategic Plan 2020-2025. .
As a first step to advancing its goal, the Wellness Collaborative established an Advisory Committee in August 2019, representing all campus stakeholder groups (e.g. students, staff, faculty, CUPE). Its first task was to review all current institutional health and wellness surveys and consultations to develop proposed priorities. This resulted in the following five priorities: i) institutional commitment at all levels to wellness, ii) sense of belonging, iii) mental wellness, iv) spiritual wellness, and v) supportive environments for active living and healthy eating. The Wellness Collaborative also has a Community of Practice, with over 100 members, which meets 4-5 times per year.
Part 2. Smoke-free environments
Does the institution restrict outdoor smoking?:
Does the institution prohibit smoking and tobacco use across the entire campus?:
A copy of the institution's smoke-free policy:
The institution’s smoke-free policy:
Optional Fields
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.