Welcome to Spring 2021 -
A year ago when I wrote the message below, I had been here for less than 6 months and was full of optimism. Now, with nearly 17 months behind me, I remain full of optimism and continue to be excited about my work with all of you. There are many more challenges than we anticipated a year ago, but I believe we have and will continue to overcome them. I would like to take this opportunity to remind you of some of the “community agreements” that we made in the past several months in light of the challenges presented by COVID-19.
-
No Routine Meetings on Friday Afternoons. In response to increasing fatigue from large numbers of Zoom meetings, we agreed that we would avoid scheduling routine meetings on Friday afternoons. Remember to keep Friday afternoons open for catching up on work and life without having to be in front of a camera.
-
Be Flexible in Our Expectations of Ourselves and Others. We know that for many of us it is not possible to continue to work in the same way we did before the pandemic. As a result of our deep commitment to UC Berkeley, many of us have tried to “power through” and are experiencing burn out. If you are wondering if someone is able to “do more”, just ask them and be prepared to hear “no.” Remember to show understanding and empathy for your colleagues and for yourself.
-
Take Care of Yourself. You have heard this message numerous times both before and during the pandemic because of how important it is. Remember to take time for yourself and your own well-being. The Be Well at Work program offers many virtual workshops this Spring, while our very own Greater Good Science Center is always an excellent resource.
Last year, among other things, I challenged you to find time to connect with a colleague without doing work. I will issue the same challenge this year as it seems to be a good one, understanding of course that it will more likely be virtual. I also want to encourage you to take vacation (and use your furlough days if you have them) even if you have nowhere to go.
====================== Jan 2020 CalMessage
Welcome back Berkeley Community!
Before our lives get fully scheduled with the return of students and all the things we do to support other people, I’d like each of us to take a moment to think about ourselves. We‘re so committed and dedicated to the mission of the University that we often forget to take care of ourselves and deprioritize our own well-being.
I want to challenge each of us to do something for ourselves this semester:
-
make time in your schedule for lunch (not a working lunch!) or coffee with a colleague,
-
take a walk in the middle of the day to clear your mind and enjoy our beautiful campus or the Botanical Gardens,
-
try saying, “no, I can’t,” the next time you’re just too busy to take on more work,
-
sign up for one of the many opportunities right here on campus sponsored by Be Well at Work.
For those of us who manage other people, we have a special responsibility to help our employees Be Well at Work, and this is more than just asking how someone is doing. In addition to supporting our employees who might want to do one of the things suggested above, there are other simple things we can do. For example, when an employee says that they are too busy to do more work, believe them. Even better, next time when you want to ask someone to take on more work, ask them first if they can, or ask them how much time they might need before you set the deadline. These are just a couple of examples of the many things we can do to improve the experience of our employees, and model a healthy workplace culture. At the same time, however, we cannot forget the equally important task of taking care of ourselves.
Eugene
Eugene Whitlock, Chief People & Culture Officer