Managing Your Mental Health
HR has collected a great set of mental health resources to help you manage the ups and downs of our COVID-19 experience. Our VPFO HR staff is on campus every day for confidential conversations. See below for this week’s HR duty roster.
RECEIVE FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT SUPPORT
Many peoples’ family financial situations are shifting right now. The Employee and Family Assistance Program is confidential and available to support all eligible faculty and staff with financial questions.
Last week’s updates from UBC
- July 10: President’s weekly update
- July 8: President’s update on UBC’s approach to controversial speaker bookings
- June 30: FAQs for students, faculty and staff updated to include information about the status of events.
General updates about UBC and its response to COVID-19 continue to be updated at covid19.ubc.ca.
Department updates
Facilities – Building Operations, Energy & Water Services, and Infrastructure Development
- Project Services’ Project Coordinators on-site support schedule this week: Please continue to contact the designated Project Manager/Coordinator for project inquiries.
- July 13: Victor Wong & David Meek
- July 14: Victor Wong & David Meek
- July 15: Darren Herrington & David Meek
- July 16: Darren Herrington & David Kosub
- July 17: Darren Herrington & David Kosub
Finance – Comptroller, Finance & Operational Excellence, and Treasury
- Welcoming Elana Mignosa: Our new AVP Finance & Operational Excellence Elana Mignosa had her first days with UBC last week. Please take the chance to welcome her if you can!
- Responsible Investment: On behalf of the university, UBC Investment Management Trust (IMANT) has signed the internationally-developed Principles for Responsible Investment. This is a voluntary and aspirational set of investment principles that offer possible actions for incorporating ESG issues into investment practice and will apply to both the Endowment and the Staff Pension Plan. More information to follow.
- UBC Budget: The revised university budget was presented to the UBC Executive on July 7, and will be presented to the Finance Committee and Board of Governors later this month.
Operations & Advising – Communications & Engagement and Human Resources
- VPFO News: A modest change to the VPFO main website has gathered all of the news feeds and newsletters into a single, easier to find news section.
- VPFO HR on-site support schedule this week:
- July 13: Matt Furgal, Gregor Macdonald
- July 14: Arvind Kang, Kasia Burza
- July 15: Elliott Campbell, Rachel Lau
- July 16: Matt Furgal, Rachel Lau
- July 17: Arvind Kang, Kasia Burza
Safety & Risk Services
- Campus Security get a new look: Campus Security team members have recently been issued with a new set of uniforms. You can take a look at the new uniforms on the Campus Security website, along with their new badge, which was designed by First Nations artist Susan Point.
- Business Continuity Planning: Team members from SRS have now coordinated 17 business continuity consultation sessions with critical services teams from across UBC, with the sessions helping departments develop robust business continuity plans.
- Hazardous Waste Annual Reports: Annual Hazardous Waste Reports have recently been shared with researchers and principal investigators at UBC following a delay caused by COVID-19. The reports help labs to understand the volume and type of hazardous waste they are producing throughout the year.
Other notable updates
PROTECT YOUR DEVICES
UBC currently offers Sophos Antivirus free of charge to UBC students and employees, however UBC’s license agreement with Sophos expires on July 29, 2020. If you have downloaded Sophos Antivirus from UBC, you must install a replacement antivirus solution by July 29, 2020. For free antivirus options available to UBC faculty and staff, visit the UBC IT website.
RECOGNIZE YOUR COLLEAGUES
The UBC Today newsletter is collecting notes of thanks from the UBC community for peers and colleagues, recognizing the hard work and support that have been displayed through COVID-19 measures. Read notes that have been submitted already, or send your own to be featured on the UBC faculty and staff website.
EQUITY CONSIDERATIONS FOR VIRTUAL INTERVIEWS
With hiring processes moving online, many are wondering how to keep equity and inclusion at the forefront. Here is an in-depth guide with key considerations to keep in mind when conducting virtual interviews and hiring people during this current moment.
Helpful news
People have been suggesting news articles that they have found informative or helpful at work. These are provided for information and entertainment only. Unless noted, UBC doesn’t specifically endorse or supply editorial to this content.
- Cash-strapped during the COVID-19 pandemic due to the economic slowdown? To find out if you have any unclaimed funds from your past, the CBC has a few free, simple ways to launch a search.
- There is a whole generation of folk that never had the joy of reading The Far Side by Gary Larson. But, lucky for you, after 25 years, he is back!
- Been asked to present to the executive or any other senior group (UBC has many different kinds)? Forbes has some easy recommendations to make your presentation go a little more smoothly.
Sharing an article that may be helpful to your peers? Send it to communications@vpfo.ubc.ca at any time.