Monday Update

August 3, 2021

Updates from UBC

Updates on UBC’s response to COVID-19 are at covid19.ubc.ca.

Managing your mental health

HR has collected mental health resources to help you manage your ups and downs. Our VPFO HR staff is always available for a confidential conversation.

  • Self-guided: Self and Community Care: Building skills to manage stress: Learn to integrate relaxation and your personal needs into your daily life in this self-paced webinar.
  • Self-guided: Wellbeing in the Workplace: Learn tools and skills to support wellbeing while working within changing environments in this self-paced webinar.
  • July 23 – September 3: Weekly mindfulness sessions: Join your community to practice mindfulness to improve your ability to manage stress and feel more connected while working from home.
  • August 10 (Part 1) & 18 (Part 2): Understanding Mental Health: This session aims to increase mental health literacy while providing tools and skills to respond effectively in a caring and respectful way.
  • August 11: Positive Space: Learn about sexual and gender diversity, the structures that harm the LGBT2SQIA+ community, as well as inclusive practices that make UBC a more welcoming and inclusive place.

Operations updates

Facilities

Building Operations, Energy & Water Services and Infrastructure Development

  • Project list for Infrastructure Development/Properties Trust: August 2021 construction project list is now available on the Facilities website.
  • Drinking water fountains and bottle-filling stations are reopening: Starting mid-August 2021, the Facilities team will proceed with un-bagging and flushing to ensure the water is kept fresh and the stations are ready for use. Learn more on the Facilities website.

Finance

Comptroller, Finance & Operational Excellence and Treasury

  • Fiscal Year 2021/22 Period-End Dates: The period-end dates for the remaining months of this fiscal year are now available as a PDF and on the Finance website. Learn more about the project to optimize period close processes on the UBC Finance website.
  • A new location for the Payroll team: As of July 22, 2021, the Payroll team has relocated to their new home at 5958 Webber Lane in Wesbrook Village. Please continue to direct all correspondence to the TEF3 office. Learn more on the Finance website.

Operations & Advising

Communications & Engagement, Human Resources, and Safety & Risk Services

  • Heat stress safety & new course: A new Heat Stress Awareness course to increase your awareness of the risk factors and associated heat disorders related to heat stress is recommended for all workers that are at risk of heat exposure, and for their supervisors to complete. Learn more on the SRS website.
  • Resources on Wildfire Smoke Health & Safety: In light of the recent wildfire in BC, find resources about air quality health and safety awareness, the risks of wildfire smoke, and the best ways to protect yourself on the SRS website.
  • Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) vaccination site: The VCH vaccination site at UBC Pharmaceutical Sciences Building (PharmSci) has closed on July 30, 2021. For information, visit the SRS website.
  • VPFO HR on-site support schedule: Due to increased safety measures, the VPFO HR team will be working from home on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. For any questions, please contact Senior HR Manager, Arvind Kang.
    • August 2: Happy BC Day!
    • August 3: WFH
    • August 4: Daisy Chan, Arvind Kang, Kasia Burza
    • August 5: WFH
    • August 6: WFH

VPFO job openings

All positions at UBC are available on the UBC HR Careers website, or through the career application in your Workday account. The following VPFO positions are currently open:

  • Change Management and Communications Senior Manager (JR3446) – closing Aug 5
  • Business Data Analyst (JR3481) – closing Aug 6
  • HR Coordinator, VPFO (JR3477) – closing Aug 6
  • Team Leader ISC Service Centre (JR3533) – closing Aug 10
  • Payroll Representative (JR3018) – closing Aug 13
  • Director, Finance Transformation Projects (JR3377) – closing Aug 15

Please remember to apply as an internal candidate. This ISC Knowledge Base article shows how: How do I apply for an internal job posting?.

Other notable updates

Building a foundation in Lean Six Sigma

In the coming weeks, we will dive into the world of Lean Six Sigma together, from breaking down basic terminologies to discovering how it promotes a UBC-wide mindset of collaboration, continuous improvement, and growth.

These resources will serve as a refresher for those who have completed their Lean Six Sigma White Belt training and a preview for others.

In the first part of this series, we’ll look at the fundamentals of the Lean Six Sigma methodology.

Read the full article on the Operational Excellence website.

Helpful news

Some interesting news articles our team members have found informative, helpful, or fun! These are provided for information and entertainment only. Unless noted, UBC doesn’t specifically endorse or supply this content.

  • Mental health is a spectrum that we all go back and forth on, just like physical health. As a manager, how can you prepare yourself for these conversations with your employees? What can you do if you’re struggling with mental health at work? Here are some resources to help.
  • 8 artists share their vision for our climate future, what gives them hope and how they’re driving change in their communities through illustration, available on TED Ideas.

Have an article for the VPFO team? Email communications@vpfo.ubc.ca.

Be Part of the VPFO Monday Update

Each Monday we capture a snapshot of important university updates, the work across our departments, and other resources relevant to the VPFO team. This will be reposted, along with all past issues, at vpfo.ubc.ca/news.

Additions or questions can be sent to communications@vpfo.ubc.ca at any time.