For leaders, fostering employee well-being has emerged as not just a moral imperative but also a strategic advantage. As organizations recognize the profound impact of employee well-being on productivity, creativity, and overall success, the responsibility to cultivate a workplace culture that prioritizes the physical, mental, and emotional health of team members becomes increasingly evident. This responsibility requires a holistic approach that encompasses empathy, compassion, communication, and a commitment to continuous improvement. Effective leaders and managers understand that the well-being of their employees is not a luxury but a cornerstone of sustained organizational growth.
EMPLOYEE AND FAMILY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
All employees have access to the Employee and Family Assistance Program, and there are additional resources just for managers.
Key Person Orientation Webinar - EFAP Homewood Health
Join this live, virtual orientation to VIU’s Employee & Family Assistance Program. People leaders across the institution will learn more about specific resources available to them. Available alternating Wednesdays, 10 am (Pacific).
EFAP Key Person Advice Line (KPAL) – The Key Person Advice Line (KPAL) gives you, the manager, supervisor or union representative the opportunity to contact a Homewood Health senior level clinician at any time for immediate consultation should a situation arise in the workplace that could benefit from professional input. Call 1.800.663.1142 and ask to be connected with the Key Person Advice Line.
EFAP Program Manager/Supervisor Handbook – A comprehensive manual where you will find information on counselling options and referral types; performance management and conflict resolution; and guides, forms, and performance indicators.
LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
Continuous development of leadership skills and workplace wellness knowledge is key to supporting employee well-being. Leaders with strong communication and emotional intelligence can better recognize stress, provide support, and create a positive work environment, fostering engagement , productivity, and team member resilience.
MindWell provides your people with the skills to adapt and succeed in the rapidly changing modern workplace. View brief videos on using the MindWell platform and learn what mindfulness is (and isn’t!) and how it can help you and your team members feel more joy, less stress and improve your performance both at work and at home. Download your own copy of the Leaders Playbook: Strategies for Team Building with MindWell.
Manager Mental Health Training - This course will support you, as a leader, with tools to help improve and maintain mental wellness for your team members. This 4-part online, on-demand Leadership Training course is available at no cost. The online course focuses on leadership strategies that support mental health:
- Mental health concerns in the Canadian workplace
- Managing mental health concerns in the workplace
- Supporting employee success
- Organizational strategies for supporting mental health
The modules review real workplace situations and employee/employer interactions, helping you to obtain the skills and information you need to manage these situations when they happen. Access Manager Mental Health Training.
Approaches for People Leaders, by Workplace Strategies for Mental Health - Effective approaches to developing leadership skills, team building and supporting employee success. Create your profile to personalize your experience and access to free resources and toolkits.
Trauma Informed Leadership: Learn what it is to be trauma informed and why trauma informed care should be incorporated into the workplace. Access self-directed modules that walk you through the basics of trauma informed care, from Trauma Informed Oregon. To go deeper, explore The Trauma Toolkit.
Supporting Employees with Disabilities - Employing people with different abilities, and supporting them to thrive at work has many benefits that aren’t commonly known, for example diversity in our workforce drives innovation. Homewood Health has an article to help us understand the many disabilities that exist and how to make our workplace more accessible and accepting of different disabilities, also watch the accompanying video. We also look at where to find the best resources for accommodating individuals with disabilities.
Supporting Transgender and Gender Diverse Employees in the Workplace - This resource was developed to assist leaders in enhancing their knowledge regarding support for transgender and gender diverse people in the workplace.
Impaired at Work – A guide to accommodating substance dependence, from the Canadian Human Rights Commission.
Substance Use and the Workplace: Supporting Employers and Employees in the Trades Toolkit – This toolkit is for supervisors, managers and human resources professionals, and unions, associations and related organizations. It also contains ready-to-use resources for employees.
Recovery Research Institute: What is Addiction? – Terminology, Epidemiology, Etiology, Impact and Phenomenology
The Power of Perceptions and Understanding: Changing How We Deliver Treatment and Recovery Services – Why Addiction is a ‘Disease’ and Why It’s Important – Resource Guide
Navigating Grief and Enhancing Well-Being
See this YouTube link for a recorded session on navigating grief delivered by Suzanne Jabour:
“In this workshop we’ll share how grief shows up at work and what we can do to better support staff and customers who are experiencing it. We will also explore different ways grief is created at work and how we can build a workplace culture that acknowledges it. You will leave with skills, tools and mindsets that will put you at the forefront of this shift from isolation to connection in times of loss.”
Click to follow link.">“Avoid Blame and Shame” learning module - Unintentional blame or shame can happen when we get frustrated with a situation. Avoid negative reactions by choosing your words carefully. Join this 10-minute learning module to learn how to:
- Provide constructive criticism that avoids defensiveness
- Keep others positive and motivated
- Build better relationships
EMPLOYEE WELL-BEING CHECK-INS & STAY-AT-WORK SUPPORTS
Employee well-being check-ins are vital because they provide a space for employees to discuss concerns, prevent burnout, and ensure their mental and physical health is supported. Regular check-ins foster trust, enhance productivity, and create a positive work culture, leading to improved job satisfaction and higher retention rates.
Employee Well-Being Check-in Guide - From the Public Sector Commission in Australia, this tool is designed to assist everyone in creating a supportive culture of wellbeing. Importantly, each leader plays a critical role in conducting a well-being pulse check with their teams and ensuring well-being is embedded into day-to-day conversations and operations.
Joint Early Intervention Program (JEIP) - Confidential program supported by VIU & CUPE, as well as VIU & VIUFA, providing early intervention to facilitate stay-at-work or a safe, timely return to work. Manulife Financial, through the Abilities Management Access Program (AMA), is the provider for our JEIP. For more information, please see the webpage At-Work Support, Medical Leaved and Rehabilitation.
Manager’s Guide to Reasonable Accommodation - This guide from the BC Public Sector is key to being an inclusive employer, to respond effectively to individual accommodation needs, and fulfill manager responsibilities.
MEDICAL LEAVES & RETURNS TO WORK
It is so important for a manager to, whenever possible, keep an employee connected to the workplace during an extended leave, to maintain a sense of belonging and reduce feelings of isolation. Regular communication helps the employee stay informed about team developments, projects, and changes, making the transition back smoother. It also reinforces that they are valued, which can improve morale and loyalty. Keeping the connection allows for easier re-entry, ensuring the employee feels supported and up to date, ultimately helping them return to work more confidently and effectively.
Communication During an Employee’s Sick Leave – Resources including the CARE™ Model, and a quick guide for managers and supervisors from the University of Queensland.
Faculty Common Disability Plan - Disability Management Process, Roles and Responsibilities
Return to Work: A Manager's Guide - Returning to work following an absence due to illness or injury can be a critical phase of an employee’s recovery. Fortunately, there are many things managers and employers can do to help facilitate a successful return.
EFAP - Supporting Successful Return to Work - As a manager, part of your responsibility is to ensure that work the employee would have performed is still completed while they are away.
Questions? Email Benefits@viu.ca