Series Announcement: Supervisor Training

Supporting Employees with Chronic Health Conditions 

The MSU WorkLife Office is proud to present the Supervisor Training Series: Supporting Employees with Chronic Health Conditions (physical health and mental health). Fostering a workplace that welcomes and supports the employee as a whole person is a primary focus of the WorkLife Office. As a supervisor, you may find yourself in challenging situations which place the solution at the supervisor’s discretion. When it comes to managing an employee with a chronic health condition, it can be of even higher importance that a message of support and acceptance is communicated to the employee, while maintaining a sense of equity amongst the employee and their team members. The Supervisor Training Series is comprised of 4 webinars which will assist you with effectively managing an employee with a chronic health condition. The WorkLife Office is inviting experts in the compassionate communication and equitable decision-making practices to help meet the following objectives for the Supervisor Training Series: 

Objectives: 

  • Provide up to date data regarding the current environment of employees with chronic physical and mental health conditions 
  • Establish the importance of normalizing care and resources for chronic health conditions 
  • Provide best practices for supporting employees with chronic health conditions 
  • Assist you with recognizing signs of stress and distress 
  • Inform you on how to utilize compassionate communication to foster understanding, connection, and compassion
  • Guide you through making equitable decisions for your employees and overall team 

The Supervisor Training Series will take place on the 1st Thursday each month for the Fall 2022 semester. 

  1. Class 1 of 4: Supporting Employees with Chronic Health Conditions (replay)
    As a supervisor, you may find yourself in challenging situations which place the solution at the supervisor’s discretion. When it comes to managing an employee with a chronic health condition, it can be of even higher importance that a message of support and acceptance is communicated to the employee, while maintaining a sense of equity amongst the employee and their team members. During this opening to a 4-part series, you will gain insight on the needs of employees with chronic health conditions, what resources are available to them, and how to respond effectively and supportively.  Learn more and register 
  2. October 6 from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.
    Class 2 of 4: Introduction to Compassionate Communication
    Compassionate Communication is communicating in ways that foster understanding, connection, and compassion. It is not just a set of approaches, but an awareness designed to develop a certain kind of compassionate rapport with ourselves and each other. Approaches include translating judgments into observations, emphasizing needs instead of strategies, replacing thoughts with feelings, and changing demands into requests. Empathy, self-empathy, and authentic self-expression are emphasized. Learn more and register  
  3. November 3 from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.
    Class 3 of 4: Signs of Stress and Distress 
    As a supervisor, it’s important for you to be able to recognize signs of stress and distress in your employees. Picking up on those signals can allow you to respond quickly and effectively with resources and guidance for your employees in need. In this third session of the 4-Part Supervisor Training Series, you will learn how to recognize the different signs of stress and distress, how to respond with empathy and care, as well as what resources are available to your employees on and off campus.  Learn more and register 
  4. December 1 from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.
    Class 4 of 4: Equitable Decision Making 
    As a supervisor, you may find yourself in challenging situations which place the solution at the supervisor’s discretion. When it comes to managing an employee with a chronic health condition, it can be of even higher importance that a message of support and acceptance is communicated to the employee, while maintaining a sense of equity amongst the employee and their team members. During this closing session of the 4-Part Supervisor Training series, you will learn how to make equitable decisions that can be beneficial for teams with employees who have chronic health conditions.  Learn more and register

Register for any or all of these sessions.

Contact worklife@msu.edu with questions