Year in Review 2019: Broadening the Experience

Each year, the WorkLife Office takes a reflective look back at the people impacted and the work accomplished.

Who We Serve

Vision

MSU supports all its faculty and staff to connect and navigate multiple roles throughout workplace, career and life transitions.

Mission

The WorkLife Office partners with the community to create an inclusive, responsive work environment where all faculty and staff are respected and supported toward well-being in work and personal lives. Last year, we recorded 1,525 individual encounters with faculty and staff, along with presentations and educational programming sessions attended 3,063 times. Values Reflecting MSU’s values of quality, inclusiveness and connectivity, the WorkLife Office strives for excellence, equity and synergy. 

Read about the successes in 2019 below:

  • WorkLife Office Welcomes New Team Members
  • WorkLife Topics
  • Satisfaction
  • Resources and Consultations
  • Education
  • Family Care
  • Most Common WorkLife Topics
  • Connected Across Campus
  • ListServ Connections

WorkLife Office Welcomes New Team Member

Jaimie Hutchison is the new Lifespan and Family Services Coordinator.  Jaimie is a licensed counselor and an experienced military spouse who understands that flexibility, resilience, and community resources are critical for new staff and faculty who come to MSU.  She knows what it is like to transition into a new role in life and in work and puts her passion for helping others to use as a member of the WorkLife Office team.

The WorkLife Office continues to improve service and increase transparency.  We presented some of the data in this annual report to an audience at the 2019 College and University Work-Life-Family Association (CUWFA) conference.  The MSU team is recognized as an international leader in work life service and reporting.

chart of interactions by topicWorkLife Topics

WorkLife serves faculty and staff on numerous topics.  We continue to improve our categorization for reporting our service to MSU faculty and staff.  Services last year were categorized into four domains: Family Care, Community Connections and Relocation, Workplace Assistance, and Career Transitions.

We lumped “Community Connections” and “Relocation” into a single “Community” count last year, but next year we plan to divide our counts of “Community” and “Relocation” into two separate categories to acknowledge the distinct differences in services provided to meet those respective needs.

Satisfaction

The WorkLife Office sends out satisfaction surveys twice per year. Our most recent survey this year received 95 responses and encompassed services delivered during the first half of 2019.

Quality of Referrals

We do our best to refer to the best resources.  Occasionally, a staff or faculty member contacts the WorkLife Office to tell us how pleased they are with a referral.

“I have 2 children and they have been at Bailey Preschool and Childcare Center this week since our regular daycare is closed for the holiday.  The staff is helpful, caring, approachable, and have taken good care of my kids. Overall, this has been a positive experience. So thankful MSU has [backup dependant care] available!”   – MSU Staff Member

Staff and faculty satisfaction:

  • 100% of respondents said WorkLife Office services were “Safe”.
  • 99% of respondents would recommend the WorkLife Office to a colleague.
  • 85% of respondents said WorkLife Office services were “Very Inclusive”.
  • 84% of respondents said WorkLife Office services were “Very Relevant”.
  • 82% of respondents said WorkLife Office services were “Very Practical”.

bar chart showing 477 consultations and 897 referralsResources and Consultations

The WorkLife Office conducted 477 one-on-one consultations and provided 897 resource referrals last year.  We continue to improve our reporting system to track the types of resources that MSU staff and faculty are requesting so that we can provide relevant and timely resources.  Resource referrals and consultations are the top two services that we provide.

What is a consultation?

We provide one-on-one consultations to equip staff and faculty with the resources that result in a better work life fit.  We provide links to on-campus and external resources like childcare, eldercare, realtors, and information about the local community.  We convey options that help faculty and staff make informed decisions. Learn more about consultations 

Education

The WorkLife Office hosts and supports many different events, seminars, and workshops throughout the year.  The primary purpose is to educate and inform MSU staff and faculty about various resources in an inclusive and safe group setting.  We choose topics that are relevant and practical based on feedback from you!

Event and Workshop Stats

  • 18 Lunch and Learn Workshops
  • 17 Outreach and Training Seminars
  • 15 Event and Resource Fairs
  • 7 Academic Women’s Forum Events
  • 7 Women’s Networking Association Events
  • 3 Reflect and Connect Sessions

Check out events for the coming year.

Family Care

Over the past year, the WorkLife Office actively listened to feedback from MSU faculty and staff who voiced the need to expand options for backup childcare.  Staff and faculty can now choose either of the options that work best for the circumstance.  Services are now offered:

  • In your home
  • In a childcare center

Backup Dependent Care Stats:

Between 7/1/18 and 5/31/19 the dependent care benefit was used 223 times by 63 MSU families. Ages served:

  • Up to 1 year old: 22 times
  • 1 – 2+ years old: 36 times
  • 3 years old: 27 times
  • 4 years old: 11 times
  • 5 – 12+ years: 109 times
  • 19 years: 1 time
  • Eldercare: 17 times

Read more about Backup Care

Most Common WorkLife Topics

Below is a list of the most common WorkLife topics in no particular order.

  • Parent / Child Resources
  • Eldercare
  • Workplace Bullying
  • Flexible Scheduling
  • Job Change
  • Dual / Spouse Hire
  • Retirement
  • International Relocation
  • Housing Options
  • On-Campus Connections
  • Community Information

Connected Across Campus

The WorkLife Office connects staff and faculty with dozens of on-campus communities and resources.  Here are some of the most common referrals.

  • Academic Advancement Network
  • Human Resources
  • Employee Assistance Program
  • Office for International Students and Scholars
  • Health4U

ListServ Connections

WorkLife Office ListServ membership continues to grow because the lists are useful and provide MSU faculty and staff with quick answers to a variety of questions.  The MSU community participates in info-sharing through a moderated forum.  Here is a tally of our ListServ numbers:

  • WorkLife Connections Newsletter (3,290 Subscribers)
  • WorkLife Office Program Info (3,272 Subscribers)
  • Parent (family) list (1,258 Subscribers)
  • Eldercare list (296 Subscribers)
  • Breastfeeding list (226 Subscribers)
  • Special Needs list (176 Subscribers)
  • Adoption list (128 Subscribers)
  • Women’s Networking Association list (386 Subscribers)

To subscribe to a listserv email: worklife@msu.edu