Welcome to MSU!

If you are new to Michigan State University, the Greater Lansing area, Michigan or the United States, the WorkLife Office can help connect you to campus and community resources. Even if you aren’t new to the area, the Office has plenty of ways to help you locate the resources you need and become connected to your colleagues and your community.

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This webinar is geared toward newcomers at MSU. MSU is a large place and the MSU WorkLife Office is here to help you navigate it! This video is an introduction about things to do at MSU, and in the greater community. Welcome to MSU, and reach out to the MSU WorkLife Office if there is anything we can do to help you during your transition. Originally recorded November 2020.

Let us be one of the first to welcome you to MSU!

The WorkLife Office supports all MSU faculty and staff by connecting individuals with resources and assistance to help navigate the workplace, career, and life transitions. We partner with the community to create an inclusive and responsive work environment where all faculty and staff are respected and supported toward well-being in the multiple roles of work and personal life.

We work to assist faculty and staff in six primary areas: family care, career transitions, workplace assistance, relocation, community connections, and providing research-based proposals that inform best practices and policies at MSU.

We know that this is a challenging time to begin a new position. Please don't hesitate to reach out to our office. We are still open, though working remotely, and are available via email, Zoom, or phone. Also, our website offers a number of blog posts, recorded webinars, and events that may be helpful to you and/or your family.

Here are some of the services the MSU WorkLife Office offers:

• 1:1 Consultation: Meet with a professional to seek advice, information, or referral. The WorkLife Office staff is here to help answer your work-life questions and assist you and your family members to find the resources and solutions that will work best for you.

  Learn more about consultations 

• Supervisor Consultations: Speak with a member of the MSU WorkLife Office to assist you in supporting your employees with work-life fit issues, including but not limited to flex time proposals, providing community resources, and providing information on support available for a variety of issues. Email worklife@msu.edu to request a consultation. 

• Presentations at faculty or staff meetings: Presentations can be requested for faculty or staff meetings. The MSU WLO can present on the offerings and services of the MSU WorkLife Office, or we can present on topics such as stress management, work-life fit or other topics. Request a presentation or Email worklife@msu.edu

• Email Listservs: Connect to others in the MSU community who are engaged in managing or exploring similar topics.
  • WorkLife Office list: Monthly updates from the WorkLife Office.
  • Family list: Resources about children and parenting, discussion on aging and caring for the elderly, Information for caregivers of children with special needs, information for those considering or pursuing adoption, breastfeeding support including support from other breastfeeding mothers. 
  • International Networking: information and events specific for those faculty, staff, postdocs, and scholars with an international background.
  • Women's Networking Association: This group shares perspective and works on initiatives and recommendations surrounding women's health and safety, MSU benefits, diversity and inclusion, support staff engagement, education, training, and more.
  • Resources: For MSU employees that are looking to share resources with each other 
  • Subscribe to listservs
  • Contact the WorkLife Office: worklife@msu.edu

• Education sessions: Learn more about parenting, eldercare, breastfeeding, infant care, adoption, major life changes (divorce, empty nesters, etc.), career changes, MSU resources, work-life fit, an annual conference at MSU on work-life needs, and other educational programming which can be found on the calendar (updated each semester). View the calendar
   
• Finding childcare and eldercare to meet your family's needs: We provide free access to search Care.com/msu using your MSU NetID. We also provide a subsidized backup dependent care for children and elders. Learn more about childcare and eldercare options. Additionally, we provide assistance in finding childcare and eldercare in our community and beyond.

• Connecting newcomers to communities both at MSU and beyond, including culturally specific organizations, campus organizations, places of worship, volunteer opportunities, LGBTQ community, and more.  Find your communities

• Welcome orientations for newcomers about resources at MSU and the MSU WorkLife (open to spouses/significant others). Contact the WorkLife Office: worklife@msu.edu

• WorkLife Connections is the monthly email newsletter which shares articles, information, resources and upcoming events. We will be adding you to the newsletter email list so that you will get our monthly updates about work-life issues. See recent issues

• Resource lists from the MSU community on realtors, doctors, dentists, the local area, housekeepers, pet sitters, childcare providers, etc. Email: worklife@msu.edu  

• Assisting spouses and significant others of newcomers with job searches, volunteer opportunities, and connecting to the local area. Email worklife@msu.edu to set up an appointment.

• International Networking Program and Resources is open to faculty, staff, administrators, post-docs and scholars with an international background. The purpose is to connect and share experiences to help build community within the larger university. Learn more about the program

• Women's Networking Association get connected to professional women across campus through meaningful and empowering relationships. These are free professional development and networking opportunities. Learn more information about WNA  

You can count on the WorkLife Office to assist you and to make your time at MSU the best it can be.

Please don't hesitate to reach out to us.

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