2021-2022 Year in Review
In 2022 the WorkLife Office’s (WL0) new leadership made the WLO’s vision central to workplace wellbeing and employee support. No longer in the background, WLO took center stage as it spotlighted resources for caregivers and employee wellness. WLO expanded awareness of the office and reached the MSU community through in person events, Employee Resource Groups, and one on one consultations.
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Vision
MSU supports its faculty and staff to connect and navigate multiple roles throughout workplace, career and life transitions.
Spotlight: WLO supported a 222% increase in requests for backup dependent care in FY 22. MSU’s leadership and the 2030 Strategic Plan recognized the importance of backup dependent care and took steps to publicize WLO’s expertise and resources as the university returned to work in April 2022. The WLO created and delivered eight “Caregiver Resources” presentations attended by 460 community members. MSU’s caregiving workgroup complied recommendations for future work in this area and created a campus wide survey to assess community needs for FY 23.
WorkLife Leadership
People make all the difference. The WLO employees talented staff and consultants that understand the needs of MSU faculty and staff and use their experience and skills to support the MSU community.
Jaimie Hutchison: Director
Jaimie Hutchison, an empathetic leader with a proven track record of implementing best practices and using innovation and collaboration to get things done, ascended to lead the office in April 2022. Jamie’s 25-year career spans the disciplines of workplace well-being, family support, career consulting, leadership, community knowledge, recruitment/retention, and volunteerism. She’s committed to viewing work-life through an equity lens and ties the efforts of the WLO to the MSU 2030 strategic plan and to the MSU DEI strategic framework.
Jaimie supports caregiving and workplace well-being initiatives. In 2019 she led a university-wide Childcare Taskforce and currently serves as an expert on the University Caregiving Working Group. She shares her expertise nationally through her role on the Board of Directors for the National College and University Work-Life-Family Association.
Ebony Lucas, MSW: WorkLife Consultant
Ebony is new to MSU and brings over fifteen years of experience providing person-centered services to diverse hard-to-reach populations. A social worker by training, Ebony received her bachelor’s degree in Africana studies and a master’s degree in social work from Wayne State University. Her professional journey includes expertise in aging, volunteerism, and relationship violence. Ebony served as a wellness support officer providing supportive services to the residents and families of the ‘hardest hit’ nursing homes in Michigan. As the project coordinator for the AmeriCorps Domestic Violence program at Wayne State University, she guided and delivered services to victims of intimate partner violence. Currently, Ebony is the office’s expert in adult caregiving, international employees, and assisting newcomers with relocation.
Rachel Perez: WorkLife Consultant
A graduate of MSU’s Eli Broad College of Business, Rachel brings nine years of human resources to the team. Rachel join WLO after working as an HR coordinator and as an assistant health and safety coordinator for the Student Life & Engagement division. Rachel excels as an advocate for faculty and staff members throughout the processes of hiring, benefits enrollment, and training, while considering their emotional and cultural needs throughout their journey at MSU. Rachel is pursuing a Master of Human Resources and Labor Relations program through the College of Social Science at MSU to hone her expertise in strategic human resource policies and practices, organizational change leadership, work law and policies, and labor relations. Rachel is the office’s expert on family care, parenting/caregiving children, lactation, career advising, and newcomer support.
WorkLife Office Steps Up
In FY 2022 WLO consultations increased 56%. A combination of events, presentations and consultation increased the office’s reach 33%.
Newcomers Welcomed
Hiring new employees for the university occurs in stages. The WLO provides support and information during the hiring process to hiring committees and prospective employees. In FY22 the WLO assisted 86 final round applicants with questions and resources and handle 1,629 interactions for relocation and campus/community acclimation. Work with final round applicants sets the stage for future smooth transitions and future interaction with the WLO. The WLO supports recruitment and retention of world class talent for the university.
The Chair contacted me last week regarding a job offer. I was able to negotiate a salary that was within my desired range. I will begin working at MSU soon. Thank you for your transparency and follow-up from our session. This was the only place I interviewed that prioritized the whole family and a time to ask “life” questions. It made a difference.
The WLO cultivates the whole person in the workplace. MSU’s employees are honored and respected for all their identities. The WLO connects newcomers to information and resources specific to them. The WLO connects newcomers to their interests and opportunities in the area, from bagpiping groups to long distance trails for running to places where they could connect with local potters.
I just wanted to let you know how much I appreciate your kindness, concern, and willingness to help me. The WLO and you all who compose it are an incredible resource. I'm eternally grateful. And I'm looking forward to exploring my new life here in Lansing.
Connections
Opportunities to meet and learn from members of the community create connection and build belonging at MSU. The WLO hosted three Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), including the new Family and Adult Caregivers ERG, in FY 22. ERGs are free employee-led groups open to all MSU employee types including faculty, academic, and support staff which foster inclusivity and builds community. People with common lived experiences participate in group discussion, learning opportunities, special programs, and platforms for sharing resources.
The Family Employee Resource Group (Family ERG) is a place for Spartans to connect on family related best practices for raising or caregiving for children and issues that kids/teens are navigating. In FY 22, the Family ERG held 11 events for 205 attendees.
The Adult Caregiving Employee Resource Group (Adult Caregiving ERG) is a place for Spartans to connect on adult caregiving issues including elder care and other adult care including adult children, spouses, etc. The group hosts discussions and shares resources regarding adult caregiving. In FY 22, the Adult Caregiving ERG held six events for 125 attendees.
The Women’s Networking Association Employee Resource Group (WNA ERG) connects professional women across campus to promote meaningful and empowering relationships. Providing an opportunity for women to network and support one another is an essential step for building women’s leadership at Michigan State University and in the Greater Lansing community. In FY 22, the WNA ERG held nine events for 409 attendees.
The WLO will expand ERGs to include an International ERG, and a Post Parental Leave (PPL) ERG in FY 23. ERGs help establish meaningful relationships and enhance a genuine sense of community, which increases employee morale and satisfaction. These groups foster an inclusive and engaging company culture, benefiting both the employer and employee.
The WLO’s ERGs support MSU 2030’s vision of connection, inclusion and belonging, and a safe and welcoming Spartan Community.
At 90 percent of the companies examined, ERG members helped new employees to get comfortable during the onboarding process. Studies show that the first 60 to 90 days of employment are a critical time for any new hire, and they can be particularly challenging for members of traditionally underrepresented groups. That short window of time can mean the difference between whether an employee stays for the long run or leaves the organization before the year is out. ERGs can be leveraged to acclimate employees and engender a sense of loyalty and belonging to their new company.
Career
Career is one of the 5 core areas of focus for the WorkLife Office. The WLO supports MSU employees and their family members with resources and guidance around career opportunities, career transitions, interviewing skills, resume and cover letter reviews, and dual hires. The WLO partners with the Higher Education Recruitment Consortium (HERC) to provide MSU employees with up-to-date higher education career postings throughout Michigan, career advice, information, and job seeker insights.
Working members of Spartan families benefit from the WLO at all stages of their career from job seeking to retirement. Professional development opportunities and career consultations are hallmarks of the office. In FY 22 the WLO held 238 one-on-ones career consultations and two career-related webinars:
- Advancing Your Career in Higher Ed with 37 attendees
- Creating an Inclusive Workplace with 87 attendees
MSU encourages it employees, their spouses and significant others to use the resources of the WLO to explore all of their career opportunities and potential.
Community
The WLO helps build community within and beyond MSU through signature events including the MLK Book Drive and their annual WorkLife Conference.
MLK Book Drive – Stuff the Library
The MSU Dr. Martin Luther King celebration features The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Book Drive/Stuff the Library. Collaborators from across MSU work together to plan an array of programming for the MLK weeklong event schedule. The Stuff the Library book drive begins in the fall, peaking its outreach in January during the MLK celebration. This year the WLO proudly partnered with Center for Community Engaged Learning, MSU Advancement and Outreach and the Alumni Affairs Office to collect books and funds for books for the Detroit Public Schools. The FY 22 campaign surpassed the inaugural drive in FY 21 which contributed $4,331 and 294 books to schools in the greater Lansing area.
In FY 22 the MLK Book Drive raised $13,000, collected 284 books from independent donors and purchased 887 books through the MLK committee for a donation of 1,171 books donated to the Detroit Public Schools. Donations featured stories of diverse people and characters from different cultures and backgrounds. The MLK Book Drive gave the gift of books to support learning and belonging to:
- 31 public high schools serving 16,072 students
- 58 public middle schools serving 27,867 students
- 76 public elementary schools serving 34,504 students
WorkLife Conference
The 2021 WorkLife Conference addressed the pressing issues of “Wellbeing at Work.” The WLO increased its promotion of its successful conference throughout the university and beyond, reaching into the community of higher education associations. The digital event garnered 335 attendees and hosted three breakout sessions.
- Well-being at Work: The Guide
- A Nature Boost: Forest Bathing
- Supporting Your Employees as They Manage Their Accountability in the Evolving Workplace
Keynote Speaker, Nancy Costikyan, MSW, LICSW, Director, Office of Work/Life, Harvard University praised MSU and the WLO. “Any institution that has a defined WorkLife Office is ahead of the game. So, the fact that you have a WorkLife Office tells me you have an institutional commitment to wellbeing, and as I like to say at Harvard – is creating and discovering the workplace of the future,” said Costikyan.
A video of the 2021 conference is available as a resource.
Advocates for WorkLife
The MSU WorkLife Office advocates for Spartans and promotes work-life programming at the university and nationally.
University Workgroups – The WorkLife Office provides critical input into university conversations on policy and workplace reform. The WLO’s advocacy is present in university initiatives, workgroups, committees, taskforces, and alliances.
- Remote Work Initiative: Over the past two years, MSU made significant changes to how employees work and stay connected. By establishing flexible and blended working options, such as remote work, the university broadened access to diverse and exemplary talent, helping to establish MSU as a workplace of choice and a desirable place to stay. MSU’s new policies for remote work set expectations and provide clarity around the university’s remote work protocols. The WLO advocates for Spartans in this new environment and embraces the flexibility of remote work policies to position MSU to pursue its vision of excellence for impact by competing for the best and most diverse talent aligned with its mission.
- Health & Wellbeing MAU: The MSU WorkLife Office is joining University Health and Wellbeing. Nine units responsible for health and wellness at the university are realigning under one combined University Health & Wellbeing unit. The Health & Wellbeing unit works collectively on the needs of the entire MSU community – students, faculty, staff, and leadership. The combination of resources will amplify MSU’s commitment to safety and wellness for all Spartans.
- Positive Workplace Alliance: Collaboration group of campus leaders interested in promoting a positive workplace at MSU.
- IDEA Coordinators: The Institutional Diversity: Excellence in Action Coordinators Committee (IDEA Coordinators) began in the mid-1990s as a collaborative network of DEI officers and advocates from multiple colleges and units. The purpose of the IDEA Coordinators Committee is to support, and influence college and unit goals related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and serve as a resource for those seeking to engage in and advance DEI work.
- ISP (Global DEI) Taskforce: ISP is a cross-university task force charged by Associate Provost and Dean Steve Hanson to develop resources to reinforce inclusive practices in a global context. The aim is to ensure that procedures, policies, practices, and programs are in place to support an educational, equitable, inclusive, and welcoming environment for all with a specific lens on nuances related to internationalization.
- Caregiving Working Group: MSU leadership committed to creating a university-wide, nationally recognized caregiver program to address the diverse needs of faculty and staff to support their success and wellbeing. A committee convened by MSU Human Resources and the Office for Faculty and Academic Staff Affairs is exploring current caregiving services, practices, standards and campus community needs. The WLO and the committee will make recommendations to the president addressing areas of opportunity and potential solutions reflective of the range of identified needs. The committee will continue to develop additional long-term, sustainable goals and programs incorporating feedback gathered from the campus community.
- HR Leadership Subgroup: The WLO collaborates with a group of HR leaders who come together to connect and to share resources.
- Training & Development (T&D) Group: The T&D Group is a collaboration with others who do training and development on campus to partner and share best practices.
National involvement
MSU’s WorkLife Office staff supports and plays a leadership role in the national College of University Work-Life Family Association (CUWFA). The mission of the College and University Work-Life-Family Association is to provide leadership in facilitating the integration of work and study with family/personal life at institutions of higher learning. CUWFA supports the broader goals of creating a healthy and productive environment throughout the lifespan and enhancing the work-life effectiveness of employees. There are currently 54 member institutions with a varying number of participants from each member institution across the USA and Canada involved with CUWFA.
*Goode, Ph.D., Shelton, and Isaac Dixon, Ph.D, SHRM- SCP. “Are Employee Resource Groups Good for Business?” SHRM.org, 25 Aug. 2016, www.shrm.org/hr-today/news/hr-magazine/0916/pages/are-employee-resource-groups-good-for-business.aspx .
