ASR Staff Engagement June 3rd Survey

This week’s ASR Staff Engagement Survey 6/3/2021 takes a look at how we work together in teams. Thank you for continuing to share your stories and experiences!

The results of the last survey indicated most folks plan their workday the day before (43.5%), followed closely by planning the morning of that day (30.4%) and planning more than 1 day before (21.7%). The majority of respondents also indicated that they use software, such as Google Calendar, to set reminders for themselves (56.5%) rather than writing notes as a reminder (43.5%).

When asked about upcoming meetings, a slim majority prefer to show up a minute or two early (52.2%), followed by showing up right at the meeting start time (47.8%). Finally, we had lots of great responses regarding what people are looking forward to this summer. Several responses mentioned getting outside for some sun, reconnecting with family and friends, and doing outdoor activities like gardening, hiking, biking, and bonfires.

Thanks all for your continued participation! It is very much appreciated. The results from the last survey and additional articles related to the questions are available below.

May 20, 2021 survey results

How far out in advance do you plan your workday?

• 30.4% The morning of that day
• 43.5% The day before
• 21.7% More than 1 day before
• 4.3% I don’t plan out my workday

Check out “12 Better Ways to Structure Your Workday for Maximum Productivity” from The Muse for ideas on how to structure your workday.

Do you create reminders for yourself?

• 56.5% Yes, I typically use software to set myself reminders
• 43.5% Yes, I typically write myself notes if I need a reminder

When I have an upcoming meeting, I prefer to…

• 52.2% Show up a minute or two early
• 47.8% Show up right at the meeting start time

“9 Exceptional Work Habits To Be More Efficient” by Leon Ho discusses good work habits to establish a solid foundation for peak performance, efficiency, and collaboration.

What are you looking forward to this Summer?

• Sun and heat
• Getting out and about, anywhere
• Gardening
• Connecting with friends and family
• Standup paddle boarding!
• Bonfires, wearing shorts!

Check out Explore Minnesota to find the different festivals and events taking place this summer.

Cleaning bins

Due to COVID-19, we did not have our annual cleaning day last year. This year, however, we are making alternative accommodations so we can go in and clean out our desks. From now until Friday, July 17, 2021, there will be recycling bins available in Fraser, Williamson, and Bruininks Hall. Please coordinate with your supervisor to find time to go in and clean out your desk.

Personal holiday

If you haven’t used your personal holiday yet, schedule it soon. The last day to use your personal holiday is Wednesday, June 30.

Chrome River reminder & feature updates

As activities continue to return to normal, please remember that all of our purchases need to include a statement of how the purchase benefits the department/University. The business purpose job aid provides guidance on writing strong justifications.

Chrome River also recently updated two features for improved user experience. The corresponding University job aids available online and in the system are still being updated to reflect the new functionality:

• Labels in the eWallet have been clarified based on user feedback.
• You should now see Out-of-Pocket Expenses and U Travel Card which replace Offline and Credit Card, respectively.
• Out-of-Pocket items continue to be created based on receipts emailed into Chrome River, but they may belong to a Travel Card purchase if the receipt is emailed before the credit card transaction is reported by the bank (approx. 2-5 business days depending on the supplier).

• Expense owners will now have the ability to Recall an expense report that has been Returned by an approver.
• Expense reports in Returned status have limited edit capabilities. If you are asked to make a modification but the field(s) are not editable or an action is not allowed, try Recalling the expense report to your Drafts folder which should make the report fully editable.

Complete Preventing Sexual Misconduct module reminder

As a reminder, the online education module "Preventing Sexual Misconduct, Discrimination, and Retaliation" must be completed by May 27, 2021. If you have not completed the module, you should have received a reminder email earlier this week.

You can complete the module in Training Hub, and a step-by-step guide is also available to help you navigate the course. The education module will take two or three hours for you to complete, so make sure to block off time accordingly. If you believe you may have difficulty completing this course because you have been negatively impacted by sexual misconduct, please contact the Aurora Center or Gender and Sexuality Center, and they will be able to assist you in waiving the course.

Update from Sue

Well, this is it. This is my last News and Notes blurb to all my great colleagues in ASR. I will never be able to thank you enough for all that you have done for me over the years. Please continue to do fantastic work and help Stacey and the other directors as they look to make ASR even better. The ASR staff are the best and do terrific work. I will miss all of you, but I look forward to watching from afar.

Mental Wellness in the Workplace

Building connections & self-care

“People die from lack of shared empathy and affinity. By establishing social connectedness, we give hope a chance and the other can become heaven. ( "Le ciel c'est l'autre" )”― Erik Pevernagie

We all need healthy social connections in order to maintain both our physical and mental health. In one, ten year study of senior citizens, it was found that those who had strong social connections were 22% less likely to die. There are many ways to build our social connections, such as seeking out affinity groups in Slack or looking for neighborhood volunteer opportunities through NextDoor, but the simplest and most convenient way to start is to simply be present in each interaction.

Psychology Today’s “5 Ways to Add More Moments of Social Connection to Your Life” discusses some easy suggestions to make more social connections, starting with greeting people we interact with everyday and asking how they are and waiting for a response. Finally, in addition to the physical and mental benefits, social connections can also come in handy during emergencies as shown in this graphic from the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department: