Starting in August, Employee Wellness Services will begin a series of consultations with employees to engage in discussions about employee wellbeing. Town Hall and Coffee Chat sessions will be held both virtually and in-person to seek input on how to best support employee wellbeing, remove barriers for participation, and work towards creating a shared responsibility for overall employee wellness at Queen’s.

“This consultation is part of an ongoing effort to engage employees and learn more about their wellness needs,” says Sydney Downey, Director, Employee Wellness Services. “In order to effectively embed wellbeing into policies, practices, and everyday decision making, we need to hear directly from employees across the university and continue to reflect their input in our approach going forward.”

Town Hall and Coffee Chat dates, times, and registration information:

Town Hall (in-person) 
Tuesday, Aug. 8, 1-2:30 p.m. 
Register for the in-person Town Hall

Coffee Chat (in-person) 
Wednesday, Aug.& 9, 2-3:30 p.m. 
Register for the in-person Coffee Chat

Town Hall (virtual) 
Tuesday, Aug. 29, 9:30-11 a.m. 
Register for the virtual Town Hall

Coffee Chat (virtual) 
Wednesday, Aug. 30, 10-11:30 a.m. 
Register for the virtual Coffee Chat

For those unable to attend the sessions, recordings will be available on the Human Resources Intranet. Additional sessions may also be added later based on demand. Any questions about the consultation can be directed to Employee Wellness Services at employee.wellness@queensu.ca.

A collaborative approach to employee wellness

In 2022, consultation began with five focus groups that explored different wellness themes to determine the best way to approach, plan, implement, and evaluate employee wellness at Queen's. Themes included defining wellness, leadership and role modelling, communications, work-life balance, and appreciation and recognition. The objectives and discussions for each focus group are available on the Human Resources Intranet.

New resources to support employee wellbeing

In addition to the upcoming consultation opportunities, employees are encouraged to visit the Human Resources Intranet to explore newly developed resources and supports including the Gold Folder – a printable guide for assisting employees in distress.

Nurturing a culture where employee wellbeing is prioritized is a Human Resources strategic priority for 2022-2025.