Valuing our people requires that we examine how we can best support our team members both at work and in their day-to-day lives. As we emerge from the pandemic and seek a ‘new normal’ for ways of working, we are fortunate to be able to offer onsite, remote and hybrid work arrangements.
In order to be successful, we must be intentional about both in-person activities and how we stay engaged and connected as remote teams. Thoughtful investments in inviting campus spaces, leadership training and professional development activities have helped us navigate these challenges. We have also promoted and sponsored wellness initiatives, departmental events, and employee recognition awards.
Annual Event
Every year, IT Services comes together for a day of celebrating, networking, and learning through workshops on various themes; the theme for 2023 was “Human Connection.”
Nearly 180 IT Services employees and fellow IT Representative campus-wide came together to welcome keynote speaker Pete Bombaci, Founder and Executive Director of the GenWell Project. Pete led a presentation and workshop focused on the impact of social connection on our well-being and success, and its positive impact on business. Breakout sessions focused on the practical implementation of new insights into personal and workplace relationships, and facilitated social activities provided opportunities for connection and conversation around these new insights and shared learnings. The GenWell Social Health Toolkit empowered us with tips, tools, and resources we could use to help build stronger social health.
"I learned a lot of new things I will try to implement in my own life inside and outside of Queen's." - Anonymous Participant
Participation Day
The result of a grant submission for the BeWell@VPFA Wellness Grants, Participation Day was born. Inspiration came from elementary school days where, as students, we would spend the day doing various physical activities in the school yard, having fun, and getting to spend time with friends. This was the foundation for our IT Services Participation Day - be active, have fun, and spend time with friends... new and old.
For the physically adventurous, there was soccer, ultimate frisbee, basketball, squash, spin class, and bootcamp. For those looking for more social or lowkey activities, we had countless lawn games, kite flying, and a Team Spirit corner to let out some creativity making signs to user later when cheering on the Women's and Men's Gaels Soccer teams hosting the Concordia Stingers.
Mother Nature brought her best for us as we spent the day better getting to know our colleagues over some healthy competition.
Green Commute Challenge
During the month of November, participants were challenged to walk, run, or bike to campus, or, for remote workers, reintroduce their former commute time into their morning routine by walking, running, or biking in their neighbourhood before settling into their home office.
12 challengers
+ 22 workdays
= 114 green commutes
Feeling Rejuvenated
Joining the November Green Commute Challenge helped me stay motivated and accountable on those days I could have easily hit snooze for another hour. I looked forward to seeing all the photo entries every morning and developing a camaraderie with fellow IT challengers who I would otherwise not regularly cross paths with... My walking buddy, Mika, also loved it!
Kelly Alisauskas
Photo Gallery
Growing Our Team
2,631 resumes reviewed
281 pre-screening calls conducted
127 interviews
61 new offers written
13 existing staff transferred to new roles
Collaborative Space
December marked the Grand Opening of our newly renovated suite on the first floor of Mackintosh-Corry Hall. F100 features three closed-door offices with two bookable desks each, four cubicles, bookable table seats, two meeting rooms, plus an open-concept collaboration space. The walls are lined with dry-erase film so that no creative idea will be lost in the moment. The entrance wall proudly displays plaques sporting the names of our departmental award winners with space to add more as years progress. Upon entry, the space is bright, airy, and welcoming, with soft neutral tones enhanced by top-of-the-line A/V technology.
F100 is an office-away-from-home solution for those of our team who predominantly work remotely. The space provides our team with a place to hang their proverbial (and literal) hats and accommodate whatever their calendar needs are for the day.
Professional Development: Investing in Our People
In May 2023, the Leadership Team began a year-long leadership enhancement program, led by Amanda Bjorn, Founder and CEO of Humanistic Systems at Work, whose ME to WE to ALL Leadership development program focuses on building the leadership competencies and skills required for effective leadership now and into the future. Continuous learning helps our team adapt to the constant changes and unknown factors prevalent in society and our workplace. Building leadership resilience will protect us in a fast-paced technological world. Research during the pandemic has shown that the best organizations have dedicated protective health and wellness factors in place, including investing in:
- leadership development,
- effective leaders who build a culture of psychological safety,
- formal opportunities for peer support to enhance workplace cohesion,
- and forums for learning, healing, connection, and
- growing together.
"This course enables us to explore the essence of effective leadership through shared experiences, fostering a collaborative environment where diverse insights weave together to guide and inspire authentic growth." - Chris Wood, Program Participant