We often hear about the medical benefits of receiving a vaccine. But, receiving the COVID-19 vaccine has benefits that go across multiple dimensions of wellbeing.

Physical benefits. According to the CDC, the COVID-19 vaccine will help keep you from getting COVID-19. Based on current data, experts believe getting a COVID-19 vaccine also helps keep you from getting seriously ill, even if you do get COVID-19. Getting vaccinated yourself may also protect people around you, particularly those at increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19. Getting vaccinated is a great way to keep you, your family, and your community safe.

Social benefits. Once you are fully vaccinated, you can start doing more.  For example, you can gather in a home or private setting without masks with other people who are fully vaccinated. This is the first step in re-establishing those in-person connections that are so important in our lives. The more folks we get vaccinated, the more in-person social connections we can make!

Emotional and mental health benefits. No area of wellbeing has taken a bigger hit this past year than our emotional and mental health. The pandemic has created overwhelming stress. When we experience prolonged stress, seeing the light at the end of the tunnel becomes imperative for recovery. Receiving the vaccine is a way to reclaim hope and find some “normalcy” in our lives again.

Financial benefits. The financial hit from COVID-19 was felt by most across the country and world. Unemployment rates increased, fewer people ventured out to spend money which resulted in businesses closing, retirement accounts were affected, and the law of supply and demand escalated prices on goods and services. It will take a while for our economy to bounce back, but the sooner we get people vaccinated, the sooner we can restore our confidence and increase our economic activity.

As many have said, battling COVID-19 has been a marathon, not a sprint. In a marathon, some runners “hit the wall” as they near the last leg of the race, feeling fatigued and stopping or slowing to a walk. We are at that point in this pandemic. We can see the finish line. We have the tools to get there. But we need to keep going, get the vaccine and cross the finish line. It will take all of us to get there.

All Iowans 16 and older are now eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. The University strongly encourages any member of the Drake community who qualifies for immunization to receive it as soon as possible.

If you have questions about the vaccine, good informational resources can be found at the CDC’s COVID-19 vaccination FAQ, Wellmark.com/Coronavirus, or the Wellmark Blue article, “Questions about the Covid-19 Vaccine.”

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources

This is a reminder to join our upcoming Walk this May team step challenge.

This team challenge will run through the month of May. A kick-off meeting will be held via Zoom on April 30 for all participants. Team captains will report weekly step totals and participants will receive motivational emails, including an update on team points. At the end of the month there will be a challenge celebration via Zoom, with a prize package awarded to the participants of the winning team.

You may register as a team of four or five people or register individually and you will be placed on a team. To register, send an email to linda.feiden@drake.edu with your team members (or just yourself if registering alone) by April 28. Let’s get moving!

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources

Even without the pandemic, this time of year can spur a surge in financial stress and anxiety. Fortunately, there are resources available to help answer your financial questions, and assist you in making the best decisions for you and your family.

TIAA offers a number of resources for Drake employees. Explore the TIAA website for answers to questions on personal finances, life milestones, and retirement. Participate in a live or on-demand webinar, review TIAA’s weekly market commentary for educational information regarding the current financial climate, or set up a phone or video chat with Drake’s TIAA financial consultant, Paige Philips at Paige.Philips@tiaa.org.

Employee and Family Resources offers financial resources including podcasts and access to a free financial consultation.  You may contact EFR at 800-327-4692 or www.efr.org.

You may also find answers to your financial questions at the next BUILD (Bulldogs United in Learning Drake) class, 7 Barriers to My Financial Future, on Tuesday, April 13 from 10 – 11 a.m.  We will explore the seven barriers that may prevent you from achieving your goals and dreams and how to maneuver around these roadblocks and move ahead with confidence.  Scott Nelson from Legacy Financial Group will facilitate.

To register for this or any class, please send an email to linda.feiden@drake.edu.

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources

Now that spring has sprung, it is time to go outdoors and get moving. If you need a little nudge, join our upcoming Walk this May team step challenge.

This team challenge will run through the month of May. A kick-off meeting will be held via Zoom on April 30 for all participants. Team captains will report weekly step totals and participants will receive motivational emails, including an update on team points. At the end of the month, there will be a challenge celebration via Zoom, with a prize package awarded to the participants of the winning team.

You may register as a team of four or five people or register individually and you will be placed on a team. To register, send an email to linda.feiden@drake.edu with your team members (or just yourself if registering alone) by April 28. Let’s get moving!

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources

Employee and Family Resources is continuing their monthly webinar series and have a full slate of presentations ready for spring. All webinars are free to attend. View a full list of upcoming classes and registration.

If you have missed past webinars, they are available for viewing on their website.

EFR offers a variety of Employee Assistance Program (EAP) resources to help you now or anytime.  Reach EAP by phone (800-327-4692) or visit their website at https://efr.org/how-we-help/work/.  All EAP benefits are confidential and available 24/7/365.

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources

Thank you to everyone who responded to the Faculty and Staff Wellness Interest Survey in January. We appreciate your time and value your feedback on how to provide employees with the programs, presentations, and activities best designed to meet your needs.

Based on the overall results of the survey, the most highly requested programs and presentations are mindfulness programs, healthy cooking/healthy eating, wellness challenges, walking and running clubs, and stress management programs.

Top-rated, stand-alone events include CPR/first aid, flu shots, CPHS health services (health coaching and bone density screening), chair massages, and fitness assessments.

The survey showed that most employees receive information on wellness programs through OnCampus and the HR Monthly, prefer participating over lunch or after work during the work week, and prefer programs that run 30-45 minutes. The primary barrier to participation is lack of time and inconvenient time or location.

The comments included in the survey were also helpful. Several employees requested group sports (pickle ball and volleyball), a self-defense class, and continued online webinars and fitness classes for those working remotely.

These results will provide us with areas to focus on in the coming academic year. Next steps include:

• Create a Wellness Advisory Council of faculty and staff to address the needs across campus
• Work with groups such as Head Start to address their remote worker needs
• Bring back services such as chair massages and CPR/first aid classes when it is safe to do so
• Use the results to help drive future wellbeing topics

Thank you again for participating in this survey. If you have any feedback on these next steps or other suggestions, please feel free to contact Linda Feiden at linda.feiden@drake.edu.

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources

As we “march” through staff appreciation month, take a few moments to show appreciation to your peers. In addition to “shout-outs” and nominating staff for a Called to be True Blue award, here are a few additional ways to say thanks.

Voice a verbal thank-you. In the workplace, things move fast and sometimes “thank-you” gets left behind. Make it a point to show your appreciation by simply saying thanks.

Microsoft Teams Badges. Send praise to a peer using Microsoft Teams badges. There are a number of badges to choose from, including “thank-you,” “achiever,” “awesome,” and “team player.” To start sending praise, go into Teams Chat. Create a new message.  Select *** below the compose box, then select Praise. If you don’t see Praise as an option, click additional apps to find it. Select your badge, compose your message and send. That’s it!

Hand-written note. A personal note written with sincerity and specifics can sometimes mean the most to a colleague. If the person is working remotely, consider sending an electronic thank-you card or email.

Give kudos in a team meeting. An individual, face-to-face thank you is personal and effective. For some individuals, there is also room for more public appreciation—and a team meeting is the perfect place to recognize someone who has helped you out recently. It doesn’t have to be big and flashy, but be sure to be specific in how they helped.

Share a treat. Being COVID safe, share a pre-packaged treat with a co-worker with a small note of thanks.

Offer to help. Giving thanks is always a good idea. But for some, offering to help is even better. Show your appreciation to a colleague by offering your assistance. Think of those you would like to thank and then try to think of a way you can give them a hand.

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources

To enhance the mental and emotional well-being of faculty and staff, one day each month has been designated as a meeting-free day. The goal of no-meeting days is to give all employees a large block of uninterrupted time to focus on projects. These days are a good opportunity to recharge and rebalance.

Upcoming meeting-free days:
Tuesday, March 16
Wednesday, April 14
Tuesday, May 25
Wednesday, June 23

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources

The Fiscal Year 2020–2021 University Holiday Schedule has been updated to include this year’s Juneteenth Holiday, which will be observed on Friday, June 18.  Juneteenth is an annual holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States.  Additional information on Juneteenth can be found at iowajuneteenth.org.

The Fiscal Year 2021–2022 University Holiday Schedule has also been posted in myDrake.  Both Holiday Schedules can be found under Human Resources in the Commonly Used Apps. Click on Benefits, select Additional Benefits, and Holiday Schedule.

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources

Check out this spring’s BUILD (­Bulldogs United in Learning Drake) classes. From Microsoft Teams and Excel classes to self-care, resilience, and financial health, we have you covered. All classes are being held virtually. The full list for the spring semester is available through the BUILD app in myDrake.

To register for any class, please contact Linda Feiden at linda.feiden@drake.edu. 

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources