WorkLife Connections Archives | Human Resources News Blog

Rescheduled: Mindfulness 101 Lunch & Learn

Published July 2, 2018

Wellness

Learn simple techniques to promote self-awareness, resilience, emotional balance and problem-solving with the Mindfulness 101 Lunch and Learn, presented by Brigitte Morin, senior lecturer in biological sciences, and hosted by WorkLife Connections and Employee Wellness.

The presentation is rescheduled for July 25, from noon to 1 p.m. in the Great Lakes Research Center Room 202. Space is limited so please register in advance.

Bring a yoga mat!

Feel free to bring lunch; beverages will be provided. This free event is open to faculty, staff, students and the community.

HuskyPAW members will receive 100 points for attending this event. Questions? Contact Business-Ops@mtu.edu.

Husky Health Coming in 2019

Published June 27, 2018

By

Wellness

Benefits Services, in conjunction with the Wellness Committee, has developed a more inclusive approach to wellness at Michigan Tech.

Beginning in January, Michigan Tech Wellness will pilot a new, more flexible and streamlined employee wellness program called Husky Health.

Husky Health will offer benefits-eligible Michigan Tech employees more choice and flexibility with their wellness plans and incentives.

This pilot program has been approved by President Mroz and the Executive Team and is a voluntary, financial incentive-based program available to all benefits-eligible Michigan Tech employees. Several employee wellness plans and incentives—including the HRA Incentive, HuskyPAW, SWEAT, TechFit (employee and dependent) and T2—will be rolled into Husky Health.

More information about Husky Health will be communicated in the coming months.

Presentation: Internet Safety for Parents

Published April 18, 2018

By

Wellness

What are our children actually doing online and are they hiding anything from us? Michigan Tech will host a safety training for parents.

This is a free event open only to adults due to the subject matter. Please RSVP here.

Wednesday, April 25 at 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm | MUB Ballroom B3

Special Agent (SA) Todd Wilton, assigned to U.S. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, will be teaching parents, teachers and guardians the risks/consequences and ways to protect our kids from online predators, high risk social media apps (75+), sextortion, sexting, cyberbullying and many more of the dangers aimed at our children on the internet.

The World Wide Web has no boundaries and our children are no more isolated in the Upper Peninsula than anywhere else. SA Wilton will bridge the gap between the generations and provide basic/discreet computer/telephone forensic training for monitoring our children’s online activities.

The presentation is very real and fact based. Audiences have referred to it as “eye opening” and “a powerful message.” Audiences are encouraged to take notes and/or pictures for their future reference. In addition, instructional manuals referred to as “Smart Cards” for monitoring social media will be disseminated electronically to anyone interested.

Actual case examples will be discussed, which include explicit conversations among children and online predators, as well as training that is not subject for children, as we don’t want to teach them anything they don’t already know.

Statistics:

The Internet has become the preferred playground for child sex predators seeking innocent young victims.
Last year alone, HSI special agents logged nearly a million hours working child sexual exploitation cases, opening more than 4,000 investigations.
Research shows one in 25 children ages 10 to 17 have received an online sexual overture where the person attempted to meet the child face-to-face.
Every week there are over 20,000 images of child pornography is posted on the web.
Illegal child pornography is offered by approximately 100,000 websites.

Additional parent presentations (open to the community) are being held:
4/24 at 6:30PM Houghton High School
4/26 at 6:30PM Jeffers High School

Get in Gear: Lively and Informative

Published April 12, 2018

By

Wellness

On April 11th, members of the Campus Bike Initiative and Bike Initiative Keweenaw were on hand to discuss the how-to’s of bike safety, commuting, and local resources for cyclists. The audience was also treated to a fashion and gear show and learned how to dress for all kinds of cycling weather. The group addressed specific questions related to biking across the bridge, how to maneuver through downtown traffic, and where commuters can clean up on campus.

Check out The Daily Mining Gazette, April 12, 2018, for a summary of the event.

If you were unable to attend this event and would like more information about cycling in our area, contact Shannon Brodeur for resources.

Lunch & Learn: Get in Gear

Published April 6, 2018

By

Wellness

Join us for a presentation by the Campus Bike Initiative and BIKE! on biking locally and learn about area resources for cyclists including:

Fashion and gear show
Show and tell: how to be a safe cyclist
The National Bike Challenge
Bike to Work

Register here.

Feel free to bring your lunch. Beverages will be provided. This free event is open to faculty, staff, and students. HuskyPAW members will receive 100 points for attending this event. Questions? Contact Shannon Brodeur.

Sponsored by WorkLife Connections and Employee Wellness.

Wednesday, April 11 at 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm

Memorial Union Building (MUB), Ballroom B1 and B2
1503 Townsend Drive, Houghton, MI 49931

All About Going Vegan Lunch & Learn Well Attended

Published March 13, 2018

By

Wellness

On March 6th, Silke Feltz, PhD candidate who studies the rhetoric of veganism, gave an insightful and thoughtful presentation on veganism, while attendees enjoyed a vegan sampling menu catered by the MUB. Dishes included lentil soup, quinoa black bean salad, jerk tofu stir fry, and a chilled coconut pumpkin mousse.

Silke defined veganism for the crowd, discussed what the world eats, and covered tips and myths about transitioning to a vegan diet. She also provided a wealth of resources. On behalf of WorkLife Connections and Employee Wellness, thank you to Silke and our volunteers who helped facilitate this lunch & learn.

If you were unable to attend this event and would like more information about going vegan, email Shannon Brodeur for a copy of the presentation.

Win by Losing Weight Loss Challenge Coming Soon

Published February 13, 2018

By

Wellness

Have you been trying to get healthier and lose weight? Employee Wellness and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan invite you to participate in “Win by Losing,” a free, fun and healthy challenge, open to Michigan Tech employees, that can help you take personal responsibility for your health and reach your weight-loss goals.

Register to be part of Michigan Tech’s team beginning today. The official competition runs from Feb. 26 through April 27.

Participants will submit weekly weigh-ins to compete against other BCBSM group customers. You will also receive weekly emails with tips to help you meet your goals.

Lunch & Learn Schedule

Published January 8, 2018

By

Wellness

Want to learn more about staying physically active, eating well, and reducing stress? Bring your lunch and join us for a wellness-themed Lunch & Learn. Previous sessions have included presentations on biking, starting a running program, eating well, knitting for stress reduction, and acupuncture, to name just a few. Subscribe to the Employee Wellness newsletter to learn about these events and more by emailing Shannon Brodeur, sbrodeur@mtu.edu.

Upcoming Schedule:

January 21: Essential Oils 101 with Superior Essentials. From everyday applications to basic science, you’ll leave this information-packed session with invaluable tools to support your health with essential oils.

February TBD: Sample Vegan dishes with the Copper Country Vegans. Learn about the benefits of a plant-based diet and how to get started. The MUB will be catering this event and offering several vegan dishes to sample.

April 11: Get in Gear with the Campus Bike Initiative and BIKE!. Enjoy a “commuter bike” fashion show while learning about commuting by bike, bike safety, and Bike to Work Day, coming in May.

Have an idea for a wellness-themed Lunch & Learn? We’d love to hear from you.

Remember to Use Your TechFit Benefit

Published December 7, 2017

By

Wellness

Remember to use your TechFit benefit before the end of the year!

TechFit provides employees, retirees of Michigan Tech, and their dependents with a monetary supplement towards an eligible wellness program (see the website for more details):

$150.00 each calendar year for benefit eligible employees and retirees of Michigan Tech.
$100.00 for all (not each) dependents per calendar year. Dependents include spouse and children that are eligible dependents for healthcare.

Check your balance in Banweb under the Employees/Benefits and Deductions/TechFit tabs.

Complete your Health Risk Assessment and get your yearly physical by December 31, 2017, in order to receive your HRA incentive. Contact benefits@mtu.edu for information.

Relax for the Holidays Well Attended

Published November 16, 2017

By

Wellness

Thank you to everyone who joined us at the MUB on November 8th to Relax for the Holidays. Approximately 50 participants reduced stress with mini yoga sessions offered by Beth Ryynanen, HuskiesFit. Everyone went home with make-and-take soup mix and trail mix, while Michelle Coria, Young Living Oils representative, was on hand with samples of essential oils designed to melt the stress away and keep keep the germs at bay.

J. Jukuri generously donated giveaways for the event. Congratulations to our winners:

Manicure: Lisa Normand

Massage: Renae DesRochers

Massage: Amy Mensch

Tag: WorkLife Connections