Dear Colleagues,

We hope that HR made your October just a tiny bit more fun with all the enjoyable and useful things we did last month! We continue to receive positive feedback regarding the Mammography Van and other Breast Cancer Awareness month activities, which inspired our student body to join us in raising funds for the cause. Only a handful of our employees participated in Sober October, but those that did, report seeing the benefits of 31 days free of alcohol (and they get some awesome prizes!). And Halloween – oh how much fun that was for our big and little Tigers alike! We are so grateful to all the departments who participated in bringing a little oasis of normalcy to our employees’ children!

Speaking of gratitude, we in HR will be celebrating November as the month to be thankful! Check out Debbie’s Wellness Wednesday Newsletter for more details, and be on the lookout for “Thankful Thursdays” events and activities. If you have tips and tricks on how to practice the attitude of gratitude in these isolating times, please reach out so we can share them with the rest of the community. One way to express your gratitude is to give a shout out to your colleague(s) who go above and beyond to make this place a great one; scroll down to find out how. Bill Gillen and Mike Timma are our most recent recipients of the “shout out” award!

These are challenging times, and we must be kind and patient with one another and work as a cohesive team in order to not just survive but thrive. We challenge every single member of the H-SC team to do their best at cultivating empathy, practicing attitude of gratitude, and assuming positive intent. Teaching is difficult and so is sweeping the floors of the classrooms. Some would love to be able to clock out at 5 pm and not worry about work until 8:30 am the next day. Others prefer the flexibility. To somebody who has worked regularly on campus throughout the summer, it may seem that the individual working from home is at an advantage. To that individual that has to work from home, routine and structure of an office environment may seem like a better deal. Whatever it takes, we must continue to trust one another in order to continue to form good men and good citizens in an atmosphere of sound learning.

HR

HR Announcements

Rules (and tips and tricks) for working from home! - 2020-11-05 10:02:32

All the rules of your regular workplace apply to working from home! So be sure you are not tardy, that you are professional in your appearance and demeanor, and that you are completing your duties as you would if you were in the office. Taking a day off? You MUST request it in Paycom! So your supervisor, team, and constituents know that you are working from home, be sure you put that announcement on your voicemail AND email! Consider adding all of your tasks and appointments to your calendar too, so you (and your supervisor) can see what you have accomplished in that 7.5 or 8 hour remote workday. To keep your routine and structure, follow these tips and tricks:
- get up at the same time every day AND get ready for work as if you were coming to the office
- make sure you have a work station - do not just work from anywhere
- take meal breaks as if you were on campus but also be sure you get up and MOVE at least once every 90 minutes; get OUTDOORS for at least 10 minutes twice a day
- plan extra social interactions - even if they are over zoom - be sure you connect with your supervisor and team DAILY!
- manage distractions - turn off the TV, stay off of social media, and isolate from others in your household when working
- RESPOND to your voicemails and emails within 48 hours - working from home comes with an obligation to be extra available, responsible, and accountable!
- ask for help when you need it - the work needs to be done!
And again, just remember that all the guiding principles and rules of the workplace apply at home. If you would not do something in the office, you most certainly should not do it from your remote workspace.
by Sue Carter

Employee Changes

Karen Huggard left the College on November 6

Professional Announcements

Staff Advisory Committee - 2020-09-09 14:51:09

The Hampden-Sydney College Staff Advisory Committee serves as an advocate for staff welfare and development and works with administration to build and retain a more engaged community. The committee promotes communication, coordination, and collaboration among staff to ensure efficient use of College resources while providing a safe, confidential forum to discuss ideas and concerns brought forth by staff members. Please send us any questions, comments, ideas, or concerns that you have. We are pleased to offer this line of communication and hope you will feel comfortable sharing your thoughts with us. Visit http://www.hsc.edu/faculty-and-staff/staff-advisory-committee for a complete list of committee members or to anonymously submit your input.
by Mrs. Jennifer Cochrane

 

 

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Employee Trivia

Send us a photo or a short story about an H-SC employee going “above and beyond” in their line of duty at the College, and you and the employee in question will receive an awesome prize!  Email to svcarter@hsc.edu.