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Life+Work+Links program: finding the right balance

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By Tonya Franklin

More and more you may have seen the term "Life + Work + Links" in literature around campus and in e-mails, and may be wondering what it means and how it affects you.

In recent years, there has been much discussion about the relationship between workers' lives on and off the job, about changes in the nature of work and in the lives of workers, and about the fit between what is good for employers and for employees, including their families. Studies address many of these issues and raise ongoing discussion, while reporting new insights.

The Life + Work + Links (LWL) program has been on campus since 1998. It was the creative outcome of a collaboration between Dr. Jeannine Raymond, Human Resources director; Dr. Andrew Hoff, currently associate dean in the College of Health and Human Services; and Dr. John Franz, Employee Assistance director.

The goal of the program is to promote wellness and interaction among members of our campus community. LWL provides opportunities for faculty and staff to develop skills in both personal and professional areas. This ongoing program is intended to contribute to individual learning and development of a greater sense of community on our campus.

Research has found that supportive workplaces help employees to be more effective workers, people and parents. This idea supports our next event, for example. To help relieve some of the stress, we have planned a fun-filled evening at Warnor's Theater on Thursday, May 30, from 6-8 p.m. for faculty, staff, family members and retirees. The event, called "Silent Night/Stress-Free Night," is designed to promote a stress-free experience for all who participate.

Attendees will experience a full-length Laurel and Hardy silent movie with pipe organ accompaniment, take a specially arranged tour and get a brief history lesson regarding Warner's fabulous pipe organ.

During the fall of 2001 and the first half of 2002, a total of 13 events, plus a special "Planetarium Night" were offered to faculty, staff and retirees as part of Life+Work+Links programming.

We currently have an on-site massage therapist who can massage your cares away in a 15-minute session the first and third Tuesday of each month from 12-5 p.m. (summer hours, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.). Or, you may want to join our Weight Watchers group that meets each Tuesday from noon-1 p.m. We also have an on-going Eldercare support group that meets the last Monday of each month to discuss the issues of caring for aging loved ones.

We welcome ideas and suggestions on events and workshops you'd like to see offered on campus. Contact Tonya Franklin at 8-4851 or by e-mail at tfranklin.

Tonya Franklin is coordinator of the Life+Work+Links program.

Back to University Journal, 05/20/02 Issue