UK HR Work-Life to host events in October to recognize National Work and Family Month

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 2, 2023) — The University of Kentucky Human Resources Work-Life will host several events in October to recognize National Work and Family Month.  

National Work and Family Month is an annual designation observed in October. During this time, workplaces across the country are encouraged to promote healthy and flexible work environments. The theme of this year’s month is “The Whole Person Perspective.” UK HR Work-Life is planning a series of workshops on Tuesdays and Thursdays designed to help employees in their efforts to thrive personally and professionally. 

“This month is designed to communicate and celebrate the efforts and strides to create healthy and flexible work environments,” said Azetta Beatty, UK HR Work-Life Manager. “This is an opportunity to support and encourage our UK employees to actively manage their work and life responsibilities one day at a time. With this year’s theme, we hope to remind employees to embrace things that help them thrive in every area of their lives.”  

All sessions are from noon to 1 p.m. unless otherwise noted. The scheduled events are: 

Tuesday Series 

• Oct. 3: CAPTRUST webinar on retirement readiness. CAPTRUST Financial Advisors, the independent advisory firm that works on the University of Kentucky Retirement Plans, will conduct this webinar. This presentation is designed for participants who are within 10 years of their retirement, but others are welcome to attend. It will highlight the importance of income diversification and how to incorporate them into income strategies. It will also cover Social Security benefits, health care planning (Medicare), investing strategies and creating income. Register for the session here. 

• Oct. 10: ADHD/ADD support and strategies for your children. October is ADHD Awareness Month. Join us to learn about diagnosis, parenting children with ADHD, resources to support you, and strategies to help your child be successful in everyday activities and their relationships with peers and others. Register for the session here.   

• Oct. 17: Managing stress when caring for children and older loved ones. If you are caring for children or assisting older loved ones, it can take a toll on you physically and mentally. This workshop will teach you how to recognize the signs of stress related to parenting and caregiving for elders. We will discuss how to identify personal and effective coping strategies for managing this type of stress. Register for the session here.  

• Oct. 24: Establishing priorities and building focus for productivity. Have you ever found yourself struggling to stay focused at work? Is your "to do" list working for you? Attend this workshop to learn proven strategies to help you prioritize tasks and get the most out of your workday. This workshop will cover strategies to build focus and manage tasks. Participants will practice goal development to enhance productivity skills. Register for this session here. 

Thursday Series 

• Oct. 5: Boundaries tune up: Strengthening boundaries post pandemic. Did your personal and professional boundaries get a bit blurry during the pandemic? If so, you’re not alone. Join us for a discussion about which boundaries might be out of alignment, how to strengthen them and what to do with the difficult feelings that often bubble up when you enforce them. Register for the session here.   

• Oct. 12: Use KY Saves 529 plans to turn paychecks into diplomas. Do you ever wonder how you will pay for your child’s college expenses? Join us to learn about an easy way to save for your child’s (or grandchild, niece, nephew’s) education. Learn how KY Saves 529 can help you save more with professionally managed investments, tax advantages, gifting, and rewards. Plus, everyone who attends the webinar will be eligible to win $529 for their KY Saves 529 account. Register for the session here.  

• Oct. 19: Using your personality to thrive at work. This workshop will help you gain a better understanding of how you can use your personality to get work done, collaborate with colleagues and show up in the world. Join this workshop to help you understand your Myers-Briggs preferences to help foster strong relationships, teamwork, and productivity in the workplace. Register for the session here. 

• Oct. 26: Self-compassion and saying “yes” to self. Saying “yes” to yourself can add more presence, grace and appreciation to your days, relationships, work, and dreams outside work. But, when we have a busy schedule and a long to-do list, taking care of yourself can feel easier said than done. This session will focus on the art of taking a well-deserved self-care and creating space for your excellence to shine. You’ll learn and experience simple ways you can slow down, let go of judgment and practice true self-care. Register for this session here. 

Additional events

On Thursday, Oct., 12, an Elder Care presentation on changes in Kentucky senior living facilities is from noon to 1 p.m. via Zoom. There have been a lot of changes made over the last year regarding the updating and modernization of Kentucky long term senior living facilities, which include assisted care, personal care and memory care. Learn how these changes and new regulations affect the operations of care facilities and how this will impact you and your loved one. Register for the session here.

There are two events on Wednesday, Oct. 18: 

• Working Parents “Real Talk” chat, 8:30 to 9 a.m. This monthly informal 30-minute “real talk” support session for UK employees in the parenting role (parents, grandparents, foster parents, guardians, etc.) offers casual discussions about the daily ups and downs, joys and pains, memorable moments, and all that comes with being a working parent. Join this small group session to share resources, ask for and offer advice to other parents as well as connect with other parents that understand your role. Register for the session here. 

• Elder caregivers support group, noon to 1 p.m. Join other UK families for a Zoom conversation to discuss and share ideas about how we can take care of ourselves while we are caring for our older loved ones. Register for the session here. 

For more information, contact Azetta Beatty at worklife@uky.edu.