Professional News

Kick Off The New Year With UK HR Work-Life

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LEXINGTON, Ky. (Jan. 19, 2021) — The start of a new year is the perfect time to set goals and make plans, both in your career and personally. Though plenty University of Kentucky employees have settled into a new normal, managing work and life responsibilities can still be a challenge, and UK Human Resources Work-Life is available to help. 

Through Work+Life Connections CounselingUK Elder Care, the Resources for Parents web page and Flexible Work information, HR Work-Life provides beneficial programming for employees and their families. Work-Life programs support positive mental health and self-care, effective work-life management and overall well-being for ourselves and our loved ones.  

Work+Life Connections Counseling 

Work+Life Connections therapists offer individual appointments, group presentations and workshops throughout the year in order to support employees’ mental health and to promote self-care. The twice weekly Midday Mingle series offers informal connection and community for UK employees. The monthly Real Talk series is a roundtable-style discussion where therapists and an elder care specialist answer real questions about real life, including themes such as finding purpose, children and mental health, relationships, conflicts and self-esteem. The four-week Mindful Self-Compassion series will share self-awareness and relaxation skills, as well as encourage kindness toward oneself. 

A complete list of these events is available on the HR Work-Life calendar

For those who seek individual or family counseling, appointments are offered Monday-Friday. Employees can choose a therapist who best meets their needs. 

Elder Care 

Employees can reach out to HR Elder Care for assistance in identifying elder care needs, personalized referrals to community services and seminars related to elder care issues. Monthly workshops and caregiver support group sessions are offered by HR Elder Care, covering topics such as caregiving, Alzheimer’s, dementia and long-term care. 

Work-Life's elder care specialist is available Monday-Thursday for consultations and guidance. 

Resources for Parents

UK employees and students have access to our exclusive community of UK students who provide child care through the Big Blue Family Care referral service. Parents can submit a request for assistance via the online form. Work-Life also offers helpful information on how to choose and connect with child care centers. 

The Working Parents Network Meetings offer a way for working parents to connect, learn about resources and share advice. Monthly meetings create the opportunity to learn helpful tips from experts by exploring topics like child development, parent-child relationships, nutrition, fitness and self-care. The monthly Parents Coffee Talk sessions offer an informal morning chat environment where parents can connect, offer support and discuss what is on their minds. 

Flexible Work

UK employees have the option to consider a variety of flex work options including remote work, compressed schedules, adjusted hours and reduced seasonal or unpaid hours. Details and the proposal request forms are on the Flexible Work web page

Get in Touch

A complete list of upcoming virtual events can be found on the Work-Life calendar. If you have questions about Work-Life programs and services, reach out to worklife@uky.edu

As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.   

In 2022, UK was ranked by Forbes as one of the “Best Employers for New Grads” and named a “Diversity Champion” by INSIGHT into Diversity, a testament to our commitment to advance Kentucky and create a community of belonging for everyone. While our mission looks different in many ways than it did in 1865, the vision of service to our Commonwealth and the world remains the same. We are the University for Kentucky.