Work Life Integration

As part of our ongoing commitment to health and wellness, KU offers a variety of programs focused on the integration of work responsibilities, personal life and healthy lifestyles.

Working Remotely

A remote work location might be necessitated due to the specific needs of work being performed, be identified as a flexible option to provide employees greater integration of work and life or be an option to enhance employee retention.  Remote work locations might be temporary due to a situational matter or ongoing in a full-time or hybrid work model. 

• A Remote Work Agreement Form must be completed by both the supervisor and employee for non-COVID related assignments.
• Visit Tips for Working Remotely and Supervising Remote Workers.

Flexible Work Schedule

Flexible scheduling can benefit both university departments and employees needing to achieve a better integration between work and personal life.  It also can enhance recruitment and retention as well as increase employee engagement, productivity and health by decreasing stress.  At the time of recruitment, supervisors should identify if flexible scheduling is a viable option and the expected work schedule. 

• When supervisors and employees want to make a work schedule change after hire, a Flex Time Agreement Form must be completed.  Work schedules exceeding a 12-hour work shift must receive HRM endorsement before approval.

Mental Wellbeing

The University of Kansas has numerous resources to support employees who struggle with mental health issues. Help is available for both long-term diagnosed conditions and more temporary challenges, such as situational stress, life events or external factors such as the COVID-19 crisis.  The Mental Health Resource Guide is a comprehensive guide to mental health resources.

If supervisors and/or employees encounter situations regarding the welfare of an employee, feel uncertain about future action, or if an employee has shared in confidence thoughts of self-harm or harm to others, please see the following resources:

• ADA Resource Center for Equity and Accessibility (accessiblity@ku.edu, 785-864-7416) or Employee Relations (hrdept@ku.edu, 785-864-4946)
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 800-273-8255 (TALK)

HRM Learning & Development has partnered with Bert Nash Mental Health Center to offer virtual Mental Health First Aid training. We will be offering four sessions this fall.  Space is limited so register early to secure your seat.  You may register HERE.  Virtual Mental Health First Aid is a course designed to teach everyone how to recognize the signs and symptoms of a mental health or substance use disorder or crisis as well as the skills to be helpful and supportive to someone that is struggling. Participants are taught how to apply the 5-step Mental Health First Aid Action Plan in a wide variety of situations, from helping someone through a panic attack or to working with someone who may be suicidal.

Many of us are ill-prepared to handle traumatic events when they occur in the workplace. Human Resource Management understands that managers and individuals experiencing traumatic events such as death, assault, grief, loss, and other crisis situations may need assistance during such trying times.

Learning and Development

• Learn more about the organizational development services provided by HRM, including coaching, conciliation services, meeting and retreat facilitation, organizational assessments, team building, and traumatic event support.
• Coaching is a process that is designed to assist motivated individuals in making changes to further their professional development. Human Resource Management offers coaching services to interested employees. Working with a coach can give you the edge you need to improve your work skills, discover your strengths, and achieve your goals. Coaching is proven to work when these two factors are present: you are willing to grow, and there is a gap between where you are now and where you want to be.
• Human Resource Management offers team building services to campus organizations. With good team building skills, you can unite employees around a common goal and generate greater productivity. Team building assists groups in balancing the five core elements of a healthy team: leadership, roles, goals, policies and procedures, and relationships.