HR Newsletter September 2023

HRNEWSLETTER September 2023 photo by Cameron Crunkleton

National Day For September Boosting your Brain Power U Away From UNG In this issue Campus Safety Awareness Month Workplace Wellness 03 06 09 Fun activities outside of work Noon Zoom, Carnivals, & More! 08 04 Tips & Resources from our EAP Healthy Role Models New Nighthawks 10 August 2023 New Hires Bring your good manners to work K9 Sergeant REX

Sept. 11: Oconee Campus Quad — 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 12: Cumming Campus Patio — 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 13: Gainesville Campus, Martha T. Nesbitt Patio — 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 14: Dahlonega Campus Promenade — 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 15: Blue Ridge Campus Patio — 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. UNG Campus Safety Carnival Dates: Click here for National Campus Safety Awareness Month Events Your contribution to campus safety is invaluable. We greatly appreciate your time and commitment to a safe and healthy UNG. Click here for UNG Connect to register for courses: American Heart Association’s Basic Life Support (AHA’s BLS) Civilian Response to Active Shooter Events (C.R.A.S.E.) Emergency Preparedness Workshop Fire Extinguisher Training Heart Saver CPR/AED Naloxone Stop the Bleed UNG Public Safety Throughout the month of September there will be several opportunities to get involved in events focused on public safety. “Our focus is to bring our students an all-encompassing safety education experience in celebration of National Campus Safety Awareness Month in September. Our goal is to highlight campus safety protocols to create a resilient and safe community that supports academic excellence” Greg Williams, UNG Director of Public Safety and Chief of Police National Campus Safety Awareness Month

Boosting Your Brain Power We often take for granted our ability to think clearly, learn new skills, and remember information. Lifestyle choices can make a difference in how well our brain is able to perform day-to-day. If you feel like you’re not functioning at your best, your Employee Assistance Program is here to help. Anytime, any day, you have free, confidental access to professional consultants and online resources to help you be your best. To access these services, details are below: Acentra (previously KEPRO) - Your Employee Assistance Program Toll-Free: 1.844.243.4440 Website: usg.mylifeexpert.com Code: USGCares

Stay on top of your health. Both physical and mental health issues can contribute to a decline in cognitive function. Attend preventative care screenings and manage any health problems. Get a handle on high blood pressure. There is a link between high blood pressure earlier in life (ages 40-60) and cognitive decline later in life. Develop a plan with your doctor to tackle high blood pressure or other physical health concerns. Limit alcohol and avoid drugs, including nicotine. Nicotine increases risk of stroke among other health issues, while chronic alcohol and drug use impairs cognitive functions. Consider a Mediterranean-style diet. This type of diet focuses on eating whole grains, non-processed foods, lean protein, fruits, and vegetables. Studies have found that this diet leads to improved health outcomes which may boost brain power. Get moving. Studies have linked exercise with increased cognitive function. The recommendation is for a minimum of 2.5 hours of exercise weekly. Exercise your brain. Read books, learn something new, play games, and socialize with others – these can all keep your brain active. Minimize stress. Chronic stress can impact the brain’s ability to function at its best. Get enough sleep. Most people need between seven and eight hours of quality sleep. Sleep problems can lead to a decline in concentration and memory. The contents of this article and referenced websites, such as text, graphics, images, and other material contained on the site are for informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Reliance on any information provided by these websites is solely at your own risk. Kepro (now Acentra) is not responsible for the contents of any “off-site” web page referenced from this server. ©Kepro. All rights reserved. Brain Power Tips The tips below can help you get the most out of the body’s most complex organ. “Cognitive Health and Older Adults”. National Institute of Health. Accessed June 13, 2023.

Role-model healthy behaviors. A strong well-being culture starts at the top. When employees see senior leaders and managers actively focusing on health, they become more comfortable devoting time to their own health. It also signals that well-being is an integral part of the culture, not just a nice-to-have. WELLNESS WORKPLACE

Creating a culture where employee well-being comes first is not just about providing benefits and perks, it's about creating an environment where employees feel supported, valued, and empowered to grow. Leadership can play an important role in creating such a culture by encouraging compassionate leadership. Compassionate leadership involves listening to and supporting employees in a way that helps them overcome obstacles and succeed. This can involve providing individualized support, mentoring and coaching to employees. Leaders can also set the tone at the top level of the organization by modeling healthy habits and behaviors. For example, if leaders eat well and exercise regularly, they are likely to encourage their teams to do the same. Employee well-being is critical to the success of any business. It’s important for leaders to take steps towards improving employee well-being as part of their overall strategy for success. NEWSLTR, August 2023 edition, click here

With our busy work schedules, we tend to spend a lot of time with our work families. There are ways we can all improve and be an inspiration to our colleagues. BRING YOUR MANNERS TO WORK DAY FAQS When is Manners Day? Bring Your Manners To Work Day is observed on the first Friday of September every year. How do you work on your manners at the workplace? The best way to work on manners is self-reflection. See if your daily habits align with the rules of the workplace, and you can even seek feedback from your supervisor, or peers. How do you practice good manners? A good rule to remember is to extend good manners to others the way you would want to be treated. Avoid excessive or loud talking, disrespecting others’ time, and being careless about your contribution to the workplace. Even though the first Friday in September has passed, there are reminders we can use everyday. NATIONAL DAY September 1, 2023 Click here to read fun ways to celebrate to read fun ways to celebrate bring your manners to work day bring your manners to work

Away FROM Allison is an Assistant Professor of Film & Digital Media at UNG. She is currently pursuing her 300-hour yoga teacher certification. Photo caption: Allison is in the “Dancer Pose” aka “Natarajasana in Sanskrit“ ALLISON HOGUE UNG We want to know what outside hobbies and activities you all love to do outside of work. Please submit your photo here

Kevin Blanch Pedro Diaz-Gomez Mahmoud Elsedawy Draven Green Jennifer Herazy Lillie Holtzclaw Jinyoung Lim Sydney Lynch Chelsea Marelle Kel Pruitt Kyle Thomson Bartholomew Wisniewski Brandon Wyatt William Yaeger Associate Director of Residence Life Visiting Professor, Cybersecurity Lecturer Residence Life Coordinator Senior VP of Strategy & Chief of Staff Administrative Assistant III Assistant Professor International Student Services Coordinator Assistant Professor Athletic Facilities & Operations Assistant Limited Term Faculty Lecturer Lecturer Visiting Associate Professor

If you need this form in an additional format, please reach out to Michael McLeod Visit MyUNG for previous issues of the HR newsletters email: hr@ung.edu phone: 706.864.1440 dah: downtown office building gvl: administration building oco: jamestown blvd., suite 207 photo by Cameron Crunkleton

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