Professional and Personal Development Programs

Open to faculty and staff. Register at http://knowledgelink.upenn.edu/

Participating in Performance Appraisals for Staff; 3/4; 12:30-1:30 p.m. Join this workshop to understand the performance appraisal process and learn how you can prepare to have a productive review session.

Art of Effective Communication; 3/5; 12:30-1:30 p.m. The skill of effective communication is at the forefront of a successful work environment. We utilize these skills to keep projects on task, convey responsibilities and work with individuals of all hierarchy levels and backgrounds. Learning to develop a personal communication plan, recognize different communication styles and utilize tools to facilitate effective communication can help individuals to better their working relationship and project plans.

Assertiveness Skills; 3/6 and 3/28; 12:30-1:30 p.m. You may experience situations when you need to utilize assertiveness to complete a task, goal or project. In this class, we will identify personal blocks to assertiveness, identify both assertive and non-assertive language and behaviors and learn ways to use assertiveness in everyday situations.

Conducting Performance Appraisals for Supervisors; 3/11; 12:30-1:30 p.m. You are supervising or managing other employees and feel the need to learn more about how to prepare for and conduct performance appraisals. This is the course you’ve been looking for! Join us to find out best practices for this important annual procedure.

Creating and Maintaining Your LinkedIn Profile; 3/14; 12:30-1:30 p.m. This session will review tips on creating a great LinkedIn profile that will get you noticed by recruiters and industry professionals.

Navigating Difficult Conversations; 3/19; 9 a.m.-noon; $75. Difficult conversations are inevitable in any workplace. Those conversations can create unhappiness, stress and tension. While you can’t avoid these conversations, you can learn how to handle them more effectively. Developing the ability to handle these challenges will offer increased confidence, improved relationships, higher productivity, and better career opportunities. There is a $75 charge for this workshop. Once registered, send your department’s 26-digit budget code to japgar@upenn.edu to complete your registration.

Work-life Workshops

Open to faculty and staff. Register at www.hr.upenn.edu/registration

New and Expectant Parenting; 3/5; 12:30-1:30 p.m. This is an introductory resource briefing designed for expectant parents and those who are new to parenting or child care. Participants will learn about local and university child-care and parenting resources including breastfeeding support and the nursing mothers program, child-care locators, back-up care, adjusting to new schedules and flexible work options, among other topics. This session will also cover Penn’s time away policies including short-term disability (STD), parental leave and related sick leave policies.

Guided Meditation; 3/8 and 3/26 12:30-1:30 p.m. Practice mindful breathing that focuses your attention on the present moment with kindness, compassion, and awareness. Self-massage and gentle mindful movements that promote relaxation and reduce stress may also be included in the workshop. No experience necessary.

Mindfulness; 3/13; 12:30-1:30 p.m. This monthly workshop will offer participants an opportunity to practice awareness activities adapted from Jon Kabat-Zinn’s Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program. During the first part of our practice, we will begin with a guided meditation focusing on the breath. The second half of our session will focus our attention on a guided exploration of the body, bringing awareness to the different areas of the body, and allowing ourselves to experience how each part feels, without trying to change anything. No experience necessary. All warmly welcome.    

Sleep Awareness Workshop; 3/18; 12:30-1:30 p.m. Do you have questions about sleep? Are you sleepy and can’t figure out why? Are you having problems with sleep? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions please attend this workshop! We will discuss normal and abnormal sleep in both kids and adults. We will also review common sleep issues in the adult population. Last but not least we will explore what sleep does and why it is so important.

Flexible Work Options; 3/19; 12:30-1:30 p.m. This presentation will provide an overview of Flexible Work Options and provide guidelines for proposing and implementing a flex request including: understanding the applicable HR guidelines and policies, assessing the fit between position and job responsibilities, reviewing a sample proposal, documenting the flexible work option request and implementing the request.

Navigating the Tuition Benefit and Financial Aid for Your College Age Dependents; 3/25; 12:30-1:30 p.m. Join staff from Penn’s Student Financial Services (SFS) and Human Resources Tuition Benefits Offices to learn more about the tuition benefit program for dependents and the financial aid process. The session will provide an overview of Penn’s two dependent child tuition benefit plans and help to clarify how the tuition benefit interacts with financial aid packages. This session will also offer tips for reading and comparing financial aid package components and communications with financial aid offices.

Resiliency: Secrets of Successful Employees; 3/27; 12:30-1:30 p.m. Studies have found that when the same events happen to different people, it’s the individual’s response that makes a difference in terms of staying healthy and using the experience in a positive way in order to grow and thrive—also known as resiliency. What’s the secret? This seminar explores this dynamic and what we can learn from those who are successful at surviving whatever life throws their way and developing their resiliency. The good news is, resiliency can be learned, and many examples exist where it has made all the difference. Participants will leave with tips and techniques for maximizing their own resiliency and positively influencing those around them.

Penn Healthy You Workshops

Open to faculty and staff. Register at www.hr.upenn.edu/registration

Financial Planning for College Workshop; 3/4; noon-1 p.m. Join our speaker, Albert Corrato, Jr., Certified Financial Planner Professional from Creative Financial Group, MassMutual, for this financial wellness learning opportunity. This workshop provides insight and guidance for the major financial decisions that may have to be made when saving for college.

Chair Yoga; 3/6; noon-1 p.m. Interested in trying yoga but don’t know where to start? Join us for a wonderful class. You get the same benefits of a regular yoga workout (like increased strength, flexibility and balance) but don’t have to master complex poses. Chair yoga can even better your breathing and teach you how to relax your mind and improve your wellbeing.

Gentle Yoga; 3/7 and 3/21; noon-1 p.m. Let your body reward itself with movement! Join us for this session and explore the natural movements of the spine with slow and fluid moving bends and soft twists. During this session, you will flow into modified sun salutations that loosen those tightened muscles and joints of the lower back, neck, shoulders and wrists. As an added bonus, you’ll get a workout in the process. Mats and props will be provided.

Spin; 3/11; 11:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Pedal your way to a fantastic workout indoors! With the use of stationary cycles, each class is led on a “virtual” outdoor road, complete with a variety of exercises. This class will give you an energizing, calorie-burning, fun workout and it is great for all fitness levels because you will always ride at a self-directed pace.

Get to Know What Is Healthy at Houston Market Tour; 3/12; 11:30 a.m.-noon. Join Dan Connolly, Bon Appétit’s registered dietitian nutritionist, on an interesting tour of the many delicious, healthy options in Houston Market. You will meet him at Houston Hall’s Information Desk, where he will give a brief history of Bon Appétit and explain the elements of a healthy meal. Then, you’ll follow him downstairs to Houston Market, where he’ll walk you through the various food stations and explain how you, too, can eat healthy at Houston Market!

Be in the Know Biometric Screenings; 3/18; 9 a.m.-1 p.m.; Hall of Flags, Houston Hall. Be in the Know encourages you to have a biometric screening once per year. If you did not complete a screening at an on-campus event, or submit personal results to AREUFIT on or after September 1, 2018, Human Resources is offering a select number of screening dates in 2019. At our on-campus events, you’ll receive a biometric screening from AREUFIT and earn 50 points toward the first $100 Be in the Know cash incentive.

Oral Health 101: All You Want to Know About Your Teeth and More; 3/20; noon–1 p.m. Healthy mouth, healthy body: The link between them may surprise you. Taking care of your teeth isn’t just about having a nice smile and pleasant breath. The condition of your mouth is closely tied to your overall health. Find out how oral health is linked to diabetes, heart disease, cancer and more at this interactive seminar with experts from Penn Dental Medicine.

Bodycombat; 3/28; noon-1 p.m. This fiercely energetic cardiovascular workout program is inspired by martial arts and draws from a wide array of disciplines such as Karate, boxing, Taekwondo, Tai Chi and Muay Thai. Tone and shape muscles while burning major calories!

March Wellness Walk; 3/29; noon-1 p.m. March is National Nutrition Month; meet the Center for Public Health Initiatives Staff inside the Palestra and walk a one-mile or two-mile route while chatting about nutrition and how you can develop a mindful eating pattern that includes nutritious and flavorful foods. We hope you will be able to join us. Bring your water bottle and don’t forget your sneakers!

—Division of Human Resources