Professional & Personal Development Programs

Open to faculty and staff. Register at www.knowledgelink.upenn.edu

Conflict in the Workplace; October 10; 12:30-1:30 p.m. Conflict is a natural part of working with others, and is typically the result of stress in a relationship. Conflict in the workplace should be addressed in order to maintain productivity, increase retention rates and improve morale. Failure to address conflict often leads to an escalation of the problem and may lead to unproductive behaviors such as resentment, displacement or defensiveness. In this program, we will explore how conflict can be helpful and strategies to better manage conflict at work.

How to Nominate a Staff Member or Team for a Models of Excellence Award; October 10; 2-3 p.m. Do you work with someone who shows special initiative or demonstrates outstanding leadership? Have you noticed that a colleague or team excels at fostering workplace collaboration or shows an especially deep commitment to service? If so, then recognize them as a Model of Excellence. The Selection Committee depends on the content of the nominations to make its decisions. Therefore, nominations submitted should be as detailed and descriptive as possible in order to convey a nominee’s exceptional performance and award worthiness. Be sure to attend this workshop and learn about how best to write your nomination and obtain some tips on doing so!

Effective Listening and Communication Skills for Managers; October 11; 12:30-1:30 p.m. This workshop is designed to teach staff serving in supervisor positions listening and communication skills and techniques. Participants will learn: listening skills to extract information, the ‘when’ and ‘how’ of what makes sense to communicate and professional vs. personal listening and communication skills.

Financial Freedom: Strategies for Reducing Debt and Saving More; October 13; 12:30-1:30 p.m. Also October 18; 11 a.m.-noon. Looking for ways to bring your financial life under control? This presentation by Vanguard will teach you how to pay down credit card debt, set up an emergency fund and save for a comfortable retirement.

Money at Work 1: Foundations of Investing; October 17; 11 a.m.-noon. Join TIAA Financial Services for a discussion on managing financial risk versus reward, understanding the role of investing and managing investment risks, augmenting programs to help accelerate savings and products and tools to help you maintain your portfolio.

Money at Work 2: Sharpening Investment Skills; October 17; 1:30-2:30 p.m. Building on Money at Work 1 (10/17), this intermediate guide to investing will help you understand how to evaluate your savings progress, as well as maximize potential growth and minimize potential risks. You’ll learn about your investing personality. If you’d like to also attend Money at Work 1, please register for that presentation separately.

TED Talk Tuesday: How to Speak Up for Yourself; October 26; 12:30-1:30 p.m. Speaking up is hard to do, even when you know you should. Learn how to assert yourself, navigate tricky social situations and expand your personal power with sage guidance from social psychologist Adam Galinsky.

Quality of Worklife Workshops

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

Campus Tree Tour with Robert Wells; October 3; noon-1 p.m. Join Robert Wells, associate director of arboriculture outreach, on a guided walking tour of some of the most notable trees on Penn’s campus, beginning in front of College Hall.

New and Expectant Parent Briefing; October 9; 12:30-1:30 p.m. Participants will learn about local and University childcare and parenting resources including breastfeeding support and the nursing mothers program, childcare locators, back-up care, adjusting to new schedules and flexible work options. The presentation will include Q&A with an FMLA specialist and participants will also have the opportunity to network.

Wills, Trusts and Estate Planning; October 12; 12:30-1:30 p.m. Join trust and estate lawyer Margaret Sager, to learn about the importance of estate planning, managing your estate during life and disposing of your estate at your death through the use of trusts, wills, beneficiary designation forms and other planning documents.

Mindfulness Monday: From Mind Full to Mindful; October 16; 12:30-1:30 p.m. Mindfulness is “paying attention, on purpose, in the present moment, non-judgmentally,” said Jon Kabat-Zinn. Mindfulness practice develops awareness of your present thoughts and feelings to help you manage different situations. In this once-a-month experiential workshop, you’ll see how mindfulness can help you become more engaged and effective both at home and in the workplace. No prior meditation experience necessary.

Guided Meditation: Take a Breath and Relax; October 17 and 20; 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.

Surviving and Enjoying the Six Stages of Parenthood Webinar; October 17; 3-4 p.m. In this online session we will examine, not child, but parental development from the prenatal phase through the empty nest, or departure phase, combining the human development theories of Freud and Erikson with concrete, contemporary insights from the book, The Six Stages of Parenting.

Strategies for Work-Life Integration; October 18; 12:30-1:30 p.m. Technology has driven a 24/7 business environment that can make it challenging to balance the demands of work and home life. The phrase “work-life integration” is an update to the traditional “work-life balance” that enables professionals to consider the synergies between their work and home lives. In this session, we will review strategies you can utilize to create better work-life integration.

Timeline to Retirement; October 18; 1:30-2:30 p.m. Did you know there are seven retirement milestones related to your age? If you’re within 10 years of retiring, attend this presentation by Vanguard and learn about what these milestones are and how they’ll affect your retirement.

Penn Family Day; October 21; 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Faculty, staff and postdoctoral scholars are invited to bring family and friends to the 25th annual Penn Family Day. Eligible faculty, staff and postdocs can reserve up to four tickets for the Family Day tailgate lunch at Shoemaker Green and the Penn v. Yale football game. Visit www.hr.upenn.edu/familyday for complete details and ticket reservations.

Flexible Work Options; October 23; 12:30-1:30 p.m. This will provide an overview and 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.

Plan Ahead: Strategies for Caregivers; October 26; 12:30-1:30 p.m. Planning proactively can assist families to prepare for the care of an aging family member, mitigate an unexpected crisis and ultimately result in better choices and outcomes. This seminar will address challenges faced by caregivers and resources available to provide adequate supports and effective and proactive management of caregiving responsibilities.

Healthy Living Workshops

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

Spinning; October 5; 11:30 a.m.-12:30 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 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.

Be in the Know: Biometric Screenings; October 9-November 21; free for benefits-eligible faculty and staff. On-campus biometric screenings provide key indicators of your health status, such as blood pressure, cholesterol levels and blood sugar. Receive immediate feedback —plus points toward Be in the Know cash incentives. Visit www.hr.upenn.edu/beintheknow for details about the 2017-2018 Be in the Know.

Gentle Yoga; October 10 and 24; noon-1 p.m. Let your body reward itself with movement! Explore the natural movements of the spine with slow and fluid moving bends and soft twists. Flow into modified sun salutations that loosen those tightened muscles and joints of the lower back, neck, shoulders and wrists. Get a workout in the process. Mats and props will be provided.

Campus Health Flu Shot Clinic; 11 a.m. -7:30 p.m.; October 11, 12, 13 (11 a.m.-3 p.m.)This no-cost vaccine clinic for Penn students, faculty and staff will be held in Bodek Lounge in Houston Hall. No reservations are required.

Zumba; October 18; noon-1 p.m. Perfect for everybody and every body! Each class is designed to bring people together to sweat it on. We take the “work” out of workout, by mixing low-intensity and high-intensity moves for an interval-style, calorie-burning dance fitness party. Once the Latin and World rhythms take over, you’ll see why Zumba® fitness classes are often called exercise in disguise.

October Wellness Walk; October 27; noon-1 p.m. It has been proven that spending more time outside reduces stress, increases energy levels and boosts immunity. Start achieving these goals by meeting the Center for Public Health Initiatives staff in front of College Hall by Ben Franklin’s statue. The walk will be approximately two miles and with a one mile option for those who need to exit the walk early.

Healthy Eating 101: Tips for Kids and Adults; October 30; 12:30-1:30 p.m. Knowing what to eat can be overwhelming! We are bombarded with fads, diets and ever-changing nutrition messages for children and adults alike from numerous sources. Learn how to determine nutrition fact verse fad and learn what true healthy eating is all about.

—Division of Human Resources