Health + Well-being Education
At the University of Alberta we are committed to supporting our people first because we know our success depends on it. We are committed to A Culture of Care where psychological, cultural and physical safety are at the heart of health and well-being.
We approach learning about health and well-being as an opportunity for you to map your own path toward health, happiness and a state of well-being. While these paths may be different for each of us there are also common experiences in the workplace that require specific attention: the toll that workload and work-related stress take on our sense of well-being and the need to build connections that rely on a culture of trust and respect.
We deeply value your interest in and participation in our learning opportunities toward health and well-being. The recent People Strategy results reinforce our learning curriculum framework and provide general themes to focus our attention in the coming years.
learning framework
The health and well-being learning framework underlies the entire We Care Program. It focuses on changes to the human life-work needs following the Covid pandemic.
The four pillars in the learning framework1 are employee centered, holistic, preventative and proactive. They highlight the fundamental human needs in the workplace that can foster a culture of trust and respect your path to leading a happy and fulfilled life.
Protection from Harm
- Safety and protection from non-physical as well as physical harm including harassment, injury, discrimination and bullying.
- Security in your job and being financially compensated for the work.
Connection + Community
- Supportive relationships and enhanced social networks reduce feelings of aloneness and disconnection.
- Belonging and being accepted in a group encourages thriving at work.
Mattering at Work
- Dignity is recognized through a workplace culture where care and respect are non-negotiable.
- Meaning connects you to your significance in the larger picture of the organization and the community as a whole.
Life - Work Harmony
- Flexibility to determine the correct personal mix of how, when and where work responsibilities will be completed.
- Autonomy to establish what life and work harmony means to your own life.
1. U.S. Surgeon General’s Framework for Workplace Mental Health + Well-Being (2022)
We Care tipsheets
Our We Care Program launched health + well-being tipsheets in 2024. These tipsheets are available for download and can accompany our course: Starting the Conversation: Introduction to Mental Well-being available for teams and individuals. Digital links are provided below for download. All downloads include active hyperlinks so you can get where you need to be quickly and efficiently.
COURSES 2024/2025
We know that investing in the mental health and well-being of our employees is a critical part of creating a Culture of Care: specifically, learning how to support ourselves to manage the effects of work-related stress. Our course schedule evolves throughout the year as employee needs are expressed and integrated into new offerings.
