Employee health is a big thing within companies; they want their employees to be able to be productive, while at the same time maintaining their overall well-being and not burning out. One thing that a lot of companies do is host events where employees can participate and help themselves.
The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater hosted its third annual Wellness Fair for university employees to attend on April 8 in the Old Main Ballroom of the University Center (UC). The event allowed employees to come in and learn about how the university helps their overall well-being and what they can do to maintain their health.
“The importance is to support our employees in wellness and let them know that we care about their overall health, that we want to put themselves first and we encourage them,” said Wellness Coordinator Stephanie Hartmann.
Employees who visited the fair were met with a lot of different activities to do; from 10-minute massage chairs to chair yoga and guided meditation, employees were introduced to activities that helped their well-being.
Various vendors that ranged from physical health to financial help were at the fair. Discover Whitewater and the Parks and Recreation Department were there, along with Culligan Water and Fidelity Investments.
One vendor that was set up was Wood Street Bakery, a small company that sells healthy bakery items, such as bread, granola, muffins and scones, each made with whole grains and less sugar. They gave samples of their granola and sourdough bread, each made with organic materials that help with one’s health.
(Josh Stoughton)
“We’re trying to be a kind of gateway to healthy living for people to transition from junky food they’ve been on to kind of trying to get a more healthy diet,” said Wood Street Bakery representative Therese McKenzie.
The Wellness Fair also helped push “U Matter,” an initiative launched in the fall of 2023 to create a culture where every individual feels valued and recognizes their significance within the university community. It also helps improve mental health, workplace satisfaction and overall well-being.
“Coming out of COVID, as people were coming back, kind of welcome them and let them know that they matter,” Hartmann said. “It is important that they are seen, they are heard and they are a part of this campus culture.”
The “U Matter” campaign gives employees the chance to play a role in improving overall work culture. They are given a U Matter Toolkit where they can do activities that let them think and learn about how they increase campus culture. The Toolkit consists of purpose statements and N.A.N. (Notice, Acknowledge, Nominate) cards to recognize contributions, tabletop exercise scripts to help during discussions and skill-building workshops.
The event not only gave employees a chance to explore ways to prioritize their health, but it also reinforced the university’s commitment to create a supportive and connected campus culture. The event served as a reminder that well-being is not just encouraged, but that it is celebrated.
