Resources

Workplace Well-Being 

Explore resources dedicated to promoting workplace well-being, including practical tools, training opportunities, campus programs, and general guidance for employees and supervisors.

• Accessibility@UW
  Provides free resources for employees about disability, accessibility, and accommodations. 
• Remote Work
  Remote work guidance and free resources for employees. 
• Working at UW
  Resources for employees to explore campus resources and stay up-to-date on important news. 
• Cultural Linguistic Services (CLS)
  Cultural Linguistic Services enhances communication, cultural understanding and learning in our multilingual work environment. CLS provides translation, interpretation, multilingual facilitation and a comprehensive Workplace Learning program including tutoring, workplace English, computer classes, Plain Language training and other learning opportunities. 
• Hostile and Intimidating Behavior
  Learn more about what hostile and intimidating behavior is and about resources to address this behavior.  Information is available in English, Spanish, Hmong, Tibetan, and Chinese.
• Names and Pronouns
  Pronouns are words we use to talk about someone without using their name or title. You can learn more about pronouns with the resources below:
  • Gender and Sexuality Campus Center (GSCC) Pronoun Guide 
  • How to share your pronouns on UW–Madison’s online services

   

• Employee Mental Health Presentations & Trainings
  Employee Asistance Office (EAO) provides free training to work units and other groups focused on difficult conversations, self-care, suicide prevention, imposter syndrome. Training may be requested by managers, supervisors, deans, directors, human resources professionals, wellness committees, conference planners, and others.
• Empathia & LifeMatters
  LifeMatters through Empathia provides many free resources including training, financial and legal consultation, time-saving searches, therapy sessions with a counselor for personal or work-related issues, and management consultation for workplace concerns. 
• Suicide Prevention: Recognize, Respond, Refer
  Learn more about recognizing common warning signs of suicide and reviewing strategies to respond and refer someone who may be in need of support and/or resources. Enrolling in the course is free for UW employees. 
• Supporting Employee Mental Health for Supervisors
  Resources to help managers and mentors to care for their own mental health while supporting the mental health of their students and employees. 
• Ombuds
  The Ombuds Office provides UW–Madison employees with a free confidential place to collaboratively explore complaints, clarify issues, and consider options and resources to address concerns.

Well-Being for UW-Madison Employees and their Families

Employee well-being extends beyond the workplace. The resources shared here focus on personal, interpersonal, and family well-being, including caregiving responsibilities, financial education, and more.

Mental Health Support

• Employee Counseling Services
  The Employee Assistance Office (EAO) provides confidential consultation and counseling services for UW–Madison employees & their families. These services are free, confidential and voluntary for UW employees. Employees can schedule EAO services during work time. Please contact your Human Resource representative for questions.   
• LifeMatters
  LifeMatters is a service through UW that provides employees and their immediate family members with free and confidential counseling, consultation, and resources through a statewide (and in many cases, Nationwide) network. The service is available 24/7, and their telephone line is staffed by professional counselors who can support callers’ immediate personal and work-related concern. Those counselors can also connect callers with additional local services to address their needs in a timely matter. You can reach out to LifeMatters directly by calling 800-634-6433, or you can email lifematters@mailplus.wisc.edu for instructions on how to access LifeMatters’ online resources. Please contact the Employee Assistance Office if you need help accessing LifeMatters.
• Healthy Minds Program App
  This free app from the Center for Healthy Minds at UW–Madison is designed to help you learn the skills for well-being through awareness, connection, insight, and purpose.

Caregiving Support

• Office of Child Care and Family Resources
  The Office of Child Care and Family Resources administers and provides support for early education and family support programs and services. Childcare through these programs is for UW–Madison employees and has associated fees.
• Lactation rooms
  Listing and map of lactation-friendly locations on campus. Lactation rooms are free for UW employees, but may require special keys or access depending on location (please see the list for more details).

Financial Well-Being

• Financial Education Resources
  The UW–Madison Division of Extension offers a free financial education program and resources that help individuals achieve financial well-being.

Physical Well-Being

• Employee Disability Resources
  The Employee Disability Resources (EDR) Office serves as a campus-wide hub for information on the disability accommodation process for employees and applicants. 
• Campus Flu Clinics
  University Health Services (UHS) host annual campus flu clinics, available to all students and employees. You must bring their Wiscard and health insurance card or information to your vaccine appointments.
• Center for Patient Partnerships
  The Center for Patient Partnerships provides patient advocacy services to people in Wisconsin facing life changing health events or seeking gender affirming care. 
• Gender Inclusive Restrooms
  Gender inclusive restrooms enable transgender and gender nonconforming people on campus to use restrooms without fear or worry of discrimination. They also support people with disabilities, families with young children and people who employ personal care assistants. 
• Outdoor UW
  Outdoor UW offers a variety of different outdoor activities suitable for all interests and levels. There may be associated fees with this resource. 
• University Recreation & Well-Being
  University Recreation & Well-Being (RecWell) provides programs, services and facilities that promote healthy movement and habits for students and employees. Some programs/services require a paid membership, UW affiliate discounts are available. 
• Well Wisconsin Health Screenings
  The Well Wisconsin program provides resources and support for employees to assess their own health, establish meaningful health and well-being goals, and provides opportunities to engage in learning opportunities to achieve these goals. UW employees, retirees, and their spouses who are currently enrolled in the Wisconsin State Group Health Insurance plan can participate in this program. Employees can also earn an incentive by participating. Wellness Wisconsin Program incentives are considered taxable income to the employee.

Community and Collective Well-Being

Communities are important to every person’s experience and provide spaces for relationship-building, connection, and overall health. Creating community can help ensure that employees feel a sense of belonging. The resources below help employees navigate a variety of opportunities to find community at UW-Madison.

• Communities of Practice (CoPs)
  Communities of Practice are groups of people who share a concern or passion and interact regularly to develop their skills. CoPs share three common elements: Domain, Community, and Practice.

  Dozens of CoPs are active at UW–Madison, including groups with interests in communication and project management; education and outreach; human resources; leadership; research; technology; and workplace culture. These peer-organized learning communities bring together people from across our organization to teach one another, share resources, solve problems collectively, and find inspiration in their connections and creativity. Find a community of practice or learn how to start a new CoP online.

  The following groups, which focus on workplace culture, are just a few of the many CoPs that welcome participation from UW employees.

  • Well-Being Community of Practice
    The Well-Being Community of Practice (CoP) provides a space for well-being practitioners across campus and in the community to reflect and process their work around well-being and equity, to share best practices, learn from each other, and inform campus policy. Joining and participating in this group is free for UW employees & affiliates. To learn more and to get involved, please email the Office of Equity, Inclusion and Employee Well-Being (EIEW) at eiew@ohr.wisc.edu. 
  • Sustainability Community of Practice
    The Sustainability Community of Practice (CoP) is a space for staff and faculty to discuss ideas, concerns, successes, frustrations, and lessons about sustainability on the UW–Madison campus and in their personal lives. Whether they hail from a lab, an office, or the classroom, Sustainability CoP members share a passion for improving the impact of their work-lives and work-spaces on the world around them. To learn more and to get involved, please email communityofpractice@sustainability.wisc.edu. 
• Recreation & Wellbeing offers Intramural Sports for employees
  There’s a team for you in intramural sports. Play alongside your besties, roommates, classmates, pledge class, or random strangers in a variety of sports and activities throughout the year. You get to pick the day and time that work for your team so you can still balance school, work, and everything else you have going on. All league winners receive a coveted champ shirt as well as campus bragging rights. Office: (608) 262-8258. Email: imsports@recwell.wisc.edu. All employees are welcome to join this opportunity.
• Career Services for Employees
  As a UW-Madison employee, you have access to a variety of resources and communities to engage in career mentoring. Career mentorship provides a partnership that supports personal and professional growth over time. These partnerships can take on multiple forms, including peer mentoring, mentor-mentee dyads, resource groups, and building networks of mentors. Questions? Email registrations2@ohr.wisc.edu. All employees are welcome to participate.
• Volunteer Tutoring Program
  Cultural Linguistic Services offers free tutor training and flexible meeting schedules and locations. The Volunteer Tutoring Program matches UW–Madison employees with volunteer tutors. Volunteer tutors help UW-Madison employees with individual learning goals.Complete an application or contact Jzong Thao at jzong.thao@wisc.edu. All employees are welcome to become volunteer tutors or request a tutor.
• BIPOC Employee Network and Gatherings
  This group is dedicated to enhancing the work experience of BIPOC employees at UW–Madison. They create awareness of issues affecting BIPOC employees, and foster a sense of community. In collaboration with campus partners, these gatherings provide a space for connection, care, and well-being, and are open to all employees. To learn more about the BIPOC Employee Network or to support its efforts, please contact eiew@ohr.wisc.edu.
• The Gender and Sexuality Campus Center (GSCC) OutPages Directory
  The GSCC OutPages Directory fosters professional relationships and mentoring opportunities by inviting LGBTQ+ and allied employees to create online, searchable profiles. The directory requires you to use your NetID to log on. All employees are welcome to join the directory.