Organizational Effectiveness (OE), a division of University Human Resources, is proud to share a new stand-alone training for supervisors on well-being and mental health, as well as a refresh to the Supervisor Training@Iowa courses.
The new course was designed in collaboration with the Well-Being and Mental Health Campus Collaborative to support the University of Iowa Strategic Plan 2022-2027 priorities around holistic well-being and success.
The Well-Being and Mental Health course is for new and longstanding supervisors and is intended to improve their knowledge and skills around understanding and identifying mental health concerns so they are better equipped to support their staff.
"Equipping our supervisors with the tools to support the well-being and mental health of their staff is vital to retaining our dedicated employees," said UI Employee Assistance Program director Bronwyn Threlkeld-Wiegand. "We want our supervisors to feel confident responding to employee concerns in an informed and empathetic manner."
Supervisor support, or lack thereof, is often cited as a reason why employees leave their jobs. According to the Society of Human Resource Management, studies have suggested that fair treatment by a supervisor is the most important determinant of employee retention.
After reviewing trainings, identifying areas of opportunity, and working with the campus collaborative, OE refreshed its Supervisor Training@Iowa ICON courses to incorporate well-being and mental health support and change management.
The training's four modules have been renamed:
- Foundations
- Culture Builder
- Performance Manager
- Team Builder
The Supervisor Training@Iowa courses are mandatory for all administrative supervisors at the UI. The training is intended to assist staff and faculty in supervisory roles with developing common knowledge, strengthening supervisory skills, and promoting consistent, equitable employment practices.
"As we navigate a tight labor market and embrace the university's priority of promoting holistic well-being and success for students, faculty, and staff, University Human Resources encourages participation in leadership development," said Joni Troester, senior assistant vice president and deputy CHRO.