New Employee Website Focuses on Well-Being

11/11/2022

In early September, the Human Resources team at Saint Louis University launched a new website dedicated to employee well-being. 

The new website offers information about wellness programs available to faculty and staff encompassing physical, financial, spiritual, intellectual, and emotional/social well-being. 

The website is just part of the HR team’s focus on employee well-being. In April, Rachel Donahue joined the team as a full-time wellness coordinator. Before coming to SLU, she worked in corporate wellness, wellness consulting, community nutrition, and fitness centers. 

In her role at SLU, Donahue will continue to evaluate and implement the best support available for employee wellbeing. 

“​My goal for this position is to learn and understand each individual's needs when it comes to overall health and well-being,” Donahue said. “I want to take a more holistic approach focusing on not only the physical health of the individual but also social/emotional, spiritual, financial, and intellectual well-being — truly putting cura personalis into practice.”

Cura Personalis is a Latin term meaning "care for the whole person."  Donahue hopes the employee well-being program has something to offer all SLU employees. 

“It is my goal and my hope that this program will provide something for everyone, to provide opportunities and resources to engage each person while creating a community and culture of overall wellbeing,” she said. 

The website has information about SLU’s employee portal. The free well-being portal provides guidance, resources, and support for employees' needs as they work toward a healthier lifestyle.

Also on the website is a list of upcoming events. 

“There are so many fun and exciting programs coming up it is hard to list them all,” Donahue said. “Each month, Employee Well-Being will bring focus to a different aspect of wellness.”

In September, the focus was on mental health. Employee Well-Being hosted webinars on decreasing clutter and organization, as well as understanding how to manage stress, anxiety, and depression. 

November’s focus is gratitude in honor of National Gratitude Month. The goal behind the month is to practice gratitude because research states that people who practice gratitude every day are not only happier but also healthier, according to the website. The website suggests practicing gratitude by keeping a journal, spreading gratitude with others and giving back.

In addition to the theme months, the website also provides information on events held throughout the year. One of the events is lunchtime cooking demonstrations. Working with graduate students from the Department of Food and Nutrition, each month will focus on different recipes highlighting seasonal produce. The sessions are designed for attendees to learn how to cook healthy, quick, budget-friendly meals.  

Other ongoing programs, like mindfulness classes, are highlighted on the website. 

Anyone looking to keep up with the latest from Employee Well-Being should visit the website, which is updated regularly, or check out the Twitter and Instagram pages.