In December 2020, the Wildcats Thrive Initiative administered a survey to all Chico State Employees gathering information on individual ratings of health and wellness, as well as how the organization is meeting the dimensions of holistic wellbeing.
We have analyzed this data to assess the current organizational culture at Chico State within emotional, environmental, financial, intellectual, physical, relational, spiritual, and vocational wellbeing. You can read the Qualitative Report, here (PDF).
Now more than ever, partially due to the global pandemic, does gathering information on employee wellbeing provide an opportunity for innovation in the workplace. The WTI utilizes Trauma-Informed and Healing-Centered Frameworks. These frameworks demonstrate the importance of employee engagement in building trust and the importance of offering space for employee input.
The eventual goal of the WTI is to create a toolkit for departments to assess and implement Healing-Centered Practices. We do not want to prescribe what employees need, but provide support on what employees prioritize to enhance wellbeing within the constraints of what employees and managers have control over (i.e. to enhance relational wellbeing, beginning meetings with a staff ‘check-in’).
This global pandemic amplified the need for discussion of wellbeing across campus. With the complex layers and challenges of telecommuting, the WTI leadership team strives to find innovative ways to provide support. By gathering information on the eight dimensions, the WTI leadership team is able to find ways to enhance support and be value-added to resources already being provided.