In support of these employees, 麻豆原创 is establishing the Hurricane Ian Disaster Leave Program. This program will allow us to provide impacted and eligible employees with additional leave to have time to address their recovery needs.

Instructions for Impacted Employees and their Supervisors

Eligible faculty and staff facing severe hardships may utilize up to 40 hours of Hurricane Ian Disaster Leave beginning Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022. The leave program will be in effect for 30 days, through Thursday, Nov. 3, 2022. Employees do not need to exhaust current leave balances to be eligible for Hurricane Ian Disaster Leave.

1. Impacted employees should communicate directly with their supervisors regarding their ability to return to work and their need to utilize the hurricane leave program.
2. Supervisors can directly approve the employee鈥檚 requests via email based on the eligibility criteria guidance shared below.

Impacted employees and supervisors will receive additional instructions later this week on how to document disaster leave requests in Workday.

Eligibility Criteria and Leave Pool Guidelines

The program is available to employees who currently accrue annual and sick leave and for whom the disaster has caused severe hardship to the employee, or to their immediate family members, that requires them to be absent from work. Examples of severe hardship include displacement; the need to remediate flood damage to an employee鈥檚 or immediate family member鈥檚 home; loss of transportation due to flooding; inability to physically travel to campus due to road closures or obstructions; and/or inability to work or telework due to school or daycare closures.

If severe hardships continue during the 30-day period, additional hours may be available with approval from 麻豆原创 HR. HR will communicate information to impacted employees who may need to request additional hours due to severe hardship.

Hourly employees who are not eligible for paid time off may apply for financial assistance through the university鈥檚 Employee Emergency Relief Fund, which was created within the 麻豆原创 Foundation and is funded by donors and members of our community. Instructions how to apply for a grant from this program will be shared later this week.

Supporting the Disaster Leave Pool

Employees will be able to contribute accrued annual leave and sick hours to the disaster relief pool in support of their colleagues. Additionally, those who contributed leave to the COVID-19 Knights Care Leave Share program can choose to transfer those hours to this program. HR will share more information this week about how to donate and/or transfer hours to the new leave pool.

We appreciate how Knights are known for lifting one another up in times of need. Our 麻豆原创 community deeply cares for and supports each other, and those values must guide us in the coming weeks.

Visit /hurricane/ for additional resources. Questions about the Hurricane Ian Disaster Leave program should be directed to HRConnection@ucf.edu

鈥淚t鈥檚 really hard,鈥� I said as I unsuccessfully fought back tears.

Everyone tells you parenting is hard, but no one tells you just how hard. You hear about the 鈥渂aby blues鈥� but not that you might endure weeks before finally experiencing a day without any tears 鈥� yours, not the baby鈥檚.

She gave me a look of understanding and then told me she didn鈥檛 feel like herself until six months after the birth of her own children.

OK, I thought. Six months. March 2020.

Ha.

Come March 2020 on top of my anxiety, depression and self-confidence issues, I was dealing with something that no one had experience with and could give me advice on: parenting an infant during a global pandemic.

Add into the mix that my husband 鈥� who I love with my entire being 鈥� and I were trying to figure out how to be around each other constantly. That presented its own set of challenges.

My professional life, which was now being done from home, included writing thousands of words daily about the impacts of COVID to the university鈥檚 students, employees and operations, publishing a magazine issue, and a university presidential search.

And I expected to navigate all of this with the perfectionist standards I鈥檝e had my entire life.

The 鈥渟houlds鈥� took over, as they often do.

I should be able to write award-worthy stories.

I should be able to whip up a variety of homemade solid foods for my son so his nutritional needs are met and he doesn鈥檛 become a picky eater.

I should be waking up at 5 a.m. every day to run at least a 5K.

I should be able to do all of this and more because, in my mind, parents always have 鈥� and many during more dire circumstances with far fewer resources than I have.

But I just couldn鈥檛 do all of it and none of my go-to coping mechanisms 鈥� exercise, adequate sleep, limiting caffeine 鈥� were working.

鈥淚 was tired of measuring the success of each day by if I merely survived it. I didn鈥檛 want to just survive my life. I wanted to appreciate it and live it.鈥�

By July 2020, I decided I couldn鈥檛 live like this anymore. I was tired of measuring the success of each day by if I merely survived it. I didn鈥檛 want to just survive my life. I wanted to appreciate it and live it.

I think that feeling coupled with my devotion to the only podcast I listen to religiously, Armchair Expert 鈥� which advocates the benefits of therapy nearly every episode 鈥� motivated me to finally take some action. The hosts Dax and Monica made me feel seen and like I wasn鈥檛 alone in needing help; that seeking counseling isn鈥檛 a sign of weakness 鈥� a philosophy of which I think our society has a long way to go.

I had heard about 麻豆原创鈥檚 Employee Assistance Program (EAP), which offers six sessions of free therapy per topic, but in the past I had always shooed away the idea. I shouldn鈥檛 need that. I have no major trauma in my life to cope with. I just need to suck it up and get through this.

But one day I vowed, today is the day I call. In less than 30 minutes, I was matched with a counselor. I had never done counseling, so I had no clue what to expect.

In my first online session, I explained my anxieties 鈥� that even though rationally I knew I was a good mom, a good wife, a good coworker, it didn鈥檛 keep me from feeling like nothing I did professionally or at home was good enough. That I was so overwhelmed at times, I was missing out on the joy of my son and my husband. That I wanted to be me again.

My counselor asked me an important question that has continued to help me shape the way I reason with myself when I start to spiral:

If a friend was telling you these same things about herself, what would you say to her?

I realized I couldn鈥檛 extend myself the same compassion that I would give anyone who was in such distress. And I mourned that I subjected myself to such negative self-talk when I would never let a friend talk about herself that way. Why couldn鈥檛 I want that for myself? How many days of my life have I ruined doing this?

So that鈥檚 what I鈥檝e been working on. I鈥檝e since done 11 video sessions with my counselor. We message from week to week in between sessions, and it has been so helpful to just talk to someone.

There are days I am better at giving myself grace than others. I鈥檝e learned the end goal isn鈥檛 to be happy. Life isn鈥檛 happy all the time, and all of your emotions, even the tough ones, are meant to be experienced. That means you鈥檙e living.

My husband and I have even done a couple of counseling sessions together since EAP covers family members too. We both love each other, and we both are confident in the strength of our relationship, but again it鈥檚 free; what do we have to lose? One of the strategies we鈥檝e adopted from counseling is to set aside time during the week to check in with each other; to hash out anything that might be lingering, address needs that aren鈥檛 being met, or tell each other about the moments we truly appreciated one another during the week.

I plan to continue counseling. I know now that practicing self-compassion and self-care need to be included among what we demand of ourselves.

I resent that our society doesn鈥檛 normalize, prioritize or validate mental health like it does physical health. Maybe if it did, I would have sought counseling sooner.

Nevertheless, I am here now and I am thankful that 麻豆原创 offers the resources that serve as a reminder that, as Albus Dumbledore said, 鈥淗appiness can be found even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.鈥�

Resources available to 麻豆原创 students and employees

麻豆原创 offers its to all non-student employees. This program provides resources to help employees and their eligible family members 鈥� including spouses, dependent children, parents and parents-in-law 鈥� to address any personal challenges and/or concerns that may affect personal well-being and/or work performance. The EAP, administered by Health Advocate, provides confidential, short-term counseling at no cost to the employee.

Health Advocate toll-free number: 877-240-6863

Health Advocate website:聽

If you are a student looking for help, (CAPS) is 麻豆原创鈥檚 mental health resource for students. You can visit CAPS鈥� website for聽.聽Students can also schedule phone or virtual consultation with CAPS by聽calling 407-823-2811 or visiting聽.

Student Care Services聽continues to work remotely with anyone who needs additional academic or personal support during this time.

Jenna Marina Lee is a features writer for the 麻豆原创 Marketing and Communications department. She has also worked for the university’s alumni and athletics departments.

But after three months of physical distancing due to COVID-19, many of us have been left wondering, what do we do now? Where do we go 鈥� literally and figuratively 鈥� from here?

鈥淚t鈥檚 important we balance the need to get back to some kind of normal life and keep the economy healthy with keeping everyone as safe as possible,鈥� says Deborah German, vice president for health affairs and founding dean of the 麻豆原创 College of Medicine. 鈥淐OVID-19 hasn鈥檛 gone away. It鈥檚 still out there so we need to be smart.鈥�

Katherine Daly, a licensed psychologist with more than a decade of counseling experience who serves as the director of Counseling & Wellness Services at the 麻豆原创 College of Medicine, offers some suggestions for navigating life again.

鈥淚t probably would not be healthy to abruptly rush back into our pre-COVID life expecting it to look like the way it did,鈥� says Daly.

In addition to adhering to the CDC鈥檚 recommended guidelines for venturing out in public, which includes wearing a mask and physical distancing, Daly also recommends doing self-assessments of your comfort level.

鈥淚 try to continually assess how does it feel going out?鈥� she says. 鈥淚f it feels stressful, then my world doesn鈥檛 need to be so big right now. My world can include those who make me feel safe and grounded.鈥�

鈥淚 try to continually assess how does it feel going out? If it feels stressful, then my world doesn鈥檛 need to be so big right now.鈥�

She also recommends having open and honest conversations with friends and family members to establish boundaries you feel comfortable with.

鈥淢ake it focused on how you鈥檙e feeling and your vulnerability and what you need,鈥� she says. 鈥淚n my case, I am more cautious because I have some conditions that put me a higher risk. I鈥檝e had friends who are much more comfortable going to restaurants or beaches, and they鈥檒l say to me, 鈥榃e want to let you know what we鈥檙e doing so you can make an informed decision on if you want to see us.鈥� They know it鈥檚 not about being judged. It鈥檚 about people who care about each other feeling safe enough to communicate vulnerability.鈥�

Daly says having a routine can help you regain a sense of control. Prioritizing sleep, nutrition and exercise should remain part of your daily life regardless if you鈥檙e still working remotely or returning to the office.

As more of us start to return to on-site work spaces, she stresses that having realistic expectations about your work routine will help you readjust.

鈥淵ou may be used to rushing in and immediately hit the ground running and have a really productive work day,鈥� she says. 鈥淏ut the first week back, you might need to ease in. You鈥檙e going to re-establish setting up your office, what it feels like to interact with your colleagues wearing a mask.

鈥淚 would encourage people not to expect too much of themselves and to allow themselves to readjust and re-establish those work routines so that work does feel safe again, and so people can establish some new boundaries of how to be healthy both mentally and physically in the workplace.鈥�

German emphasizes that staying safe in the era of COVID-19 comes down to dedicating yourself to do five simple things: Wear a mask anytime you leave home. Keep a safe distance between yourself and others. Wash or sanitize your hands frequently. Don鈥檛 touch your face. Stay home when you鈥檙e sick.

鈥淲e all have to do these things,鈥� she says. 鈥淚f only 50 percent of us take these precautions, the virus will continue to spread. We have to approach this as a team sport. By taking precautions, you protect yourself, your family, your friends and your community.鈥�

鈥淲e will re-establish a sense of normalcy 鈥� it鈥檚 what we do as humans,鈥� Daly says. 鈥淲e鈥檙e highly resilient. We鈥檝e seen our ancestors do that through various struggles throughout time whether its war or natural disasters.鈥�

But Daly also says that it鈥檚 important to evaluate some aspects of our former daily lives that might not need to be part of our future.

鈥淭he impact that all of this has had on the environment 鈥� did we need to be in the office every day? Did we need to be driving cars every day? Did we need to be heating and cooling all of those buildings every day?鈥� she says. 鈥淢aybe those aren鈥檛 things we need to rush back to. But there are certainly aspects of human connection that I think all of us are missing that we will probably embrace more dearly after this.鈥�

鈥淪tay calm. Stay grounded. Do your best to stay well.鈥�

Daly says it鈥檚 possible we may experience a year or two of residual stress from this pandemic. One thing that cannot be emphasized enough is protecting your mental health.

She suggests the websites Calm and Headspace for meditation and mindfulness exercises. Therapeutic literature, such as The Relaxation & Stress Workbook, can also be helpful.

For faculty and staff at 麻豆原创, she encourages them to take advantage of the , which offers counseling sessions for free.

鈥淪tay calm. Stay grounded. Do your best to stay well,鈥� Daly says.

The reality is some of our colleagues need our help, and Human Resources has made it easy to help them with the Knights Care Leave Share program. Please consider donating some of your accrued annual or sick leave into a 麻豆原创-sponsored leave bank to help your fellow Knights who do not have the option to work from home and have exhausted their time off.

Here鈥檚 how it works:

All leave donations are voluntary and must be initiated through the Leave Donation Form.

You may contribute leave up to the amount you would normally accrue during the year across both annual and sick leave, but must donate at least 40 hours. For more information, check out the Knights Care Leave Share page.

Any unused donated leave remaining after the COVID-19 pandemic ends will be returned to donors. So if you donate and your hours are not needed, they will be put back into your leave balances.

Request Sick or Annual Leave
If you need help, please ask by completing the Request Leave Form. To qualify, you must be in a position where you鈥檙e still accruing leave time, but have exhausted all of your personally accrued time. All recipients will be paid at your normal rate of compensation.

Please note: Post-doctoral employees, medical residents and OPS employees are not eligible to receive leave under this disaster leave sharing plan.

To learn more, review the frequently asked questions on聽the Knight Care Leave Share website.

This is a challenging time for us all, but you may not be aware that some of our colleagues have been more heavily impact than others. If you have not already donated, and have the leave time to, please consider helping out our fellow Knights.

September is National Recovery Month and this year’s theme, “Join the Voices for Recovery: Together We Are Stronger,” carries an important message: We all play a role in recovery, whether or not we struggle personally with issues like depression, anxiety, alcohol, drug or nicotine abuse. All of us 鈥� as work colleagues, friends, family and health care providers 鈥� play a role in supporting each other to become physically, emotionally and spiritually stronger.

A number of resources are available at 麻豆原创 to support those in recovery. Student Health Services offers and we have added recovery information 鈥� including smoking cessation 鈥� on the .

麻豆原创 is committed to helping those affected by mental-health challenges and substance-use disorders by raising awareness of these conditions and the recovery resources that are available.

In addition, we invite you to join us at the Veterans Academic Resource Center on Sept. 14 as for the 麻豆原创 football game against Stanford that will celebrate recovery. The event is co-hosted by the Veterans Student Organization and 麻豆原创 Sober Knights as well as recovery organizations from our community.

Behavioral health is essential to overall wellness. 麻豆原创 is committed to helping those affected by mental-health challenges and substance-use disorders by raising awareness of these conditions and the recovery resources that are available. Prevention works, treatment is effective, and people can and do recover. Please join me in being a voice for recovery.

Let’s all stay well 鈥� together.

Course sessions for 2012 start in February and March. For more information on locations throughout Central Florida, registration, certification or other HR courses鈥攊ncluding HR Essentials and the Global Professional in HR designation, please visit ce.ucf.edu/phrm or call 407.882.0237. For information regarding the HR Certification Institute鈥檚 eligibility requirements, visit hrci.org.

The students’ role is to highlight the skills that the younger generation (millennials) add to the workplace. They will showcase their natural generational strengths by providing the conference attendees with technical support for the custom Learning 2011 App (a multi-platform app for the event), which will run on iPhones, iPads, Androids, BlackBerrys or a web browser. The app will include social networking, content updating and note taking functions.

The six students are:

Whatever level students are on–experienced to aspiring global HR professionals–the program provides HR essentials, real-world applications,聽exam preparation聽and networking opportunities.

Offered in聽partnership with the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), the program is conducted twice a year with classes in Heathrow and East Orlando.聽 Participants can choose from a 12-week evening program or a six-week Saturday program.

Registration is now open for classes starting in September and October. For more information, call 407.882.0260.