Durham College
PA-11: Wellness Program

Employee Assistance Program The EAP provides full-time staff members and their dependants quick access to confidential counselling and support services. The EAP provides the following services: - 24-hour, 7 days a week toll free access; - Complete confidentiality; - Discrete, off-site convenient locations across Canada; - Highly trained and experienced professionals; - Lawyers for legal advice, accountants for financial advice, and an extensive network of counsellors to assist with emotional concerns; - Professional who deal with eldercare and childcare concerns; - Extensive information on various community services and support groups, as well as a willingness to research a wide range of problems to assist each individual with their varied and unique situation. - An advisor to help you choose which path to take, e.g. Counsellor, Legal Advisor, Accountant, or Community Resource. We also have coaching services available to all students: http://www.durhamcollege.ca/student-experience/helping-you-succeed/access-and-support-centre Living Well We have a new Wellness Committee and information page for staff to access: www.durhamcollege.ca/livingwell Employee Wellness Release Time The program was piloted Feb. 8 - April 29 by Human Resources, providing opportunities for DC employees to enhance their overall health and well-being. The pilot program offered full-time DC employees 30 minutes of release time during normal working hours up to three times a week. Release time was to be used for participation in physical exercise and fitness or wellness activities, which could include: • Working out at the Campus Recreation and Wellness Centre (CRWC) including the fitness classes offered by the facility • Attending wellness seminars hosted by Human Resources • Working out at your own gym • Going ice skating at the Campus Ice Centre • Walking or running outside • Meditating • Participating in reflective thinking/mindfulness (e.g. go to a quiet space) The 30 minutes could be used in conjunction with a one-hour lunch period; at the beginning or end of the work day; or at another time pre-approved by a manager. The time was to be used on a consistent basis (e.g. manager could agree to taking an extended lunch hour Monday, Wednesday and Friday each week). In order to participate in the program, employees were required to submit a completed application form, including specifying requested weekday(s) and time(s) and wellness activity and goal(s), to manager. The Wellness Release Time program pilot has recently resulted in a new Policy to support the program. The policy was developed based on feedback from participants in the Wellness Release Time pilot project conducted earlier this year, as well as their supervisors. The 12-week pilot project, which ran from February 8 to April 29, offered full-time employees 30 minutes of release time during normal working hours up to three times a week to participate in physical exercise and wellness opportunities. The new policy focuses on creating opportunities for full-time, benefits-eligible employees to get more physically active, which has been shown by research to have a positive impact on both physical and mental health. Durham College is excited to be providing our employees with more flexibility and support to achieve their personal wellness goals.