Notes from Human Resources Division

• The Human Resources Division is co-ordinating a visit from approximately 40 University of Manitoba employees.  The purpose of this visit is to meet with a counterpart at another university to share working experiences and information, as well as sharing and exchanging ideas.

  This year, these employees from the University of Manitoba have applied to visit the University of Saskatchewan.  This visit will occur on Friday, October 26, 2001.  The range of occupations represented by this group is broad (information technology specialists, administrative assistants, caretakers, assistant directors of academic units) and will be matched with equivalent employees at the University of Saskatchewan.

  The day will begin at 8:00 with welcoming remarks and introductions.  Then the visiting employees will spend the remainder of the day with their counterparts in various workplaces across campus.  A tour of the campus will follow near the end of the day.  On Saturday, the visitors will also tour the city of Saskatoon. 

  This staff development opportunity is available to University of Manitoba employees each year and funded from an Endowment Fund.

• A reminder to register for the Aboriginal Cultural Awareness Education Session being offered for the first time on Thursday, October 18th, from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm.  The workshop will cover areas such as the Aboriginal Partnership Agreement signed between the University and the Provincial Government, Aboriginal peoples’ impact on the future economy, contemporary terminology, Métis issues, and Treaties.

  For more information or to register, refer to the 2001-2002 Partners in Learning Calendar or call Barbara Meier, Organization and Employee Development, 966-6272 (e-mail: barb.meier@usask.ca) or call Candace Lafferty, Human Resources Manager (Aboriginal Employment) at 966-2063 (e-mail: candace.lafferty@usask.ca).  Subsequent workshops are also planned for November 15, 2001, February 21, 2002 and March 21, 2002.

• The Managed Rehabilitation Program has just recently published its 4th Annual Report.  This document demonstrates how the Program continues to prevent significant costs through interventions such as stay-at-work initiatives, or graduated return to work programs.  The types of claims continue to be consistent with previous years:  45% due to musculoskeletal problems (such as back, neck and wrist injuries); 30% are psychological in nature; and 25% are due to various medical conditions (cardiovascular, cancer).  Copies of the Report can be obtained by calling Marjorie Ingerman, MRP Office, at 966-4580 (e-mail:  marjorie.ingerman@usask.ca).  The document will also be placed on HRD’s web site by the end of October, 2001.