Author: Judy Espinoza

Employee Appreciation Day is Friday, March 4. To extend appreciation for all employees, President Rick Muma and other members of the President’s Executive Team will host a come-and-go event with light refreshments 2-3 p.m. March 4 at the Rhatigan Student Center (first floor, Bluestem Room).

Showing appreciation for employees: Tips for supervisors

We know leaders are always looking for ways to show appreciation for faculty and staff often on tight budgets and in some cases, with a hybrid work team. While budgets may be tight and you may need to account for some of your team not being in-person, it is still important for leaders to show their employees that they are valued both as people and for the work they contribute to the university.

Below are a few ideas for leaders to show appreciation for their employees. There are no-cost and low-cost ideas and there are some creative ways to celebrate Employee Appreciation Day modified for a hybrid work team. These tips give you some ideas, but the main point is to show appreciation however you find meaningful. You know your team–get creative and make sure you  don’t miss the opportunity to express your appreciation:

• Make cookies or snacks and bring them in for everyone or consider having a department pot luck lunch with a fun activity to show appreciation for each team member.
• Host a virtual Employee Appreciation Day. Choose a fun theme, ask everyone to dress up (optional) and find virtual backgrounds that go along with your theme. You can ask your leader (next up the chain) to share an encouraging message or to facilitate a fun game for employees.
• Write a handwritten note to your staff and personalize it with recognizing something they have done that has made a positive impact on your team.
• Make a sign for each of your employees that says “I appreciate (insert employee name)” and place the sign on the employee’s work-space entry. Provide sticky notes to all team members and have them write a note about why they appreciate their team member and affix it on the sign.
• Have a drawing to give away prizes during a Zoom call. Prizes can be university swag already on hand, and you can use wheelofnames.com to pick winners.
• Create a Kudo Board to celebrate employees with an online group card filled with messages, GIFs, photos and videos.
• Share praise received from customers. This shows employees that their work matters and may give them a needed boost.
• Create a Hall of Fame where leaders can recognize someone in their division or college who made an extraordinary contribution to the institution’s ability to meet objectives in the past year.

Related resource: College and University Professional Association for Human Resources

The COVID-19 drop box will be available for WSU employees to either submit proof of COVID vaccination, remote work exception request or a vaccination exemption request beginning Nov. 29, 2021. The deadline to submit documentation is no later than Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2022.

In accordance with Executive Order 14042, all Wichita State employees (including temporary, part-time, full-time and student employees) will be required to be fully vaccinated, unless eligible for a medical or religious exemption or a remote work exception.

The mandatory vaccination obligations apply even to those covered employees who are working remotely (if they are working on or in connection with a covered contract or are fulfilling any work obligations at any time on university property).

Compliance with the vaccine requirement is a condition of employment at WSU. Employees who are not fully vaccinated or do not receive approval for a medical or religious exemption or a remote work exception may be prohibited from engaging in work after the deadline. Further failure to comply will be addressed consistent with university policies and procedures, which may include corrective action up to and including separation.

Please continue to monitor WSU Today and Shocker Blast for updates and reference the HR Guide to Executive Order 14042 for additional information.

In accordance with executive order 14042, there are several COVID safety protocol requirements that impact our community:  vaccines, masks and physical distancing.  All Wichita State employees (including temporary, part-time, full-time and student employees) will be required to be fully vaccinated, unless eligible for a medical, religious or remote work exemption. 

The mandatory vaccination obligations apply even to those covered employees who are working remotely (if they are working on or in connection with a covered contract or are fulfilling work obligations on university property). Given the short timeframe for implementation and the length of vaccination protocols (in some cases, taking up to six weeks), unvaccinated employees should seek their first vaccine dose immediately.

Compliance with the vaccine requirement is a condition of employment at WSU. Employees who are not fully vaccinated or do not receive approval for a medical, religious or remote work exemption will be prohibited from engaging in work after the deadline. Further failure to comply will be addressed consistent with university policies and procedures, which may include corrective action up to and including separation.  

Mask exemption requests

If an employee needs to request a medical or religious mask exemption, they may do so by completing and submitting an exemption request form to HR.ServiceCenter@wichita.edu.  Find forms at the vaccination and masking requirements page. 

Vaccination exemption requests

If an employee needs to request a medical, religious and remote work vaccination exemption, they may do so by completing an exemption request form.  Find forms at the vaccination and masking requirements page. Individuals may begin filling out the forms, but they may not be submitted yet.  

A process is still being completed that will allow employees to upload their proof of vaccination or exemption documents via a secure and confidential portal.  We will communicate more on this process as soon as the details are available and no later than the week of Nov. 15.  Any forms submitted outside the portal will be returned as unprocessed.  

Please continue to monitor WSU Today and Shocker Blast for updates and reference the HR Guide to Executive Order 14042 for additional information.