{"id":95342,"date":"2023-01-16T13:10:00","date_gmt":"2023-01-16T19:10:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.unmc.edu\/newsroom\/?p=95342"},"modified":"2023-01-16T15:04:16","modified_gmt":"2023-01-16T21:04:16","slug":"all-campus-forum","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.unmc.edu\/newsroom\/2023\/01\/16\/all-campus-forum\/","title":{"rendered":"UNMC aims for balanced approach to work arrangements"},"content":{"rendered":"
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UNMC Chancellor Jeffrey P. Gold, MD, recently held his first all-campus forum for 2023, welcoming all back to campus and extending wishes for a happy, healthy and successful New Year. He also noted how the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the work environment on a local and national scale. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe continue to better understand the ramifications of the pandemic,\u201d he said, and how it has impacted everything from child and elder care to the balance of work. \u201cWe need to continue to have a thoughtful and open approach as to how we manage the meaning and place of work.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Last month, the University of Nebraska announced a new Alternative Worksite Policy<\/a>, which outlines processes for staff seeking remote or hybrid work arrangements. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis new policy is an attempt to continue to bring individuals back together following the pandemic and to create a collaborative family-like environment on the campuses, similar to what we had pre-pandemic,\u201d Dr. Gold said during the Jan. 12 forum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The policy, available in full here<\/a>, applies to all administrative, office and service, managerial\/professional and student employees across the NU System. Complete details on the Alternative Worksite Policy, including Q&As on remote, hybrid and out-of-state work, are available here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOur supervisors and leaders will provide a balanced approach for any needs for remote work,\u201d he said, urging staff to discuss arrangements with their supervisor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Members of the medical center community can view the January forum.<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The med center continues to monitor COVID-19 data, said Jane Meza, PhD, interim executive director for the UNMC Office of Health Security, including hospitalizations and the highly transmissible XBB.1.5 variant, which currently makes up 27% of new infections in the U.S.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Meza encouraged individuals wear masks in public, crowded indoor areas and stay up-to-date with boosters. Only 15% of individuals in the U.S, she said, have received the bivalent booster, which helps protect against severe disease, hospitalization and death. \u201cIt\u2019s not too late; you can still get your booster.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Testing remains available throughout the state; details can be found on the UNMC coronavirus website<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In other matters, Dr. Gold provided updates on:<\/p>\n\n\n\n