UB a finalist for WNY Healthiest Employer Awards

UB has been named a finalist in this year’s WNY Healthiest Employers Awards. UB is one of five finalists in the X-Large category for employers with more than 1,600 employees, along with ACV Auctions Inc., GEICO, Mattel, and People Inc.

UB was recognized largely for its benefits, including its generous time and attendance and accrual policies, and the breadth of programming offered through Wellness and Work Life Balance.

For example, Wellness and Work Life Balance conducted more than 200 programs over the past year. These included in-person lunch hour fitness classes, outdoor and indoor campus walks, a partnership with Independent Health’s Fitness in the Parks program to hold a yoga class weekly in South Lake Village, and virtual and in-person health and wellness seminars. Wellness and Work Life Balance also partnered with UB Recreation to offer chair yoga so that people of all abilities could participate.

“We’re always looking for new ideas,” says Michele Poitras, manager for Wellness and Work Life Balance programs. “We want to meet people where they are. Units across campus can also contact us to do programming with them.”

Poitras adds that mental health will be a big focus of WWLB’s fall programming schedule.

Of course, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, much of WWLB’s programming shifted to virtual. Some of that has continued, including the very popular “Mini Mental Breaks,” which feature interactive 15-minute games of trivia or Pictionary.

“It’s all about stress release and engaging with people, and it really seemed to work. People really enjoy the Mini Mental Breaks,” says Pete Logiudice, community relations assistant in Wellness and Work Life Balance.

UB also was recognized for its parent-friendly policies and generous leave benefits. The university also provides private lactation rooms for students, faculty and staff across all three campuses.

One company in each of four size categories will take home top honors at an event Aug. 25 at Buffalo Riverworks.