By Annalisa Purser
The annual University of Utah Employee Appreciation Day celebration, co-sponsored by the Division of Human Resources and the U Staff Council, is Thursday, Sept. 24, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at Rice-Eccles Stadium. All U employees, including student employees, are invited to the event, where they can eat, play games, win prizes, enjoy live entertainment, get a free flu shot and more.
Faculty and staff will be admitted with their UCards. Student employees need to email EAD@utah.edu indicating they are a student employee along with their uNID number. They should bring a copy of the confirmation email they receive and their UCard to gain admission.
“It is important to the university to offer an environment that supports its employees and recognizes them for all they do to keep the U running smoothly and moving forward,” said Chris Bone, director of Employee Relations for Human Resource Management. “Employee Appreciation Day gives us an opportunity to remind U faculty and staff how valued they are.”
It’s apparent that U employees feel the love. Earlier this year, Forbes named the University of Utah one of the best employers in America—No. 36 overall and No. 3 in education. The ranking was based on the likelihood of employees to recommend their employer to someone else.
Employee Appreciation Day activities include a flu shot, which can be used toward WellU requirements; exhibitors; a spray-brush tattoo artist; a Red Zone booth offering a 20 percent discount; a Hooked on Books tent where employees can get a complimentary book, DVD or CD; a photo station where employees can have their picture taken on a U backdrop; football and soccer kicking on the field; bingo; free food, including pizza, ice cream, snow cones, soft drinks and popcorn; and free chair massages.
Employees who are unable to attend this year’s event can still be included. Send an email to EAD@utah.edu indicating that you are unable to attend and would like to be entered to win a prize. Absentee winners will be notified by Oct. 9, 2015.
To make it easier to get to Rice-Eccles Stadium, a bike corral at the northwest side of the stadium will be available to those who bike to the stadium. Additionally, special shuttle routes will be available to transport employees from all over campus. Routes are available online.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Employee Appreciation Day couldn’t happen without the help of generous U employees who volunteer one or two hours of their time during Employee Appreciation Day. All volunteers receive a T-shirt and a pair of athletic tickets.
To volunteer, please fill out this form, where you’ll be able to choose the time of day that works best for you and the type of work you’d prefer. A committee member will respond to confirm your assignment.
“It’s always fun to work at the front gate for Employee Appreciation Day because I get to see friends from across campus that I don’t see regularly. I also enjoy being the greeter on the front lines and welcoming everyone to EAD!”
— Shayla DeGooyer, College of Nursing Academic Programs
“I enjoy volunteering at Employee Appreciation Day because I get a chance to meet fellow employees that I would not have crossed paths with any other way. Also, how often do you get to try to kick a field goal? Just a little bit of my time can make an enjoyable day for others.”
— Amy Tolman, Human Resources
“I enjoy being at the volunteer check-in because I get to talk with everyone coming in to help with Employee Appreciation Day. It is always a fun atmosphere to be in!”
— Brittney Swainston, University Neuropsychiatric Institute