Staff benefits and wellbeing update
21 Apr 2022
The weather is improving and it's time to look at benefits that support your wellbeing!
We live in a time where we are more conscious of our carbon footprint than ever before and riding e-bike to work could be one step towards dramatically reducing your own. According to the Serious Cycle Scheme, who provide free cycling insurance to University of Manchester staff, “the benefits of cycle-commuting are vast, and on an e-bike, you benefit from all of them, just quicker. Cycling has a positive impact on your mental health including reduced anxiety and stress, better sleep and greater happiness.”
Perhaps one of the biggest hurdles to cycle commuting is people thinking that you’ll need to wear head-to-toe lycra. This couldn’t be further from the truth, especially if you ride an e-bike. When it comes to spring cycling, it’s all about striking a balance between warmth and breathability. Don’t miss savings of up to 42%* on safety accessories, clothing and big brand bikes from Specialized, Cube, Scott, Ridgeback, Giant and Merida for your commute to and from work in your Cycle to Work employee benefit.
You can find your full range of staff discounts that cover home, special occasions, travel and much more!
Free will writing
Join our Will Writing Service Webinar scheduled for Tuesday, 10 May at 12:30.
Staff survey
The all-staff survey will run from Tuesday, 26 April – 17 May. For every survey completed, the University will support Eden Reforestation Projects by planting one tree – helping our planet and contributing to our University’s sustainability goals. Make sure you get your voice heard. The University will use your responses to make decisions so it’s important that the majority take part to ensure a better representation of views!
Wellbeing reminders
Supporting Staff Experiencing Stress and Difficulties with their Mental Health is openly available to all staff and takes around 30 minutes to complete. Participation is through self-enrolment via Blackboard.
Sign up for the eight-week Be Active exercise classes.
Book club meeting
The next meeting of the University bookclub will be on Friday, 29 April at 12:30. You can join them via Zoom to discuss your latest reads. You don't even need to have finished the books (although there will be spoilers!). They have two books this month to keep you entertained. 11.22.63 by Stephen King and Blindness by Jose Saramago. Read one or both or just join in to listen.
Helen Pankhurst talk
Helen Pankhurst will be in conversation with Chris Hawkins on Thursday, 26 May from 4pm-5pm. Helen is the great-granddaughter of Emmeline Pankhurst and granddaughter of Sylvia Pankhurst, leaders of the British suffragette movement. She is also a leading women’s right’s activist, author, senior advisor to CARE International, professor at Manchester University.
Learn Mandarin
The Manchester Confucius Institute offers the opportunity to practice Mandarin Chinese and develop an appreciation of Chinese culture at regular free online Mandarin Corner meetings.
For more information on all benefits that you can access you can visit staff benefits and wellbeing.
We are coming to the end of Stress Awareness Month and here is a wellbeing lecture that was given to University staff back in 2019 on stress and anxiety by Anxiety UK.