Dear Romance Studies Faculty, Graduate Students and Staff,
Another gorgeous day was bestowed upon us. Remember there are many places in the area where you can get outside and still practice social distancing, including the Cornell Botanic Gardens, the East Hill Recreation Way, and Sapsucker Woods.
TCAT Extends Free Fare Policy
Tompkins County Area Transit has announced the extension if its no-fare policy through Saturday, May 23.
Please review the following Employee Wellbeing Newsletter from the Cornell Division of Human Resources which offers several options and resources for helping navigate the new normal of social distancing, remote working and living in a quarantine situation.
| Information and services provided by Cornell Work/Life, Cornell Wellness, and the Faculty and Staff Assistance Program
Visit the HR website to find more resources, videos, tips, and upcoming trainings Questions or suggestions? Email wellbeing@cornell.edu
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| We’re in this together. | |
| Over the past few weeks, the indominable Cornell spirit has been ever present. While proud of this, it is also ok to wonder when things will return to “normal.” It can also be hard to know how to behave and interact when we, and those we work with and care about, are facing a wide range of concerns.
Alas, there is no “right way” to cope with a pandemic. Kindness and patience are always good rules of thumb. Now is also a time for us to calibrate our expectations to the situation we find ourselves in. The more pressure we feel to be perfect, the harder it is to remain present, care for our mental and physical health, work, and be patient and supportive of others.
Please invest in your self-care this week and in the coming weeks. Use the resources that are available to support you. And, if you get stuck, write us – we are here to help.
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| Connected Cornell | |
| New Campus Group: Cornell Employees Working Remotely – You are invited to join this new virtual forum to connect, ask questions, offer tips, and share best practices – all related to remote work. And perhaps even have a bit of fun! Join today!
Community Chat: Focus on Ergonomics – 4/8/20, 9-10am Todd Baker, registered occupational therapist and coordinator of the Cornell Musculoskeletal Injury Prevention Program (MIPP), will join us for an open discussion about home work environments and adjustments you can make to support your wellbeing and productivity.
Future Community Chats: 4/14/20, 1-2pm – focus on health and wellbeing 4/15/20, 9-10am – focus on health and wellbeing
Disability Colleague Network Group – 4/9/20, 3-3:30 p.m. Join us for a weekly informal check-in via Zoom starting 4/9/20 and continuing each 5/21/20.
Thank a colleague Use the Cornell Appreciation Portal to highlight the efforts of others.
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| Remote Employees: Tips for Daily Routines & Focus | |
Starting Your Day
Focus & Productivity
Ending Your Day
Additional Resources Cornell Workshops on Resiliency, Working Mindfully, and more!
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| Financial Help and Information | |
| Cornell Food Pantry | 109 McGraw Place, across Alice Cook House
Free, confidential access to food and personal care items is available to Cornell employees. Open Tues. and Thurs. 4-7pm, Wed. and Fri. 10am-1pm, and Sun. 12-3pm. Enroll to participate.
Emergency Food Delivery Request (Tompkins County)
Food Assistance Programs (Cornell Cooperative Extension)
Infant Formula, Diapers, and Child Care Help Child Development Council offers free supplies and childcare scholarships
Additional Information & Resources
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| Physical Wellbeing | |
| Try a virtual exercise class!
Cornell Wellness offers free live virtual group exercise classes – no membership or pre-registration required.
Eyes fatigued? Try 20/20/20 The American Optometric Association recommends a 20-second break to view something 20 feet away every 20 minutes.
Videos
Additional Resources
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| Family Life | |
| Cornell Kids@Home
‘Bring a Child to Work Day’ festivities are being spread out virtually instead of being held on one day. Check out the list of classes, workshops, and videos and sign-up for the weekly Cornell Parenting newsletter to get weekly features.
Find the Upside Even in the stressful situation of working remotely while parenting, older children are likely learning just by observing you. They may be learning how to conduct themselves in a business setting, how to collaborate, and possibly how to influence others. When appropriate, let them listen and learn.
Additional Resources
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| Emotional & Mental Wellbeing | |
| Everyone reacts differently to stressful situations.
How you respond to COVID-19 can depend on your background, the things that make you different from other people, and the community you live in.
Guided Progressive Relaxation – 30 minute weekly progressive relaxation sessions live through Zoom on Tuesdays. Allow yourself to be guided through this relaxation technique that will bring stress relief to your muscles from your head down to your toes. Tuesdays, 11-11:30am
Let’s Meditate – 30 minute weekly mindfulness meditations live through Zoom on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Sit with your eyes closed in a comfortable space while you are led through meditation exercises designed to focus on the breath and quiet the mind. Tuesdays, 9-9:30am & Thursdays, 11-11:30am
ENI Confidential Counseling Services | 1-800-327-2255 Provides up to three visits at no cost to Cornell benefits-eligible employees and family members. Available 24/7
Faculty and Staff Assistance Program fsap.cornell.edu fsap@cornell.edu 607-255-2673 Provides confidential and free virtual consultations to benefits-eligible employees and their partners, and those concerned about a colleague.
Teletherapy | hr.cornell.edu/resources Cornell Aetna and Empire health insurance plans now cover telemedicine, including teletherapy. Visit the webpage for details about coverage options and information on how to locate a provider.
Advocacy Center of Tompkins County | actompkins.org | 607-277-5000 Provides support for victims of domestic and/or sexual violence.
NYS Mental Health Hotline | 1-844-863-9314
NYS Domestic Violence Hotline | 1-800-942-6906
Additional Resources
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| Helping Others | |
| Give Financially
Cornell Emergency CARE Fund – provides financial support to employees in crisis
Give Time & Other Resources
Other ideas
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| Personal Preparedness | |
| How to Protect Yourself from COVID-19 (CDC)
How to make a cloth face covering and when/how to wear it correctly (CDC) Pet preparedness (NYC Emergency Management)
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Work/Life, Division of Human Resources, Cornell University 395 Pine Tree Road, Suite 130, Ithaca, NY 14850 worklife@cornell.edu | hr.cornell.edu
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