The Vice-Chancellor has announced that the University will offer two Wellbeing Days to staff over the coming months as a thank you for your continued service and contribution in the face of the ongoing pandemic, the significant cold and flu season, and the impact of the NSW floods this year.

The two Wellbeing Days will take place on Friday, 23 September and Monday, 7 November 2022. The University will close as much as possible on these days to enable staff to genuinely stop work and take the time to rest and recharge.  Any staff who may have booked annual leave on one or both of these days should reverse their leave booking(s) in Workday.

It is recognised, however, that some staff members may need to work on these specific dates, particularly on 7 November which coincides with the commencement of the exam period. In these circumstances, staff will be permitted to take their Wellbeing Day(s) on an alternative date before the end of 2022. Staff should discuss and agree on any alternative dates with their supervisor.

“These Wellbeing Days are a gesture of my appreciation for the Macquarie community and their continued commitment and contribution to delivering an exceptional experience for our students in the face of reduced staff capacity due to illness and absence”, says Vice-Chancellor Professor S Bruce Dowton.

The leadership teams at U@MQ and MGSM are working through how wellbeing days might be operationalised in their areas, while MQ Health is also considering measures and initiatives to support wellbeing. Further information will be announced for staff in these areas shortly.