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U.Va. Human Resources
Essential WorkSkills: Steps to Success in Your Job
Training Program Description
Nomination Instructions
Nomination Form
Frequently Asked Questions

TRAINING PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Essential WorkSkills is a skills-based program that provides fundamental skills and ideas for workplace success and an increased understanding of how the workplace operates.  Active involvement through small group exercises, games, and real-life examples from home and work help participants learn and apply practical skills.

What's In It For The Participant?

Benefits to the Participant:
  • Take responsibility for understanding what’s expected of you in the workplace
  • Communicate effectively with co-workers, managers, and customers/clients
  • Embrace change
  • Handle emotionally charged situations with co-workers
  • Be better team players
  • Prepare for advancement opportunities
  • The integrated curriculum is tailored to ensure you will develop the skills necessary to be successful at the University of Virginia
  • The program is scheduled during the day, allowing you to make it a part of your work week.
  • Participation is Free!
  • Successful completion of the program earns the employee a certificate of achievement and a one-time, base salary increase of $600 per year.
What's In It For The University?

Benefits to the Supervisor:
  • Build employee commitment
  • Increase productivity and effectiveness
  • Improve communication and reduce the costly errors miscommunication can cause
  • Reduce absenteeism and turnover
  • Develop a more competent workforce
  • Improve team work
  • Prepare employees for job growth
  • Participation is Free! No cost to the department budget for training.
What Will Participants Learn?

Participants will learn the basic skills, processes and techniques to be effective at work.  Specific focus will be placed on building skills and providing tools that can be easily transferred to the work place. In addition, as part of the process of navigating the program together with classmates, participants will experience an increased awareness of self and others, establish a peer support unit, and develop team cohesiveness. Workshops included in the program are listed below.:

Essential WorkSkills
Fall  2008
The Usual Location is 2400 Old Ivy Road, Room 189

September 10
10:30 - Noon

Supervisor's Orientation
Newcomb Hall – Commonwealth Room

September 10
1 - 3 PM

What It Takes to Succeed: The Basic Principles

September 17
8:30 – 10:30

Getting the Information You Need

September 24
8:30 - 10:30

Speaking With Confidence

October 1
8:30 – 10:30

Positive Responses to Change

October 8
8:30 - 11:30

Defusing Emotionally Charged Situations

October 15
9-12

UVa Orientation: Payroll, Records/Leave, Benefits
Location - Special Collections Library

October 22
8:30 – 10:30

Helping Your Team Work

October 29
8:30 – 10:30

Managing Life Outside Work: Handling Emergencies & Resisting Temptation

November 5
8:30 - 12:30

The Third Side: A systematic method for handling conflict

November 12
9 - Noon

Making the Most of Your Career at UVa: Employee Relations, Classification and Compensation and Career Services

November 12
NOON - 1 PM

Celebration



Who Should Participate?

The program is targeted to:
  • Newly hired and established salaried employees
  • Staff support in entry level positions (with preference given to Pay Bands I and II)
  • Individuals new to or re-entering the workplace
  • Employees joining a large employer for the first time
  • Employees must have completed at least six months’ service at the University and have achieved at least a “Contributor” rating in the probationary progress review.
What Is Required Of The Participant?

Each participant will be required to:
  • Attend all workshop sessions.
  • Arrive on time and stay through the close of each session.
  • Participate actively in class, demonstrating a willingness to share issues, ideas and experiences.
  • Maintain confidentiality of issues and concerns shared by participants.
  • Complete all homework assignments.
  • Complete a pre- and post-assessment.
  • Be open to learning and to trying new ideas, methods, skills, and bringing concepts back to the job ... and to having fun along the way!
What Is Required Of The Supervisor?

Each supervisor will be expected to:
  • Nominate employees for participation in the program. 
  • Sign a commitment of support.
  • Allow the participant to be absent from work during all regularly scheduled sessions. Discuss workload issues with the participant in advance so that the participant can be successful in both the job and the program.
  • Encourage the participant to practice skills, information and concepts learned in the program to enhance the learning experience.
  • Complete a pre- and post-assessment.
  • Fund a one-time, $600 base salary increase for employees who successfully complete the program.
  • Attend a supervisor orientation session (2 ½ hrs) to learn more about the program objectives and requirements and a graduation ceremony to recognize participants and acknowledge their support.
We know that having a valued team member away from work during class sessions can be challenging. We greatly appreciate each supervisor's endorsement of this development opportunity for his or her participating employee and hope that both the supervisor and participant will find the program an excellent investment of time, focus and energy.
Thank you for your interest in the Essential WorkSkills program!      

NOMINATION INSTRUCTIONS: Please complete the Nomination Form to nominate an individual for the Essential WorkSkills: Steps to Success in Your Job training program.  
  1. The nominee’s selection for the training program is dependent upon a correctly completed and timely submitted form. The nomination form is typically completed by the nominee’s supervisor.  If the nominator is someone other than the supervisor, please describe in the space provided.
     
  2. Verify that the individual is a suitable candidate for the program.  Factors to consider in nominating an individual include:
    1. The nominee meets the description of the targeted participants provided above.
    2. The nominee wants to improve his/her effectiveness in the current job
    3. The program will benefit the nominee’s performance on the current job and support future career goals.
    4. The nominee’s participation in the program will benefit the current and future needs of the department.
    5. If selected, the supervisor will support the nominee’s attendance.
    6. To the best of your knowledge, the nominee is likely to be able to complete the program if selected to participate.  It is understood that sometimes unplanned absences occur and provisions will be available for the employee to make up missed sessions.  However, it is also critical that the nominee is available to participate for the duration of the program. 

  3. The supervisor and dean/director signatures certify that the nominee is a likely candidate to successfully complete the program and that the nominee will be provided the necessary time off to fully participate.  The supervisor also agrees to attend a super­visor orientation (2 ½ hrs) to learn about the program objectives and requirements and to fund the one-time, $600 base salary increase upon the employee’s completion of the program.

  4. Submit the completed and signed nomination form to University Human Resources at P.O. Box 400803, 918 Emmet St, University of Virginia.  If you have any questions about the program, contact Peggy Reitz (email: mr9x@virginia.edu or phone: 924-3120).