Category: Member Interest Articles

Written by the ASPA Research Committee

Introduction

ASPA Research Committee conducted an online survey in December, 2020 to gather ASPA members feedback on various aspects of the latest round of bargaining. The short survey gathered insights on level of satisfaction with ASPA’s communications during bargaining, the information sessions, the forced vote, tentative agreement, as well as what ASPA did well during bargaining and areas for improvement. A total of 432 surveys were completed, representing a 32% response rate.  This article provides an overview of the survey results. All averages reported are based on a 5-point scale, where 1 equals “strongly disagree” and 5 equals “strongly agree”.

Continue reading “ASPA’s Post-Bargaining Survey Results” →

Written by Karen E. Mosier

Time flies by and things need to get done. Often we don’t take the time to think about everything we have accomplished. Starting a new year is a great time to reflect on the last 12 months and think about all the things that occurred. It is important to keep track of your achievements, even the smaller ones.   

Here are some great ways to take stock of your achievements:

Continue reading “Take Stock of Your Achievements” →

Written by Karen E. Mosier

Do you ever feel tired and worn out? Do you ever think “I’m going to fail. I’m not smart enough to do this?” Sometimes life is tough and work can be hectic. It is especially important during these times to take care of yourself. Being kind to yourself allows you to move past self-criticism and negative self-talk.

Continue reading “Ways to be Kind to Yourself at Work” →

Cyberattack on SaskPolytech
On Saturday, Saskatchewan Polytechnic reported a “service disruption” affecting their website, intranet portal, VPN and other operating platforms and online services. The warning, however, added that “it is important that you do not use your computer to access the network or services using a VPN connection,” and that email should only be accessed using a cellphone. Clearly this was more than equipment failure.

On Sunday, SaskPoly clarified that it had been the target of a “cybersecurity incident” and was working with outside experts and law enforcement to assess its extent. All online and in-person applied classes were cancelled for Nov 2-4, and “Our first priority is to restore the online learning environment for students” (Brightspace).

Continue reading “Cyber Terrorists” →

Use your benefits! Your benefits are designed to support your health.  Make sure you are using them!

 Did you know…

Continue reading “Be Active – Healthy Habits” →

There are a number of benefits associated with regular physical activity and even more so in our present times. Here a few of the benefits of staying active while working from home:

Continue reading “Be Active at Home” →

Written by Karen E. Mosier

Do you ever have days where you are motivated, focused, alert and get large amounts of work done but on other days you just stare at your computer screen and find yourself simply going through the motions? We all need to be inspired to do our best. Developing self motivation can help give you the push you may need to accomplish a difficult task and to get your spark back at work. Use these real and practical solutions to dig up your lost motivation and get the job done with a sense of passion.

Continue reading “How to Motivate Yourself to Work Harder” →

Introduction

ASPA Research Committee conducted an online survey from July 20-29, 2020 to gather feedback from ASPA members about how working remotely from home as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic has impacted their lives. The short survey gathered insights on both the challenges and benefits members have observed while working at home for the last four months, after a rapid shift to work from home started in March 2020. Additionally, data were collected on members’ perspectives in relation to continuing working from home and returning to university offices. A total of 662 surveys were completed, representing a 46% response rate.  The ASPA Research Committee would like to sincerely thank everyone who took time from their busy lives and participated in the survey. This article provides an overview of the survey results.

Continue reading “Working from Home Survey Results” →

Written by Karen E. Mosier

What should you do if the job you thought you would enjoy is turning into something different than you expected? You may have had high expectations for your position but it has slowly turned into a struggle and now you just accept it because you need work. Do not be discouraged. It is possible to revive your relationship with your job. There are things that you can try to help change your perspective.

Continue reading “Ways to Learn to Love Your Job” →

Written by Karen E. Mosier

What is something that most employees have in common? They look for a healthy workplace where they can thrive and be happy and feel that their work has an impact on their organization. Workplace environment has a big impact on employee wellness and engagement. It is absolutely essential that employees enjoy their time at work and find a sense of fulfillment and purpose. Most people assume that if they do not like their job their only option is to leave and find another job. Thankfully, there is another option to consider called job crafting. Job crafting is the practice of making the most of the job that you have. Job crafting is a powerful tool that allows you to increase the control over your own professional life.

Continue reading “Job Crafting” →