Workload, Wellbeing, and Connection
Supporting Our Campus Community During Resilient Cornell and Beyond
HR Task Force on Workload, Wellbeing, and Connection
As we continue to navigate Resilient Cornell and broader workforce changes, employees and managers are experiencing increased workload pressures, uncertainty, and shifting team dynamics. These changes are having a meaningful impact on wellbeing, connection, and the overall employee experience.
In response, HR has convened a cross-functional task force to assess the current climate and strengthen how we support our community during this period of transition. This work builds on a strong foundation of existing programming and services delivered across the Department of Inclusion and Belonging (DIB), Organizational Development & Effectiveness (ODE), Employee Experience (EX), the Faculty and Staff Assistance Program (FSAP), Work/Life, and Wellness.
While new offerings are being introduced, a primary goal is to better align, amplify, and connect existing resources, ensuring the university is responsive and addressing gaps based on real-time feedback from the community.
Through this coordinated and integrated approach, HR aims to:
- Make support resources more visible, accessible, and aligned
- Strengthen manager capability to lead through change
- Foster connection, trust, and a sense of community
- Support employee mental health and wellbeing
- Enable more sustainable and prioritized ways of working
- Build institutional resilience during a period of ongoing transition
Focus Areas and Programming
Over the coming months and throughout FY27, this work will be organized around four interconnected focus areas.
Mental Health and Wellbeing
Workload Prioritization and Sustainability
Navigating Change and Uncertainty
Mental Health and Wellbeing
This area focuses on supporting employees and managers who may be experiencing stress, burnout, increased workload, and the emotional impacts of organizational change.
These programs offer emotional support, practical coping strategies, and increased awareness of available resources, helping employees remain grounded and supported particularly during times of uncertainty.
Mental Health & Wellbeing Programming
- Supporting Your Team Through Staffing Changes (Manager Discussion Group) – Monthly, facilitated peer sessions where managers share experiences and learn how to support employees through change, including recognizing and responding to distress. *New March 2026
- Community Wellbeing Series – Workshops, tools, and communications organized by quarterly themes to help employees acknowledge and navigate complex emotions, build resilience, support equity, and foster a sense of connection and belonging. *New April 2026
- For Example: Steadying Ourselves Together in Uncertain Times: A reflective workshop for Cornell staff and faculty – Monthly offering started May 2026
- Revisiting Wellbeing: Supports for Where You Are Now – Sessions that reconnect employees with available resources and pathways to care.
- Our Hidden Losses: Making Sense of Non-Death Grief – Programming that helps normalize emotional responses to change and loss that may be experienced during the VRI and layoffs. *New May 2026
- Focus and Flow: Developing Your Time and Energy Playbook – An interactive session designed to help employees reclaim time and energy by managing distractions, creating healthy boundaries, and prioritizing what matters. *New May 2026
- Meditation and mindfulness offerings available regularly across campus
- Post-doctorate Support Group – eight week cohort sessions designed to support postdocs with navigating unique challenges and current/potential career impacts
Workload Prioritization and Sustainability
In this area, the focus is on helping managers and employees better align work expectations with current capacity.
Programs emphasize practical tools, prioritization strategies, and mindset shifts needed to support sustainable workloads while maintaining effectiveness.
Workload Prioritization & Sustainability Programming
- I’m Fine, You’re Fine, Everything is Fine: Is your team at a tipping point – Identifying overload and recalibrating workload. *New May 2026
- Doing Less with Less – Tools for managers to right-size work and recalibrate expectations among staff and teams. *New June 2026
- Redesigning the Future – Enabling teams to move from crisis response to strategic prioritization *New July 2026
- Managing Time in These Times and Focus and Flow – Practical approaches to managing time, energy, and competing demands..
Community and Culture
This work centers on strengthening connection, belonging, and shared experience across the university, particularly as teams and structures evolve.
These efforts create both structured and informal opportunities for employees to connect with one another, share perspectives, and rebuild trust and stability.
Community & Culture Programming
- Navigating as a New Team – Sessions that help teams process change, rebuild trust, and establish psychological safety *New June 2026
- Morale Matters – The Energy Behind Teams – Workshops focused on understanding and strengthening team morale *New June 2026
- Colleague Network Groups – Community-based spaces for connection, shared experiences, and peer support
- Inclusive Excellence programming (break-and-learns, podcasts, workshops) – Opportunities to engage in dialogue and build inclusive practices
- Recognition and Connection Events (Chilin on the Quad, Service Awards, Cornell Recreation Connection events) – University-wide opportunity to connect across colleges and units.
Navigating Change and Uncertainty
This work cuts across all areas and supports employees and managers in navigating ongoing change. Programs provide a shared language, frameworks, and tools that help individuals and teams navigate ongoing change, reduce friction, and move forward productively with greater clarity and confidence.
Navigating Change & Uncertainty Programming
- Practical Strategies for Managing Constant Change – Discover how constant change affects individuals and teams. *New May 2026
- Riding the Waves of Change – Addressing change fatigue. *New May 2026
- College and Unit Listening Sessions – These sessions are designed to create space for managers to reflect and share experiences; provide clarity from senior leaders on direction and expectations; and equip managers with tools and strategies to support their teams. *New June 2026
- Leading with Clarity and Compassion through Uncertainty
- Prosci-based change management programs for leaders and employees
