Early Intervention

Early intervention is key to supporting employees who are experiencing challenges in the workplace. The University of Minnesota supports more than a dozen offices that can assist employees in developing balance in their work life. Responding early to issues that can have a negative impact on our work life, such as illness and disability, can prevent an employee from having to take long-term sick leave or needing to submit a workers compensation claim.

Computer Accommodations Program (CAP) assists University students, staff and faculty with disabilities in accessing computers and information technology through the use of adaptive technology. Contact Phil Kragnes at 612.626.0365

The Department of Environmental Health and Safety (DEHS) responds to health and safety concerns in work or study environments. You can contact them by phone 612.626.6002 or email . You can report law/policy violations confidentially using the University’s Confidential Reporting Service for  the University of Minnesota.

Ergonomic Health promotes best practices that can greatly reduce your chance of injury. Contact Greg Casura at 612.626.5338 or Neil Carlson at 612.626.5714 for a workstation evaluation.

The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) allows eligible employees to balance their work and family life by taking reasonable unpaid leave for a serious health condition; for the birth or adoption of a child; or for the care of a child, spouse, or parent who has a serious health condition. The leave is without pay but with continuation of the University’s contribution to benefits including medical, dental and life insurance, and retirement benefits. Paid leave may be available to use concurrently with the unpaid FMLA leave. For more information, first contact your unit’s human resources administrator. Additional information is available through the human resources consultant group in the Office of Human Resources.

The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) provides cost-free professional consultation and referral services for University faculty and staff who are experiencing work- and personal-related difficulties. The Sand Creek Group, Ltd. provides EAP services for civil service & bargaining unit employees. Call 612.625.2820 or send an e-mail to eap@umn.edu to schedule an appointment. Faculty and academic staff should contact Jim Meland, Ph.D., LP, at 612.625.4073 For more information about EAP services go to www.umn.edu/ohr/eap/.

Employee Benefits provides the UPlan benefits including short- and long-term disability plans with Standard Life Insurance Company. Please call The Standard’s Disability Claim Reporting Service at 888.414.0377, option 1, to report a claim. For other questions on disability or related benefits call the Employee Benefits Service Center at 612.624.9090 or 800.756.2363, option 2.

The Employee Wellness Program provides employees with opportunities to feel better and stay well through the Worklife & Wellness initiative. You and your family are invited to assess your health and participate in online programs to lose weight, reduce stress, or get motivational support from a health coach at 877.247.9204.

The Ask Mayo Clinic 24-hour nurse line at 888.887.2593 has registered nurses on duty around-the-clock, 365 days a year, to answer your health-related questions. After speaking with an experienced registered nurse about an illness or new diagnosis, you may request a packet of information tailored to your needs from Mayo Clinic’s extensive, up-to-date, medical and patient education library. It will be mailed to you so you can read it at your convenience. Ask Mayo Clinic nurses may also refer you to online resources.

Employee Career Services provides coaching, consulting, and career planning through the office of Organizational Effectiveness. Whether you are looking for career options or would like to gain new skills for your current job, Employee Career Services counselors are available to meet with you on an individual basis.

Human Resources Consultants. Your first contact for assistance with any human resources issue is your unit’s human resources administrator.