myHR: November 30, 2011

Get a Jump on Your Child Care Plans This Winter

Bad weather can lead to a dependent care dilemma when your child has a snow day but you need to get to work. Who's going to watch my children? How do I meet my family's needs and still meet the demands of my job? Well, rest assured—Penn has plenty of dependent care resources to help you do both.

Beginning December 6, take advantage of the Snow Day Child Care Program in preparation for winter weather. You have access to all-day care for your children, ages 12 weeks to 12 years old, when Philadelphia County public schools close because of inclement weather but Penn is open. Even if your child attends school in another district, you can still use the Snow Day Child Care Program as long as Philadelphia public schools are closed. Care is provided by the Penn Children's Center. Keep in mind you need to pre-register in order to participate in the program. Because space is limited, child care is provided on a first-come, first-served basis.

You can also rely on Penn's Backup Care Program if your child's school closes because of inclement weather. You're eligible for up to ten days of in-home backup child care per calendar year. Through a partnership with Parents in a Pinch, Inc., care is available for children up to 17 years in age who reside in your household.

Click here to learn about the full array of dependent care resources at Penn.

Penn Helps Families Turn Dreams into Reality

Andras Komaromy and his wife knew they wanted to start a family someday. Both work in Penn's School of Veterinary Medicine—Andras as an assistant professor of ophthalmology and Ellen as a veterinary nurse—and both had a long-time wish to care for children in need.

"Ellen and I feel blessed with what we have and for the opportunities we've received in our lives. We wanted to share these blessings with children who were in need of a family and a home, and provide them with the same opportunities that we had," Andras said.

That's when Andras and Ellen decided to adopt children—and Penn's adoption assistance program helped them carry out their dream.

They adopted their first son, Gabriel, in 2009. Although adoption carried a hefty price tag, Andras and Ellen took advantage of Penn's adoption assistance benefit to help ease the financial impact. They received $5,000 to help cover various adoption expenses, like court costs, attorney's fees and traveling costs.

"We were so pleased to hear about this benefit," said Andras. "Adoption is expensive, and it's really helpful to have this kind of financial assistance to make the process a little easier. You need that kind of support when it comes to children, and Penn made the process very simple."

In fact, the benefit proved to be so valuable that Andras and Ellen used it again. In January 2011 they adopted their second son, Louis. "We wanted Gabriel to have a sibling, and the adoption assistance program helped us do that," Andras said.

If you're looking to grow your family by adopting a child, see how Penn's adoption assistance benefit can help. Click here for complete details.

Stop High Blood Pressure Before it Stops You

About one in three adults in the United States suffers from high blood pressure—and many of them may not even know it. That's because high blood pressure often has no obvious symptoms, so knowing your numbers (and what they mean) is critical to your health.

Join us on December 8 for a workshop on High Blood Pressure: The Top 10 Things You Need to Know. You'll learn how high blood pressure can lead to more serious conditions—like coronary heart disease, heart failure and stroke—and steps you can take to prevent it. We'll also help you understand your own blood pressure numbers and how to keep them in the safe zone.

Feel free to bring a brown bag lunch to this workshop. Click here for complete details and to register.

Wipe Out Negativity in the Workplace

Ever come across people who ooze negativity in the workplace? Whether it’s complaining about their latest project or whining about the weather, it’s not uncommon to work with negative people on the job. But it does contribute to an unproductive work environment—which means you need to know how to combat the pessimism and generate a positive environment instead.

Join us on December 13 for a workshop on Working with Difficult People. You’ll learn about common characteristics of chronic complainers and strategies to help you manage their behavior. By the end of this workshop, you’ll have the tools you need to deal with any negative person that comes your way.

Ready to make your workplace a positive one? Click here for complete details and to register.