UC Santa Barbara strives to live up to our reputation as Santa Barbara’s “Best Place to Work” by supporting faculty, staff, and student employees in the pursuit of a fully integrated life. The university offers programs, policies, referrals and education that enable people to be effective, engaged and satisfied at work, school, and home. Please note: We do not recommend or endorse any particular non-university resource on this page; however, we do endorse the careful review and evaluation of services that best meet the needs of your family.
If you need support finding resources for yourself or your family, have resources or events that you would like included, or if you have any feedback about this page, please submit a ticket through HR ServiceNow.
HR ServiceNow
Systemwide Wildfire Catastrophic Leave Bank
Systemwide Human Resources announced a new, temporary Systemwide Wildfire Catastrophic Leave Bank to benefit UC employees who have been adversely affected by the wildfires in the greater Los Angeles region.
Now through March 31, 2025, eligible UC employees from any location may donate accrued vacation or staff PTO hours to this bank. Eligible affected employees from any location may receive donations from the bank according to local procedures.
For the UC Santa Barbara campus, employees who wish to donate or receive donations please submit a ticket in ServiceNow.
To Donate: HR ServiceNow>Leave Administration>Donate to the Wildfire Catastrophic Leave Sharing Program
The employee should sign the request to donate form and submit with their Service Now ticket. The form will then be signed by the HR Representative and our Associate Vice Chancellor for Human Resources before being processed by UCPath.
To Receive: HR ServiceNow>Leave Administration>Employee Wildfire Catastrophic Leave Application
Please visit the Catastrophic Leave Sharing Program webpage for more details.
Events + Workshops
Updated Flex Work Toolkits are Online Now!
Weekly training modules hosted live through March
Campus Human Resources has been hard at work this past year, updating our flexible work toolkits for individual contributors as well as supervisors and managers. Find all of the new tips and tools on the HR website: Flexible Work Arrangements. An overview of these resources was shared during the CSAC Chats conversation on Thursday, February 13. Over the next several weeks we’ll be hosting weekly training on each of the toolkit modules.
Registration is on Zoom. Please register for each session at the links below:
- Logistics of Flex Work for Managers & Supervisors | Thurs, February 20⋅10:00 – 11:30 AM
- Proposing a Flexible Work Arrangement | Thurs, Feb 27, 2025 12:00 PM
- Communication in a Hybrid Environment | Thurs, Mar 6, 2025 10:00 AM
- Performance Management for Supervisors & Managers | Thurs, Mar 13, 2025 10:00 AM
- WorkLife Wellbeing & Community Building |
Thurs, Mar 20, 2025 10:00 AMRESCHEDULED to Thursday, April 3 11:00 AM - Exploring The Flexible Work Options | Thurs, Mar 27, 2025 10:00 AM Pacific Time
Can’t make a session? These webinars will be recorded, and posted on the Flexible Work Arrangements website.
Financial Literacy & Retirement Planning
*Please Note: Fidelity webinars cannot be recorded. If you cannot attend a session please reach out to our dedicated Fidelity Representatives, or make an appointment with a Fidelity or RASC representative by visiting MyUCRetirement.com.
April is Financial Literacy Month!
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Session 1: Five Money Musts | Date: April 8, 2025 @ 12:00 PM | Registration Link: https://fmr.zoom.us/webinar/
register/WN_ kESpdU0wTPCvLiioepnnqA -
Session 2: Tax Efficient Investing | Date: April 15, 2025 @ 12:00 PM | Registration Link: https://fmr.zoom.us/webinar/
register/WN_ RREVpt0lT2C4qmwA9UEl0g -
Session 3: 529 College Savings | Date: April 22, 2025 @ 12:00 PM | Registration Link: https://fmr.zoom.us/webinar/
register/WN_ yObZvWl7STGACRMHj4otzQ -
Session 4: Guide to UC Retirement System | Date: April 29, 2025 @ 12:00 PM | Registration Link: https://fmr.zoom.us/webinar/
register/WN_NLBnAdmcSVGpH1- eZUtgbQ
Parenting & Caregiver Support
Bright Horizons Family Webinars
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Understanding Early Brain Development February 12, 2025 | 09:00 a.m. PT
- Social-Emotional Learning for Success April 16, 2025 | 12:00 p.m. PT
- The Power of Play for Kids June 4, 2025 | 09:00 a.m. PT Get ready to celebrate the International Day of Play on June 11.
- Raising a Reader August 13, 2025 | 12:00 p.m. PT
- Navigating Tech and Social Media October 15, 2025 | 09:00 a.m. PT
- Supporting the Sandwich Generation December 11, 2025 | 12:00 p.m. PT Caregiving logistics and responsibilities can be a lot to manage, especially if you’re caring for an older loved one and your child at the same time. Tune in to learn where to find help and how to handle your own emotions, too.
Don’t miss these on-demand webinars on some of the most popular topics — available to access at any time:
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Take Care of YOU; Take ON Challenging Behaviors. Your child’s behavior can be challenging — but it might be due to an inner conflict. Learn how the FLIP IT (Feelings, Limits, Inquiries, Prompts) strategy can build your resilience and help you better deal with your child’s behavior.
- Fueling Your Child’s Curiosity and Creativity
- Supporting Neurodiversity
- The Science Behind Mindfulness and Learning
- Emotional Intelligence + Why It Matters
- Language Development in the Early Years
Bright Horizons Information Sessions
- Reliable Back-Up Care for Your Family Live webinar offered monthly on Tuesdays, Register Here
- Professional Tutoring for All Ages Live webinar offered monthly on Wednesdays, Register Here
- Curated Resources for Your Family Live webinar offered monthly on Wednesdays, Register Here
- School-Break Support for Your Child On-demand webinar, March – July, Access Here
- Back-to-School Support for Your Child On-demand webinar, July – September, Access Here
- End-of-Year Support for Your Family On-demand webinar, November – December, Access Here
- Family Support for the New Year On-demand webinar, January – February, Access Here
Bright Horizons also hosts expert podcasts designed for working parents.
- Teach. Play. Love. ► Listen here What matters during your child’s early years? What doesn’t? Rachel Robertson and Claire Goss, Bright Horizons’ early childhood experts, share tips, advice, and stories. They’ll help make parenting the joy it was meant to be.
- The Work-Life Equation ► Listen here. Building a career, raising a family, and balancing it all — life doesn’t come with a user’s manual. Listen in as Priya Krishnan, Bright Horizons’ chief digital and transformation officer and Paul Sullivan, founder of The Company of Dads, meet with guests to piece it all together.
- Getting In: A College Coach Conversation ► Listen here Your student deserves every chance, and no one knows the complex process of getting into college quite like our College Coach experts. Tune in for their behind-the-scenes insights — this is where college planning gets smart
Health & Wellness Webinars
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View Upcoming Topics from Health Net (open to all UC Employees)
Monthly topics include tips for:
- Healthy behaviors.
- Exercise and nutrition.
- Managing long-term health conditions.
April - Alternative Health for Pain Management
May - Mindfulness in the Workplace
June - Social Well-Being 101
July - Wellness Tips while Traveling
August - Financial Well-Being: Where to Start
September - Active at any Age
October - Holiday Self-Care Essentials
November - Unified Self (How to Unite Mind/Body/Spirit)
December - Be Well in Winter
Previous webinar recordings
Get to the Heart of it: Emotions and Heart Health
February, 2025 (40:06 duration)
Can a broken heart really hurt you? Many people think so. HealthNet's February webinar, Get to the Heart of it: Emotions and Heart Health will discuss matters of the heart and what they mean for the health of your heart – and more. The webinar offers the chance for you to learn more about the connection between emotions, grief, and heart health in a detailed and meaningful way.
Get to the Heart of it: Emotions and Heart Health – English (PDF)
Navigating your Wellness Path
January, 2025 (43:17 duration)
Kick off 2025 with our webinar, Navigating Your Wellness Path. A webinar designed to help you make and achieve your wellness goals. Learn how to:
- Set SMART goals
- Create a vision board, which means:
- Merge physical, mental, and emotional health into a detailed wellness plan
- Set up daily routines for exercise, nutrition, and mindfulness
We'll also share strategies to help you:
- Master obstacles
- Stay driven
- Track your progress through tools and apps
Discussed:
- Mindfulness and stress management techniques
- Useful nutrition and fitness tips
- How to help build a kind and caring community
Join us and let's make 2025 your healthiest year yet!
Ease Your Mind with Nature
December, 2024 (51:38 duration)
Explore the mental health benefits of nature in our webinar, Ease Your Mind with Nature. Learn to incorporate nature into daily life, indoors and outside, and we'll explore therapeutic techniques like forest bathing. Relax with soothing nature scenes and discover the science behind nature's calming effects.
Ease Your Mind with Nature – English (PDF)
Loneliness and Your Health
November, 2024 (38:48 duration)
Today's fast-paced and digital world can produce feelings of loneliness. Feelings that have become more common – affecting all age groups. To gain more insight on this subject, join us for our thoughtful and detailed webinar, Loneliness and Your Health. We'll delve into the impact of loneliness and how it affects both physical and mental well-being.
Loneliness is more than just being alone and withdrawn socially. This webinar explains the symptoms of loneliness. And it offers tips on how to feel better and improve your health.
Don't miss this chance to learn about the very real issue of loneliness and how to take active steps toward a healthier, more connected life.
Loneliness and Your Health – English (PDF)
Financial Well-being
October, 2024 (42:59 duration)
In today's fast-paced world your health and total well-being is more important than ever. Health Net knows that good health is multi-faceted and involves many factors that include:
- Physical
- Emotional
- Mental
- Social
- Environmental
But one crucial piece to good health often ignored is fiscal wellness. And we want to help you learn about it. Join us for our, Financial Well-Being webinar that explains why fiscal wellness is important to your overall health!
The webinar will help you gain valued insight of why fiscal wellness is not just about money, but a part of your health journey. Gift yourself with the knowledge and tools to help achieve a balanced, healthy and financially secure life. Take a wise step toward a total approach to health and wellness.
Financial Well-being – English (PDF)
Understanding Burnout
September, 2024 (48:13 duration)
Stress is a real part of life. Some stress is good as it moves us into action. But long-term chronic stress can lead to burnout. Learning to listen to our body's alarm system and growing our strength to cope is vital. In our September webinar, Understanding Burnout we will discuss the:.
- Effects of stress and burnout
- Impact on physical and mental health
- Evidence-based techniques help create a self-care plan
All of this is designed to increase resilience and protect us from burnout!
Understanding Burnout – English (PDF)
Rise and Shine: Sleep Health
August, 2024 (50:59 duration)
Get ready for our August webinar, Rise and Shine: Sleep Health, where we'll dig into the importance of getting quality sleep.
Learn the importance of having a healthy bedtime routine, and how to beat the common challenges that can limit long restful sleep. We'll explore:
- Why sleep matters
- Results of poor sleep
- Ways to create a sleep-friendly setting
Rise and Shine: Sleep Health (PDF)
Creating a Healthy Home
July, 2024 (51:06 duration)
Did you know that when you create a healthy home environment you are also helping to improve and support your mental well-being? We'll explain how in our July wellness webinar, Creating a Healthy Home. During the webinar you'll learn how you can:
- Bring nature inside
- Detox your home
- Enhance (and benefit from) natural light
And much more!
Creating a Healthy Home – English (PDF)
Live Long. Live Better.
June, 2024 (48:09 duration)
Join us in June for Live Long, Live Better wellness webinar! We'll dive into the secrets of how to maintain zest and wellness as we age. We'll also explore the art of feeling young at heart, which includes:
- Importance of movement
- Healthy eating habits
- How to keep your mind sharp and engaged
This session promises to inspire you to embrace a total approach to aging with grace and living your best life! We'll discuss preventive health measures, the life-changing power of joy and kindness and more.
Live Long. Live Better. – English (PDF)
Finding Joy in Good Works
May, 2024 (49:31 duration)
Health Net’s May webinar, Finding Joy in Good Works is all about learning how giving of yourself to others gives back to you as well. It can do your health and wellness good! Learn how doing good works can have a direct effect on your mental state of mind. And help to promote a happier lifestyle! Join us in this webinar as we discuss how.
Finding Joy in Good Works – English (PDF)
Get Stuff Done
April, 2024 (49:31 duration)
A Realistic Guide to Working from Home: Do you work from home and find it challenging to get stuff done? Join us in this webinar to learn ways to combat isolation, boost your mental well-being, and how to take breaks at your desk to increase your productivity and improve your focus.
Request a workshop for your department or workgroup!
Email Shira Minerd, WorkLife Wellbeing Program Manager, to schedule your workshop: shira.minerd@hr.ucsb.edu
Topics can include
- The Future of Work
- Productivity & Time Management
- Childcare Needs & Resources
- Balancing Everything: Career, Family, Self
- Work-Life For Supervisors
Topics are refreshed regularly
WorkLife Wellbeing Programs
Employee Wellness
The Work-Life Resources Program partners with other campus organizations and departments to pursue "whole person" wellness for all university employees. UC Santa Barbara has a wide range of programs and services that support our community of faculty, staff and students.
Explore Resources for:
Financial Wellbeing, Physical & Environmental Wellbeing, Social & Emotional Wellbeing, and Workplace Wellbeing
Family Resources
This include Child Care, Summer Camps, backup care, elder care, nutrition and housing information, social support, and policies
Pregnant or expecting a child?
Request a consultation with the Work-Life Resource Coordinator to review what to expect from your leave process and explore related resources. Please submit an HR ServiceNow ticket to schedule this initial meeting.
Flexible Work Arrangements
The Work-Life Resource Coordinator can assist both the employee and the department with any non-medical workplace adjustments. Please submit an HR ServiceNow ticket, and review the resources provided below.
Lactation & Breastfeeding
The University of California recognizes the importance and benefits of breastfeeding for both mothers and their infants, and is committed to providing the support and resources needed. These services are for all campus constituents who choose to breastfeed or express milk.