Western New England College Work & Family Fall Fling
By Sharon Mangieri, Director of Employee Relations & Training

Western New England College, located in Springfield, Mass., started the Fall Fling tradition in 2004. Sponsored by the Office of Human Resources, this informative and fun event gives employees a chance to learn about the college's Work & Family Resources Program. Each year the goal is to "re-invent the event" to keep it fresh and meaningful to college employees and family members. Historically, the event is held in early October, but this year it's slated for Oct. 30, so we've decided to add a little Halloween fun. Our theme: THIS YEAR FALL FLING GETS SCARY!  

What started out as a one-room event in 2004 has now grown to a three-room event showcasing our broad spectrum of work and family resources. This year those rooms will be haunted for the first time! Traditionally, HR has its own tables with information on child care, elder care, finances, health, stress, discounts, recreation and even pet care! This year we're adding a work and family promotional DVD highlighting Fall Fling and our other annual event, Summer Fun Day.

We also invite our EAP, credit union representative, and outside agencies which provide services such as elder care assistance and cancer support. If this sounds a bit depressing, well, think again! Information and education doesn't have to be at the cost of fun!  

In addition to valuable information and practical giveaways, employees will get a small Halloween box at the door with some treats...and a winning ticket to a special prize. This will be in addition to the free raffle ticket each attendee gets for a variety of other prizes related to autumn and Halloween themes.

As part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we dedicate a table to information on breast cancer and the importance of early detection. This year our goal is to educate employees on some of the lesser-known but more aggressive forms of breast cancer, and introduce educational material on a silent killer, ovarian cancer. And we don't forget our male employees, who get their own table dedicated to men's health issues.

And, of course, there are health issues that pertain to everyone. Last year, we added blood pressure, cholesterol, and glucose screenings. This year, there will be a new spin on the check up. A five-foot Dracula (cute, not threatening) will greet employees with a "Let Us Draw Your Blood" poster. Dracula may also bring a few friends to "haunt" the other rooms.

We anticipate another successful event and some happy raffle winners, but what matters most is that we get the word out to our employees that while life is hectic, Human Resources can help. We're not just the department that collects your paperwork when you get hired. We're not just that "scary" department that handles personnel issues. Our employees know we care about them and that our work and family program has something for everyone. The annual Fall Fling event is the perfect way to convey that message. From an employer perspective, work and family programs are recruitment and retention tools. It's a win-win situation for everyone.  

Visit: http://www1.wnec.edu/humanresources for more information.