Employee Review: Is the UC Davis Health “Help Make Us Better” tool working?

I have been with UC Davis Health for more than nine years. There are so many wonderful colleagues that I have had the honor and privilege of working with, and I often enjoy the ideas we exchange about how to improve things – whether it be related to a program, project, event, etc. Being the life-long-learner that I am, I believe there is always room to help make us better – both as individuals and as an organization.

Thanks to the work of many – leadership, IT, and public affairs – we now have a tool that gives members of the UC Davis Health community (faculty, students, and staff) a chance to ask questions and offer suggestions about how to help make our organization even better. Will this tool fix all our dilemmas? No. But, it can indeed help address some concerns and create opportunities for inclusion, innovation, and collaboration. 

As a volunteer and Chair of the DiversABILITY employee resource group (ERG), I often think about how to improve the employee experience for colleagues living with a visible or hidden disability. For instance, there are several construction projects underway at the health system and I was curious about the degree to which renovations factored in accessibility and universal design. So, I logged on to the Help Make Us Better platform and sent a private message to one of our leaders using the “Ask It” button. My question entailed asking if Facilities planned to design the buildings (new or renovated projects) with accessibility in mind, as well as offered DiversABILITY as a resource if leadership or Facilities wanted input and feedback.

To be honest, I wasn’t sure what to expect – especially since I sent the message anonymously. However, about two weeks later my DiversABILITY officers and I received an email thanking us for the question and offering an opportunity to meet with members of the Facilities Planning team. I was elated and gladly accepted the offer.  

During the meeting, a couple of DiversABILITY officers and I had the chance to ask questions about upcoming projects and suggest ideas regarding upcoming renovations. It was a positive experience. In fact, the meeting went so well that we (i.e., members of the Facilities Planning team and us DiversABILITY members) decided it would be beneficial to set-up quarterly meetings and stay-in-touch. The meetings will allow us to continue to learn from one another, brainstorm ideas, and provide feedback as well.

I’m grateful that this tool exists. It created an open door for me and my colleagues to speak with leaders about a subject matter that is not only important to us but is also valuable to the entire UC Davis Health community – accessibility.

Next time you have an idea that you think would be beneficial to our UC Davis Health community, consider using the Help Make Us Better tool. Even if it doesn’t always provide the result we’re looking for, it does give us the chance to be seen and heard.

 
Carolyn Ramirez, MA

Chair, DiversABILITY Employee Resource Group