Work/Life

Overview/Who We Are
Welcome and good well-being to you! 

“The COVID-19 pandemic brought the relationship between work and well-being into clearer focus,” Dr. Vivek Murthy observed in the U.S. Surgeon General’s Framework for Workplace Mental Health & Well-Being (2022). “[It] changed the nature of work, and the relationship many workers have with their jobs. The link between our work and our health has become even more evident.” In the wake of the pandemic, Dr. Murthy maintains that we have “an opportunity to rethink how we work … [and] we have the power to make workplaces engines for mental health and well-being.”  

In the spirit of thinking anew about work and well-being, the Work/Life Committee is dedicated to curating and promoting the best collection of wellness resources, opportunities, and activities provided by Harvard Medical School, Harvard School of Dental Medicine, and participating affiliated institutions to academic and clinical faculties, students, researchers, postdocs, and staff. In addition, the committee seeks to augment these resources and advocate for access to additional resources to help foster good health and growth in our interconnected communities. 

Through regular engagement with the JCSW, our committee spotlights the path to better work-life integration for HMS and HSDM academic, research, and clinical communities. 

People need to be able to bring their whole selves to work every day in order for Harvard and its affiliated institutions to thrive.  Our commitment to this principle motivates all the work of our committee. If these concepts speak to you, please consider joining us in our various efforts to rethink and support work-life integration every day. 

Work/Life Committee Co-Chairs for AY23-24:
Susan Cohn-Child
Laura Dichtel, MD
Hiroko Wakimoto, MD, PhD

Contact the Work/Life Committee:
JCSW_WORKLIFE@hms.harvard.edu

AY2023-24 Projects

  • Theme: Promoting Work/Life Integration Beyond the Covid-19 Pandemic Era
  • Projects:
    • ​​​​​​​Seminar Project - Thursday, October 19, 2023:"Women and Money: How to Build a Money Plan & What Differs for Women Wealth Buildersby Eryn Schultz, MBA (Founder, Her Personal Finance)"
      • Resource recommendations on financial well-being from the JCSW community (below)
    • Awareness campaign - PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act ("PUMP Act")
    • Work/Life website development​​​​​​​

AY2022-23 Accomplishments

  • Projects:
    • Seminar Project - Thursday, December 15, 2022: “Time Smart: How to Reclaim Your Time and Live a Happier Life” by Ashley Whillans (Assistant Professor in the Negotiation, Organizations & Markets Unit at the Harvard Business School)
    • Employee Assistance Program handout
    • Work/Life website establishment 

Resource Recommendations: Financial Well-Being

Staff at HMS recommends: I’m excited to explore, share, and engage with the work and vision of Mavis Gragg, a Harvard University Graduate School of Design Loeb Fellow 2024 and CEO of HeirShares. I heard Mavis speak in October 2023 as part of a community conversation, “Reimagining Black Wall Street: Economic Stability, Mobility, and Prosperity,” sponsored by the GSD Office of Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging. Her focus on combining local or regional conservation goals with the growth and protection of family wealth intergenerationally is innovative and inspiring. I encourage everyone to learn more about her ideas and efforts, even if you are not yet actively thinking about estate planning.

https://loebfellowship.gsd.harvard.edu/fellows-alumni/fellows-search/mavisgragg/

https://www.mavisgragg.com/

Staff at HMS recommends: I have been hungrily reading Get Good With Money by Tiffany Aliche in order to–indeed–manage my money better.  She shares her wisdom (informed by her own financial challenges and successes) in a personal tone - as if you were talking to your sister or a good friend. The structure and pacing of her book (and online resources) have helped me build confidence in financial management and planning (including tips for investing that I’ve never considered before). Nice read and great life management resource! https://getgoodwithmoney.com/

Staff at HMS recommends: Suze Orman’s site is oriented toward women but useful for anyone interested in finance. It has really good information about a wide array of financial issues. 
Suze Orman | Personal Finance Expert

Staff at HMS recommends: If you are looking for financial advice to address your specific situation, or have expertise in an area that you would like to share as a volunteer, a great resource is Savvy Ladies. Savvy Ladies connects women with peers and resources in their areas to help women educate themselves about their financial options.
Free Financial Education & Advice | Free Financial Advisors (savvyladies.org)
 

What Are Your Recommendations? Work Life Financial

JCSW Work/Life is seeking your recommendations! Do you have a good money resource you’d like to share (a great book that’s helped you manage your finances, a fave website or other source you regularly follow to understand financial management)? The JCSW’s Work/Life Subcommittee is seeking recommendations from this community. We would love to feature your suggestions on our page, so please submit your recommendations in this Google Form now.