Reshma Patel

Thesis

My research aims to assess how the wellness needs of employees at the University of Waterloo have changed through the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and understand gaps to enhance support for employee wellness. Public health emergencies such as the COVID-19 pandemic can have adverse effects on the health, safety, and well-being of individuals and communities. Ultimately, I hope to understand how workplace health promotion strategies can be modified or implemented to better support employee wellness during and post-pandemic.

Why did you decide to do the project?

My co-op experiences at the University of Waterloo including my work with the Organizational and Human Development department, the Healthy Workplace Committee, and at WIL Programs, have heavily influenced my research topic. Throughout my undergrad, I have had the opportunity to work in diverse environments across campus and help organize university-wide employee events including the OHD Staff Conference and Keeping Well at Work. My roles as a health student and an employee of the University have inspired me to dedicate my study to advocating for employee wellness during times of crises.

I enjoy the opportunity to reach out to stakeholders across campus and being able to chat with individuals employed in various departments and faculties. Connecting with staff members, faculty members, and co-op students allows me to observe different perspectives of employee wellness and define what wellness means to different groups of individuals.

How do you think it will help you in the future?

In the future I aspire to work in an organization where I am actively working to support and improve the health and wellness of employees. I intend to take the lessons learned from this study and apply them to future work placements, research opportunities, and any further studies that I may pursue.