Members of the University of Waterloo Staff Association (UWSA) have access to a staff advocate and our Member Advisory Committee who can help with a variety of situations:
- Confidential work-related advice
- Questions about Waterloo policies
- Interpretations of Waterloo policies
- How policies are implemented
- Referrals to various campus resources
You are always the one in the driver’s seat making the decisions for your situation, and our assistance is always confidential.
Because we are not your employer, we are a safe space to have discussions around whatever challenges you may be facing. Our obligations to report workplace situations are different than the University’s—we are here solely to help you and your colleagues.
The UWSA has intervened on my behalf and made a major difference in my life. I really appreciate what the UWSA does and stands for.
Member Advisory Committee
This committee includes the UWSA staff advocacy officer, president, past president, president elect. It reviews member cases to ensure that adequate support, guidance, and advocacy are in place for members.
Situations we've helped members with
- Difficult work environments
- Job descriptions and re-evaluations
- Organizational changes
- Contracts and Secondments
- Policy 33 complaints/investigations
- Work from home guidelines
- Performance appraisals
- Communicating with supervisors
- Attending legal appointments
- Retirement processes
- Workplace accommodations
- Leaves
- Equity in hiring and compensation
- Human rights-based concerns
- Accessing benefits
- Mediation assistance
- Policy interpretation and advocacy
- Workload issues
Related policies
The employment practices and standards that define the role of staff are outlined in the Staff Employment Policy 18.
The policy for resolving problems or disagreements concerning the workplace is outlined in the Dispute Resolution Policy 36.