The 兔子先生鈥檚 Recreation Center was buzzing with energy as benefit-eligible faculty and staff gathered for Human Resources鈥� annual Wellness & Benefits Fair. This year鈥檚 event drew an impressive 1,475 attendees, making it one of the most well-attended fairs in recent years.
Among the 50 participating vendors and departments were Fidelity, VOYA, Blue Cross Blue Shield, AFLAC, and several UH departments including Human Resources, the UH Police Department, UH Staff Council, Campus Smiles, and Campus Safety.
The fair offers employees a valuable opportunity to engage directly with health and wellness providers, ask questions, and gather information about their benefits.
鈥淲e know employees look forward to this event every year,鈥� said Sandra Armstrong, Executive Director of Human Resources. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a chance for us to connect face-to-face with people we usually only communicate with via email.鈥�
Each year, HR selects a theme for the fair and decorates the venue accordingly, including themed t-shirts. This year鈥檚 theme: Wellness & Benefits Bootcamp.
Deanna Holmes, Senior Benefits Coordinator, explained that the theme was chosen from a list of employee submissions.
For many employees, the fair is more than just informative鈥攊t鈥檚 essential.
鈥淚鈥檓 always busy, and my schedule is hectic, so having this event every year is a great reminder not to put off thinking about my benefits,鈥� said Aurora Mu帽oz, Collections Analyst at Student Business Services.
Kevin Burns, Bursar at Student Business Services, has attended the fair annually since 2012. He believes it鈥檚 a must for all employees.
鈥淲e鈥檙e in the business of education, and people spend over 40 hours a week here鈥攁way from their families and loved ones,鈥� said Burns. 鈥淭hese benefits help support those families, so it鈥檚 crucial to stay informed.鈥�
Burns noted how the fair has evolved over the years, with more vendors, insurance providers, and free health items like heart monitors now available.
鈥淚t鈥檚 good to stay up to date鈥攅ven with providers you鈥檝e had for years,鈥� added Mu帽oz.
One notable change this year was the timing of the event. Based on employee feedback, HR moved the fair to the first week of the Open Enrollment period, rather than the second week as in previous years.
鈥淔eedback is critical for us,鈥� said Armstrong. 鈥淲e take it seriously and use it to improve the event every year.鈥�
With the Wellness & Benefits Bootcamp complete, UH employees are now better equipped to take charge of their health and benefits and ready to face the year ahead with confidence and clarity.
