Ensuring that staff at Stellenbosch University (SU) have access to a wide variety of support structures and programmes is a task that falls to Shibu Mamabolo, head of Employee Wellness in the Division of Human Resources.
As we kicked off May commemorating Workers' Day, we dedicate this series of articles to our staff and their important contribution to the University. Below, Mamabolo tells us more about her work at SU.
What does your role at SU entail?
As head of Employee Wellness, I focus on the management of personnel support, which ranges from the design of staff well-being strategies to the implementation of proactive and preventative (workshop/training) activities based on Employee Assistance Programme trends. I also liaise with service providers in putting together specialised support programmes for our staff. In addition, my work extends to ensuring that policy and guideline documents relating to well-being programmes are in place, and quality-assuring and monitoring our programmes.
Also, as an active member of the Western Cape chapter of the Employee Assistance Professionals Association, I network with national stakeholders who provide employee well-being services.
What does a typical day at work look like?
It varies from day to day – from receiving urgent calls that need attention, such as trauma and debriefing, to following up with service providers on well-being-related offerings. Other days might start with workshops or training, meeting with my line manager and colleagues, or attending the meetings of our institutional committee on staff well-being or well-being forums, where we strategise on interventions and analyse trends.
How did your education or past experience prepare you for this job?
I worked in public service in various professional roles, including as a social worker at the Department of Social Development, an employee assistance practitioner at the Department of Education, and assistant director of Employee Wellness at the Department of Community Safety and Transport. These afforded me opportunities to learn and develop the required skills set, such as problem-solving, communication, strategic planning and project management.
Past experiences also taught me resilience and perseverance and equipped me to collaborate with stakeholders to share limited resources so as to enable change in communities or institutions.
What do you enjoy most about your role and working at SU?
I enjoy receiving feedback on how our Employee Wellness Programme affects staff and environments, as this enables learning and improvement of our services. I also enjoy the liberty and creativity that SU offers, as well as being able to access the knowledge and wisdom of staff, and being exposed to other institutions of higher learning.
Tell us something interesting about yourself that few people would expect?
I am an empathic person who is considerate and enthusiastic about my work.
Photographer: Stefan Els
