Employee Wellness

The Ergonomics and Musculoskeletal Disorder Prevention Program at Nipissing University was developed to support staff and faculty to work safely and efficiently and to optimize their comfort. Workers across Nipissing perform a variety of jobs with different physical and cognitive demands.

Ergonomics applies scientific theory, principles and methods to explore the relationships between the worker job tasks and the workplace. Ergonomics removes barriers to quality, productivity, and safe human performance by fitting products (equipment), tasks and environments to people.

MSDs are strongly linked to risk factors or hazards in the workplace, therefore it is mandatory that all employees receive Ergonomics and MSD Prevention training.

Employee Training ❯   How to request an ergonomic assessment ❯

Offered most Fridays from 12:00PM – 1:00PM at the R.J Surtees Athletic Centre in Gym A.

Spring 2025 Schedule: 

March 14, 28

April 4, 11, 18, 25

Limited equipment available on a first come first serve basis at the gym front desk. Feel free to bring your own paddle if you have one.

Nipissing University currently offers a complimentary gym membership as part of our ongoing wellness initiatives with the R.J. Surtees Athletic Centre until December 31, 2025. This great initiative is open to all FT and PT employees.

In order to participate in this initiative, please ensure to provide your employee card to access the gym. 

• If you currently have an employee card and want to participate in this initiative: Please drop in to see the Manager, Health and Wellness (B 215C) with your employee card to register the membership. Once the membership has been registered you can begin using your card to access the athletic facility.
• If you don't have an employee card and want to participate in this initiative: Individuals will need to submit a ticket to helpdesk.nipissingu.ca to request an employee card. Once the card is printed and received, drop in to see the Manager, Health and Wellness (B 215C) with your employee card to register the membership. Once the membership has been registered you can begin using your card to access the athletic facility.

Campus Respiratory Illness Guidelines

As we welcome the fall season, we want to provide some public health guidance on how we all can learn to protect ourselves and our campus community from respiratory illnesses such as influenza, COVID-19 or respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

If you are sick, we ask that you please stay home to prevent the transmission to others around you until all the following apply to you:

• You are fever free
• You do not have any new symptoms
• Your symptoms have improved for at least 24 hours (48 hours for gastro related symptoms)

When returning to campus wearing a 3-ply mask for ten (10) after your symptoms started can provide extra protection against the spread of respiratory illnesses. Please note that masks will continue to be provided at the main entrance.

Close Contact Management (Only applicable with confirmed COVID-19 cases)

Employees who have been identified as having been exposed to an individual (Regardless of where they reside or vaccination status) who is COVID-19 positive must self monitor for symptoms for ten (10) days. Should symptoms arise, they should then follow the instructions listed above.

We strongly recommend that folks stay up to date with their routine immunization. We will be offering our annual flu shot campaign in conjunction with the Campus Health Center and you can find more details here.

Individuals who are unable to work due to any respiratory illness, will be required to utilize sick leave credits if available. Employees without sick leave credits will be required to use vacation time or leave without pay.

For more information, please visit the North Bay Parry Sound Health Unit

Should you have any questions, please contact Michelle Banks, Manager, Health and Wellness via email at michellb@nipissingu.ca.