Make Your Meetings More Active

  • Include items on your meeting agenda that require participants to get out of their seats (breakout groups, stand and write ideas on an easel).
  • Choose movement friendly meeting locations (walkable neighborhoods, on-site gym, nearby park).
  • Hire a professional instructor (pilates, yoga, tai chi, stretching, Zumba) to lead a class before or during the meeting.
  • Point out the stairs and encourage attendees to use them. Consider including the location of stairs in meeting directions or putting arrows to the stairs in front of elevators.
  • Organize a group walk early in the morning, during a break or before/after dinner.
  • Consider incorporating standing ovations after each speaker to encourage participants to stand and stretch.

Standing Breaks

  • At least once an hour, participants should be encouraged to stand up to improve blood circulation, boost metabolism, and relieve physical discomfort from sitting for prolonged periods of time.
  • Announce that it is fine to stand up and move around, as needed. If possible, provide raised tables for those electing to stand during the meeting.

Stretch Breaks

  • Stretch breaks help participants wake up their bodies and minds.
  • Encourage people to stand up and stretch in place.
  • Try playing a Healthy UC Davis WakeBreak video! These instructor-led stretch videos range from 4 to 15 minutes. 

Breathing Exercise

  • Focused breathing is an energizing activity that can help relax and clear your mind. Simply inhale for four seconds, hold it for seven seconds, and exhale for eight seconds.

Suggested Activity Agendas

LENGTH OF MEETINGSTANDING BREAKSTRETCH BREAKSBREATHING BREAKSMOVEMENT BREAKSWALKING BREAKS
50 - 60 minx x  
2 - 4 hoursxxxx 
All Dayxxxxx

Survey Feedback in Action: Career Support and Process Improvements

  • by Tahlia Aghily

UC Davis Health collects valuable input from employees through the Employee Experience Survey (formerly the CommUNITY Feedback Survey) and other ongoing listening efforts, such as leadership listening tours, I-DARE surveys and town halls. Employee feedback continues to shape how the organization supports career development, transparency and internal mobility for staff.

In both the 2023 CommUNITY Feedback Survey and the 2025 Employee Experience Survey, employees voiced a clear desire for more support in advancing their careers and navigating UC Davis Health’s hiring process. In response, the Talent Acquisition unit has expanded its efforts to make career opportunities more accessible, understandable and connected to employee needs.

cdw

Career Development Week collaboration
Partnering with Learning and Development, Talent Acquisition hosted a session during Career Development Week in November 2024 that focused on best practices in recruitments.  This discussion offered staff concrete tools and insights for navigating UC Davis Health’s hiring process and ways to help demystify internal mobility pathways. 

This year’s Career Development Week will take place Nov. 17-21, providing several more opportunities for online and in-person events.

Visit the Career Development Week archives to view recordings and a library of development materials from previous years. 

employee talking on computer desktop

Career Chats conducted
Talent Acquisition specialists held 407 personalized, one-on-one conversations – Career Chats – with both internal and external job seekers, which offered them guidance on applications, interviews and roles. These conversations supported transparency and created more individualized support for employees considering career moves.

Process and tool improvements
Behind the scenes, new dashboards, internal forms and updated outreach materials were rolled out to streamline reporting and align programs more closely with UC Davis Health’s strategic goals. These tools improve efficiency while making the job search process clearer and more consistent.

you said together we did graphic

Together, these actions reflect how employee feedback has directly shaped improvements that support career growth and transparency. This story is part of 'You Said, Together We Did' — UC Davis Health’s commitment to turning survey insights and other feedback into meaningful workplace improvements.

Visit the Employee Experience Survey webpage for resources to make positive changes within your teams.

Secondary Categories

Recruitment WorkLife & Wellness