University of the Philippines Manila (UP Manila) Chancellor Michael L. Tee underscored the significance of promoting boundaries in the workplace to avoid stress and burnout.
“Technology has made it easier to reach us and our personal time is sometimes affected by work. Let me be clear: Your off hours are yours,” he said in his investiture speech on April 30, 2024, consequently encouraging the institution’s dedicated staff to prioritize their off hours as sacred time for relaxation.
Being the only physician in the President’s Advisory Council (PAC), Chancellor Tee pledged to enhance healthcare services, including mental health support to employees to ensure that they have the resources they need to flourish personally and professionally.
In line with this, he also announced his support to the proposed expansion of services of the Enhanced Hospitalization Programme (eHOPE) to include outpatient services and ambulatory surgeries. Currently, eHope provides financial assistance for hospitalization expenses incurred during the confinement of UP employees – its Faculty, Research, Extension, and Professional Staff (REPS), and Administrative Staff.
The All UP Workers Union Manila Chapter responded positively to his announcements and said they are looking forward to the benefits that will extend to 2,369 employees of UP Manila.
“Natutuwa kami na naisip ng Chancellor yan. Nakikinig siya sa mga staff,” said Maria Elizabeth D. Ladeza, All UP Workers Union Manila Chapter Board Member. “Mainam ito lalo na at marami na rin tayong empleyado na may edad na.”
Also during his investiture, Chancellor Tee recalled receiving requests from patients – who are also employees of the UP system, seeking recommendations for hospital admission or inpatient surgery so they could utilize eHOPE.
“This, in my view, is a practice that can be improved if we can update our internal rules and regulations to reflect advances in modern medicine,” he said. “Coverage of ambulatory surgery is convenient, leads to lower infection rates,.. and costs less.”
Text by Jennifer Manongdo
Photo by Ronald Verceles and Joseph A. Bautista
