The University of Utah Employee Appreciation Day (EAD) HR Planning Team and Staff Council are excited to announce a virtual Employee Appreciation Day opportunity for all employees during EAD Week (Sept. 16-20, 2024)—the U of U Plus EAD Challenge!
While some U of U Plus challenges require a check-in at the in-person event taking place on Thursday, Sept. 19 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Rice-Eccles Stadium, there are plenty of opportunities for employees working clinical shifts, working from home, living out-of-state or country, to participate. Read on to learn more about how to participate both in-person and virtually.
What is U of U Plus?
U of U Plus is a new, official loyalty program for University staff, faculty, students and alumni. Once registered, participants can complete different types of challenges, such as reading articles, answering trivia questions and open-ended questions, or checking in via QR codes at the in-person EAD event to accumulate Plus Points in exchange for rewards and prizes. You can learn more about how U of U Plus works by reading “A Guide to U of U Plus.”
We have set up a series of EAD-specific challenges for University of Utah/HCI/U of U Health employees that will be available during EAD Week. We recommend bookmarking the EAD U of U Plus Challenge homepage so you are ready to participate when it opens on Sept. 16.
How to participate
- Sign up for a U of U Plus account by heading to uofuplus.com.
- Head to the EAD U of U Plus Challenge homepage and start participating in challenges from Sept. 16-20 to earn Plus Points.
- Virtual challenges include: reading EAD-related articles, visiting HR and Staff Council websites, writing poetry, nominating your colleagues for “Office Mom or Dad,” “Office Jokester” or “Most Positive Person” and more.
- In-person challenges include: checking in via QR codes at sponsor booths and Hospitals & Clinics treat stations.
- You may participate in any other non-EAD challenge, but only points generated from participating in EAD-specific challenges on the EAD Challenge homepage will enter you for a chance to win our grand prize.
Grand prize
The Grand Prize for the EAD U of U Plus Challenge is two Utes home game football tickets to an upcoming game this season (excluding the BYU game on Nov. 9) and an invitation to the Auxiliary Services Department’s tailgate BBQ before the game. You must accumulate at least 2,500 Plus Points to be entered for a chance to win the Grand Prize. All participants who earn 3000 points will be entered into a raffle and one name will be drawn at random to receive the Grand Prize.
There will also be five participants selected to receive $150 gift cards to Salt Lake City Running Company. To be entered for a chance to win a gift card, participants must accumulate at least 1000 points.
Additional opportunities for Hospitals & Clinics employees
The EAD planning team understands it’s difficult to get away from your important clinical duties to attend our in-person EAD event, so that’s why we are bringing EAD to you. This year, the Hospitals & Clinics recognition team will be setting up treat stations on Thursday, Sept. 19 to recognize your incredible efforts at the following locations:
- University of Utah Hospital
- Moran Eye Center
- Huntsman Cancer Institute
- Huntsman Mental Health Institute
- University Orthopedic Center
- Craig H. Neilsen Rehabilitation Hospital
For questions, please contact Kari Smith with the Hospitals & Clinics Employee Recognition Team.