November 16, 2018

Your name, title and department. How long have you worked here?
Jackie Pacheco, Health Coach in the Employee Health and Well-Being Department. I have worked at Texas Children’s for almost three years.

Tell us how you found out you won a super star award.
We were in our monthly HR Staff Meeting and during the thank you and congratulations section, my assistant director announced to the team that I had won the Super Star Award for the month of September. It was a complete surprise and I was overwhelmed with the warmth and amazing response from my colleagues.

What does it mean to be recognized for the hard work you do? How has the organization helped you achieve your personal and professional goals?
It means a lot to be recognized for all of the hard work that you put in. I work with an amazing team, and our work always impacts the people who work here at Texas Children’s with all of our health and well-being initiatives. I work with incredible people who support and encourage me every day and care for me both professionally and personally.

I recently became a certified wellness and health coach and have grown in my department because of this. I received encouragement from my leaders, and just knowing they are behind me and want to see me succeed, pushes me to do my best every day.

What do you think makes someone at Texas Children’s a super star?
A super star is someone who embraces the core values and finds a way to incorporate them into everything they do. They show up every day with a positive attitude and are enthusiastic about their work. We must always remember that we never know who we are going to make an impression on, so might as well always strive to make it positive.

What is your motivation for going above and beyond every day at work?
Knowing that I can make an impact on any single employee within the organization, keeps me going. Working on the Well-Being team, my job is to take care of the health and well-being of employees throughout our organization. If I can help our workforce develop healthy habits and empower them to achieve their well-being goals, I will not only help that individual but also develop a culture of health for the organization.

What is the best thing about working at Texas Children’s?
The best thing about working at Texas Children’s is the people. You will always see smiling faces in the hallways, and people are always willing to help. Our workforce’s enthusiasm and pride to work here is always eminent.

What does it mean to you that everyone at Texas Children’s is considered a leader? What is your leadership definition?
It is great to know that everyone who works at Texas Children’s is considered a leader. My definition of leadership is: A leader must enjoy what they are doing and maintain an enthusiastic, positive and optimistic attitude. Listen if they want to be heard and always remember that the most powerful tool that you possess is your own personal example.

Anything else you want to share?
I would like to say a special thank you to Julia Gaffney for taking the time to nominate me. I would also like to thank all of the Wellness Ambassadors who help promote wellness throughout the organization; without them my job wouldn’t be possible.

October 29, 2018

This year, we have an amazing and comprehensive benefits line-up with many of your favorite oldies, as well as new and upcoming acts. Select the benefits that rock for you and your family!

Stay in Tune

Be sure to visit the Texas Children’s Benefits website, your 24/7 backstage pass to all of the latest benefits options, including rates and much more.

Stop by and jam with our Benefits band members at one of our many Annual Enrollment tour stops throughout Texas Children’s campuses, beginning Monday, October 29. Don’t miss the:

Benefits & Well-Being Concert
Tuesday, October 30
7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Pavilion for Women, Floor 4

Meet and Greet – The Woodlands
Wednesday, October 31
1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Main Lobby

Meet and Greet – West Campus
Friday, November 2
10 a.m. to noon
Floor 1 Corridor

For additional personalized support, take advantage of Cigna One Guide®, a 24/7 concierge service center dedicated to Texas Children’s employees at 800-342-6664.

If you do not make any elections during Annual Enrollment, you will be enrolled based on last year’s elections, with the exception of FSAs. To participate in either the Healthcare or Dependent Care FSA in 2019, you must make an election during Annual Enrollment.
Please note, benefits changes after Annual Enrollment are not permitted under federal regulations, except for life events and job status changes. Otherwise, the next opportunity for you to change your benefits elections is the 2020 Annual Enrollment.

Stay up-to-date on important benefits reminders and activities all year by texting “TCHBenefits” to 88202. Standard carrier message and data rates may apply.

Thank you for participating in Annual Enrollment!

August 2, 2018

In June, U.S. News and World Report named us the No. 4 best children’s hospital in America with eight subspecialties ranked in the top 10 – and just last week, Forbes recognized Texas Children’s as the No. 1 in Houston and 11th best employer for women among the top 300 companies in the nation.

As more and more people around the country and even across the globe discover Texas Children’s and learn about what makes us such a special place to both receive care and build a career, you now have the opportunity to share your experiences as part of our One Amazing Team with our fellow Houstonians here at home by completing the Houston Business Journal’s annual Best Places to Work survey.

We encourage you to again raise your voices and participate in the 2018 Best Places to Work survey by clicking here or copying and pasting this link into your web browser: https://survey.quantumworkplace.com/bpsurvey/language/oc_HSUR62801/. HBJ will announce the results of the survey and company rankings in October.

Please note that the Best Places to Work survey is a third-party survey administered by HBJ via Quantum Workplace, Inc., so your participation is 100 percent confidential and your responses will be kept anonymous.

If you have questions about the survey, do not contact the IS Service Desk, as they will not be able to assist you. Instead, please contact the Best Places to Work team at bestplaces@quantumworkplace.com or by calling 1-888-415-8302.

July 10, 2018

For many of our new colleagues embarking on their first few months at Texas Children’s, learning to navigate such a large and diverse organization can seem an overwhelming and intimidating task – the kind of challenge made much easier when faced alongside their personal Texas Children’s Buddy, the friendly team member assigned to offer them support and reassurance from the very beginning of their journey.

The Texas Children’s Buddy Experience begins when hiring leaders assign as a Buddy a team member with great interpersonal skills who is knowledgeable about their unit or department, well regarded by their peers, committed to living out and modeling the organization’s core values, and willing to amplify unity by helping to make a new colleague’s onboarding process more positive.

After the new colleague completes Texas Children’s Hi orientation, they meet their Buddy for the first time and begin forging what is often a meaningful and fulfilling relationship for them both. The Buddy becomes their new colleague’s go-to person for insider insights and advice about everything from settling in with their new team members and finding their way on campus, to the best places to grab a bite, rent an apartment or buy scrubs.

To help them better understand the important role they will play for their new colleague, Texas Children’s Buddies have access to numerous resources – including a Buddy Handbook, Buddy Checklist and frequently asked questions all available on the newly created Buddy Resources page on Connect. Buddies and hiring leaders also receive their new colleague’s “My Favorite Things” questionnaire, an addition to the Buddy Experience this quarter that asks new hires to provide responses to lighthearted questions about their likes and interests.

“My Buddy was always very positive and happy. She answered all the questions I had,” one recent hire said in response to a Buddy Experience assessment survey administered by Human Resources. “She reflects Texas Children’s values and definitely made me feel at home. She was always very open and receptive.”

The benefits of the Buddy Experience extend beyond simply providing a new colleague with a sounding board and lunch companion. Research shows that in giving newly hired employees a way to more quickly foster connections with their colleagues, workplaces with buddy programs also see improvements in engagement and retention. A Gallup study completed in 2013 found that buddy programs can reduce turnover by more than 23 percent, and fully 50 percent of employees said they had a strong connection with their organization because they had a best friend at work.

And if comments from our newly hired colleagues and early Human Resources hiring data are any indication, that positive trend is likely to continue at Texas Children’s through our own Buddy Experience. Survey respondents praised their Buddies for being “just awesome” and “exceptionally welcoming from the start,” making them “feel like part of the team,” and displaying “nothing but kindness and goodwill to help me get acclimated.”

“My Buddy helped me get adjusted,” said one recently hired colleague. “They made sure I had and knew everything I needed in order to be successful.”

Are you serving as a Buddy or do you have a Buddy at Texas Children’s? Share your special moments on social media using the hashtags #MyTexasChildrensBuddy, #TexasChildrensPeople and #AmplifyUnity.

March 27, 2018

Texas Children’s marked the beginning of an exciting chapter in its history this month with the opening of Texas Children’s Urgent Care Westgate, the first Texas Children’s location in Austin. In preparation for the grand opening, welcoming and onboarding new members of our One Amazing Team in the capital city was a top priority.

Our new team members in Austin experienced Texas Children’s Hi for their first day on February 15, learning about the organization’s mission, core values and unique culture.

All materials at Texas Children’s Hi were presented with a celebratory feel, highlighting our distinct history and significant achievements, as well as Texas Children’s innovative future. At the end of their day, our new employees graduated from orientation with a sense of pride about being part of our one-of-a-kind organization.

“Part of the infinite passion you saw at Texas Children’s during the interview process is nothing compared to what you’ll see and experience here every single day. I know this first hand because I am a returning Texas Children’s employee,” said Hannah Pataky, Manager of Human Resources in Austin and Texas Children’s Hi facilitator. “We are an organization that truly lives its values, and our people are front and center in everything we do.”

Now, we are looking for top talent for our specialty care clinics opening in Austin in October of this year. Nearly 40 specialty-care positions will open throughout this fiscal year – from outpatient staff RNs, ambulatory service representatives and medical assistants, to radiology and ultrasound specialists, a social worker, clinical dietitian and more. All job openings will be posted internally before being announced to external candidates, giving Texas Children’s employees the first opportunity to apply.

“Our employees at Texas Children’s are our strength,” said David Wykes, director of Employee Relations. “That’s why we really encourage the internal transfer option. You know the organization, and you know our great culture we want to translate to Austin.”

A full list of available positions can be found on the Austin Careers page, along with answers to frequently asked questions and other resources.

February 6, 2018

The Mark A. Wallace New Employee Pep Rally was held at West Campus last week complete with giant foam fingers, pompoms, dance music, and of course, our President and CEO, Mark Wallace. The gathering gave nearly 100 new and recent hires a cheerful and uniquely spirited welcome to the Texas Children’s family.

The pep rally, modeled after the redesigned Texas Children’s Hi orientation that sends new employees back to school to learn about the organization and its special culture, is an opportunity for new employees to become better acquainted with the organization as a whole and meet executives and other leaders within a friendly and festive atmosphere.

The high-energy pep rally format replaces the more traditional new employee reception that Wallace has hosted for decades. All new employees invited to attend were part of the Texas Children’s Hi Class of 2017 with their mascot the “Armadillo.”

“You don’t work for me; I work for each and every one of you,” said Wallace, who personally introduced himself to every new employee attending the pep rally, trading jokes and posing for photos and selfies – complete with duck-faces.

Recalling the days when Texas Children’s consisted of just one, seven-story building with fewer than 300 registered nurses, Wallace discussed the growth the organization has experienced since he arrived in 1989 and the plans to expand even further by moving into Austin and opening the Legacy Tower in the Texas Medical Center. Having so many great employees dedicated to the Texas Children’s mission plays a key role in driving that progress, he said.

“This is not just a job. You can build a career here,” Wallace said. “Thank you for choosing us and allowing us to choose you for this partnership. You’re going to enjoy working at Texas Children’s Hospital.”

Jordan Nedbalek, an orthopedic technician at Specialty Care Bellaire, attended the West Campus pep rally with colleagues and radiology specialists Anjail Abdullah and Amanda Schell. All three said they especially enjoyed the themed decorations and the lighthearted, warm mood set by Wallace and the other leaders and staff volunteers at the event.

“At every point you’re always made to feel welcome,” Nedbalek said.

Many new hires at the pep rally agreed and said their Texas Children’s careers are already off to a good start. Few expected to ever meet Wallace or leaders like Executive Vice President Michelle Riley-Brown, given the size of the organization, and they appreciated their chance to make a more personal connection.

“When I met Mr. Wallace it was like I’d known him for years,” said Ina Gill, an ambulatory service representative who handles scheduling for the Sleep Center at West Campus. “The pep rally experience is fun. We know all this is for us, which makes a difference. I’m loving it at Texas Children’s and learning a lot. It already feels like family and I’m here to stay.”

February 14, 2017

21517WalterSowells640Walter Sowells, Human Resources Technician, Human Resources, died February 10 at the age of 39.

Walter began his career at Texas Children’s in December of 1999. He was a member of the Organizational Development team in Human Resources and managed the conference center in the Meyer Building. Walter was a gentle, patient man, known for his sense of humor and ability to get along with everyone. He will be greatly missed by his team and fellow employees.

Walter is survived by two children, Isaiah and Nathan and his wife, Earlisha.

Services:

Saturday, February 18

Trinity Gardens Church of Christ

7725 Sandra Street

Houston, TX  77016

Viewing:

10 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Funeral:

11 a.m.

Friends of Walter’s from Texas Children’s Hospital are welcome to attend.