Your digest
Submission to Health Canada recommends sexual behaviour-based screening for all donors
On Dec. 15, we made a submission to Health Canada to focus our donor screening criteria on higher-risk sexual behaviour, regardless of gender or sexual orientation, for all donors and collection types. “This is the latest and most significant step in a process that began over a decade ago, and that we will continue to undertake, to make participation in Canada’s Lifeline as inclusive as possible without compromising the safety of biological products or the security of supply,” says CEO Dr. Graham Sher. We are continuing to take steps as an organization to further modify our practices and policies and cultivate a donor/registrant base and workforce that more fully and equitably reflects Canada’s diverse population, and that serves an increasingly diverse patient population. Read more on Connect.
Q&A with Dr. Christian Choquet: Employee resource group sponsor shares his personal connection
Having a champion who truly understands can make all the difference when engaging employees in a new initiative. Just over a year ago, Dr. Christian Choquet, vice-president of quality and regulatory affairs, signed on to be one of two executive sponsors of the newly formed Awareness of Visible and Invisible Disabilities (AVID) employee resource group. It’s a role that has a personal connection for him, as someone who lives with multiple sclerosis (MS). Christian says that it’s wonderful to engage with others who have similar lived experiences. “For me, even just listening to others’ experiences and how they deal with them is very helpful,” he says. Read the full Q&A on Connect for Christian's thoughts on the importance of connection, leading with kindness and being open to change.
Our drivers deliver hope year-round
Canadian Blood Services drivers transport incredibly precious cargo in provinces across the country, through all kinds of weather and road conditions, 365 days a year. David Crawford of Kelowna, B.C., says that it’s an honour to deliver hope to patients when they need it most, especially during the holidays. Across the country in St. John’s, N.L., driver Glen Cole feels the same way. “It's been excellent working with a tremendous group of people. If you look forward to getting up every day and going to work, you keep doing it.” Read David and Glen’s stories on Connect.
Do you know of another employee, donor or volunteer who has gone to exceptional lengths to support Canada’s Lifeline? Email us at communications@blood.ca if you’d like to share their story.
Payroll services: CPP and EI rates for 2022
Payroll services has released the Canada Revenue Agency’s new rates for the 2022 Canada Pension Plan (CPP) and Employment Insurance (EI) statutory deductions. These rates will be reflected on Jan. 7, 2022, our first pay date of the new year. If you reached the annual CPP and EI maximums for the 2021 calendar year, you will begin 2022 with a lower net pay due to the restart of the statutory deductions for 2022. The CPP is a mandatory pension plan financed by contributions from employees and employers and the rates are based on earnings. For 2022, the year’s maximum pensionable earnings are $64,900 with a basic exemption of $3,500, meaning your contribution rate would be 5.70 per cent. The Canada Employment Insurance Commission (CEIC) announced that the 2022 EI premium rate will be $1.58 per $100 of insurable earnings, which is the same as 2021. For more information about income tax, CPP or EI, visit payroll deductions on Connect or email payroll.analysts@blood.ca with any additional questions.
Reminders
- In case you missed it, you can watch the recording of yesterday’s live town hall here.
- The recording of last week’s lunch and learn session on disability awareness in the workplace, led by Christine Selinger, is also now available.
Question of the day: Can you clarify our stance on boosters? How does it tie into the vaccination policy, and do we need to show proof of booster shots?
Vaccination recommendations continue to evolve, and some individuals may choose to receive additional doses or boosters of a COVID-19 vaccine to ensure continued immunity against COVID-19. Access to and timing of additional doses, beyond your first and second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine is the responsibility of provincial government. We encourage staff to monitor updates in your area and seek the opportunity to get additional doses of the vaccine when available and appropriate.
As it relates to complying with our employee vaccination policy, booster shots are not required at this time. Booster roll-out and eligibility vary by province. Once booster doses of the vaccine are widely available, we may revisit booster requirements. We will also continue to monitor the provincial and federal definitions of what being “fully vaccinated” means. Currently, no provincial or federal definition of full vaccination against COVID-19 includes third doses/booster shots. Our vaccination policy defines being fully vaccinated as having received the complete COVID-19 vaccine dosage as approved by Health Canada; therefore, managers are not required to verify whether employees or fee-for-service contractors have received booster shots.
Further, a reminder that employee vaccination information is confidential, and proof of COVID-19 vaccination should only be viewed by the employee’s manager, the manager’s delegate, or in limited cases, Employee Health Services, and should not be shared with others.
About Your Digest
This digest highlights the latest policy and employee support measures, resources to help you manage our new reality and original content to remind us that what we do matters. This information can be found on blood.ca/employees from any device, no login required.
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Have questions? Check out blood.ca/employees or email us at communications@blood.ca.