Your Digest
Employee Appreciation Week starts Feb. 27: give a shout-out!
Employee Appreciation Week (EAW) runs Feb. 27 to March 3. To get ready for a week of gratitude for each other and the work we do together, we are encouraging employees to give “shout-outs” to their colleagues and teams. Simply go to Yammer, post your shout-out to All Company and use the hashtag #IAppreciate. Make sure you tag the special person or team so they get your note of appreciation! Every day, we will pull shout-outs from Yammer and broadcast them on Connect TV and in Your Digest. We will do a random draw every day for a prize for one employee who posted and the colleague they tagged. Watch Yammer and Connect next week for more details on EAW activities.
Stem cell recipient and her family inspire thousands to #BeAHero
Hockey is the heartbeat of Gail Stewart’s home. Her husband is a coach and her four children all play competitively. But in early 2022, when Gail was diagnosed with acute myelogenous leukemia (a cancer of the blood and bone marrow), the family’s focus immediately shifted from hockey to her health — including her need for a stem cell transplant. Gail and her family turned her diagnosis into an opportunity to #BeAHero, inspiring more than 2,000 young people to join the stem cell registry through a patient campaign alongside Hockey Gives Blood. Learn more about Gail’s inspiring story at blood.ca.
International Women’s Day event invites all employees to embrace gender equity
Fostering representation and inclusion of women and non-binary employees of diverse identities within our organizational policies and culture is a key priority for Canadian Blood Services. This International Women’s Day (March 8, 1–2:30 p.m.), our Women’s Empowerment Network will host a special virtual event and panel discussion, Embracing Equity in all its Forms, to celebrate and explore how each of us can advance and embrace gender equity. All employees — women, non-binary employees, and allies — are encouraged to attend. If you are a member of the Women’s Empowerment Network, you will automatically receive an invitation for this event. If you’re not a member and would like to attend, please register here.
The Wellness Diaries: Have more fun!
In the latest entry of The Wellness Diaries, community development manager Jennifer Mathieu follows her doctor’s advice to start having more fun to support her mental health. Read about how she found her ‘flow’ through the art of paper quilling. Do you have a personal story you’d like to share? The Wellness Diaries series features well-being tips and first-person reviews of various Canadian Blood Services programs designed to enhance and enrich the employee experience and support employee mental health. If you’re interested in contributing to The Wellness Diaries, please reach out to communications@blood.ca.
Question of the day
I’m trying to understand the change to the defined contribution pension program, so that I can prepare for an appointment with my financial advisor. Where can I find more information?
If you haven't already attended one of the live webinars to learn more about the change, you may wish to register for the next session on Tuesday, February 28. During the session you will learn more about the change, what it means for you, and how the defined benefit pension plan works. If you require registration support, please email us at benefits.pension@blood.ca.
You can also take a look at the frequently asked questions document on Connect. There you will find answers to many of the most common queries. If you have any other questions about your pension or retirement, visit Connect.blood.ca/pension or please email benefits.pension@blood.ca.
