Your Digest
Hoping for peace in Ukraine
As we watch the events in eastern Europe unfold, we acknowledge our Ukrainian colleagues or those of you who have friends or family in or near Ukraine. Our hearts are heavy, and our thoughts are with those affected by this conflict. For those of you who are triggered by current events, or feel especially overwhelmed, please consider seeking support through our mental health and wellbeing resources.
Employee Appreciation Week – celebrating you!
This week is Employee Appreciation Week! “Thank you for continuing to live out our ICARE values of integrity, collaboration, adaptability, respect and excellence,” says Andrew Pateman, vice-president of people, culture and performance. “While we have navigated unprecedented demands and challenges over these past two years, your commitment to patients across the country has never wavered. It’s important that you know you are appreciated.” This week, there are interesting and thoughtful events and activities planned. You can participate in one of our virtual games nights, submit a few employee shout-outs, sign up for your LinkedIn Learning account and more. Check out our updated Employee Appreciation Week page on Connect for a detailed list of events, activities and resources, shout-outs and employee videos.
New employee app — Connect on the Go — launches today
As information continues to move rapidly in our current environment, it’s critical that employees have easy access to the resources they need to perform their jobs. That’s why our communications and IT teams have collaborated to create a new web-based app, Connect on the Go, that gives employees access to news, resources, inspiring stories, event recordings and other important information as quickly and effectively as possible. The app gives employees who work on our frontlines “on-the-go” access to a variety of topics, including Connect news, COVID-19 updates, frontline updates, podcasts and resources. Read more about the app on Connect and learn how to easily download it to your desktop or mobile device.
Feeling heard at Canada’s Lifeline
As we wrap up the celebrations and wonderful stories highlighted during Black History Month, please read employee Rim Araia’s thoughts on inclusion in the workplace. As a program coordinator with our plasma protein and related products formulary program in Ottawa, Ont, she says that Canadian Blood Services is the first professional atmosphere where she has felt heard. “Knowing that we are contributing to the overall health of people throughout Canada is one of the things I enjoy most about my work. The other is seeing Canadian Blood Services’ commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.” Read Rim’s story on blood.ca/stories.
A reminder that if you missed it, you can watch the recording of last week’s, ‘Recognizing and addressing racial microaggressions’ session.
Learn new tips with M365 Live Learning sessions
As part of our efforts to work efficiently and provide employees with the tools they need to work most effectively, we want to remind you of some upcoming online learning sessions. M365 Live Learning is another way to gain skills on and knowledge of our M365 apps at Canadian Blood Services. You can book live Teams-based sessions explaining and demonstrating M365 apps such as Outlook, Teams, and SharePoint. The sessions are led by our IT employee adaptability analyst, Tim Wehrle, and custom team training sessions are also available. Book a session or find more information about Live Learning on Connect.
Question of the day: How can I play a greater role in helping to foster diversity, equity and inclusion within our organization?
On Friday, Feb. 25, Canadian Blood Services launched its new Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Council, with a call for membership to all employees. The formation of the DEI Council is the latest, significant step we are taking to build and support a national transfusion and transplantation system and workforce that is diverse, equitable and inclusive for all. The council is inviting employees to play a more strategic and active role in lending your voices, personal experiences and valuable knowledge and expertise to co-create a strong vision for DEI at our organization.
With input from employee members, along with guidance received through consultations with industry and community-based experts, the Council will create an organizational DEI strategy and actional plan for Canadian Blood Services. If you are interested in becoming a member of the Council, please submit your name, position, title and division to DEI@blood.ca no later than March 11, 2022. For more information, read the Terms of Reference or visit Connect.
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.