Your digest

New support group for caregivers: Caregivers continue to be heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly as families across the country are experiencing frequent, abrupt changes to childcare and schooling. We know it is crucial to support caregivers by providing a range of resources and measures; and encouraging leaders to continue to show empathy, be flexible and attentive to the needs of their teams. To create a safe space for caregivers across our organization to connect with others facing similar challenges, and share how they are navigating uncertainty and pressures, a virtual peer-led support group has been stood up. Meetings take place every Friday from 12:00 — 12:45 p.m. ET. To join and receive and invite, please send an email to thrive@blood.ca. Caregivers can also connect without one another via the new Yammer group, working caregiver peer support group. Help is available if you need it. Visit Connect to learn more.

The latest from our CEO — Let’s talk mental health: Don’t miss the latest installment of our CEO’s blog. In this month’s edition, Graham reflects on the circumstances created by the pandemic not just as a concerned citizen but as an employer. “I’m all too aware that in an organization of our size, many of you are facing unique varieties of these exact circumstances. It is my responsibility to continue to take these issues into account to build upon the support systems in place and ensure that we are doing everything we can and should as an employer who places high value on employee experience.” Read more on Connect.

Save the date — live townhall with our CEO: Please join us on Wed. Jan. 20 at 1 p.m. ET for the next live townhall with our CEO. Let us know what topics and questions are top of mind for you by emailing us at communications@blood.ca with the subject line “TOWNHALL.” To participate, click the meeting link in your Outlook invite. We look forward to seeing you all there and to continue these important discussions.    

Thank you for making our holiday campaign a success!

Thanks to the collective efforts of teams across the organization, this year’s holiday campaign was a tremendous success despite the challenges associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. With help from those on the frontlines and behind the scenes, we received a strong response in December from donors. Collection results were strong, the national platelet inventory did well, and we came out of the holiday period in a favourable inventory position. Throughout December we highlighted all the ways to donate while striking a balance with the time-sensitive need for blood donors. As a result:

• We recorded a 17% increase over November in the number of booked appointments from Dec. 1 — Jan. 4 and filled all remaining 24,000 open appointments in December.
• Our national social media accounts achieved a 122% increase in impressions compared to 2019 over the two-week holiday period and accounted for 30% of nearly 16,000 unique pageviews (an 18% increase over November) of more than a dozen articles published on the Stories section of blood.ca;
• Virtual interviews helped us match last year’s earned media coverage;
• And more than two dozen Connect stories featuring recipients, donors, volunteers and employees fuelled a 53% increase in average daily users and a 23% increase in article views.

Support for patients starts in communities across Canada. And thanks to you – a team of professionals who bring their head and heart to every task and interaction – Canadians from coast to coast made sure the holiday spirit was shared with patients. Great work everyone!

Question of the day: How will the Québec recent curfew in response to COVID-19 affect employees and donors? Will employees be allowed to work during the curfew? Will Québec donors be able to donate in Ontario?

All of Québec, except the Cree Territory of James Bay and Nunavik, will be on maximum alert (red zone) from January 9 up to and including February 8, 2021. As of January 9, a curfew will be in effect. Between 8 p.m. — 5 a.m.

Residents of Québec must not leave their homes during this time except in cases that justify travel such travelling to and from work or donating blood.

As a proactive measure, we are completing an attestation for employees who reside in Québec should they be stopped while travelling to or from work during the curfew hours in the province. For example, should you work at a collections event in Ontario, but reside in Québec, you may be asked to show an attestation confirming you are working for an essential service provider if you are on Québec roads after curfew.

Employees who reside in Québec were sent a completed attestation form this week. If you received the document, we encourage you to keep it on you at all times. If you have questions, or reside in Québec and have not been contacted, please reach out to lynn.firkins@blood.ca.

Given the proximity to Ontario, Québec blood donors from the Gatineau area who may be unable to donate blood to Héma-Québec may attend at Canadian Blood Services’ site in Ottawa. This has been a long-standing arrangement between Canadian Blood Services and Héma-Québec, to ensure an adequate supply of blood is available for the country. In accordance with the curfew, there is an exemption for a person to be outside of their residence after 8:00 pm for the purpose of donating blood.

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About your digest

This digest will highlight the latest policy and employee support measures, resources to help you manage our new reality and original content like articles and videos to remind us that what we do matters.  No access to email? No problem — all this information and more can be found on blood.ca/employees from any device, no login required.    

Click here to read past editions of your digest.    

Have questions? Check out blood.ca/employees or email us at communications@blood.ca