Your Digest

Q2 performance report now available

Each quarter, the strategy team provides an update for all staff on Canadian Blood Services’ progress in contributing to the key focus areas set out in our strategic plan. In the second quarter of the 2021–2022 fiscal year, starting July 1, 2021 and ending Sept. 30, 2021, certain performance areas excelled, such as achieving the highest donor retention score in years. Other areas were still impacted by pandemic-related restrictions and circumstances. Sharing this report with staff is just one element of our commitment to transparency and collaboration. Read the full Q2 performance report to staff on Connect.

Find out more about our employee resource groups

As an organization committed to diversity, equity and inclusion, we are actively working to foster an environment where everyone feels valued, supported and heard. Employee resource groups (ERGs) at Canadian Blood Services can be powerful tools for promoting belonging, dignity and justice by bringing employees together to share their lived experiences and perspectives with each other, as well as with our organization’s leaders. Currently, there are ERGs for employees who are Black, Indigenous and People of Colour, employees who want to raise awareness of visible and invisible disabilities (AVID); 2SLGBTQIA+ employees; and women in senior leadership that meet monthly. If you are interested in joining one (or more) of the current ERGs — or are looking for more information — please email dei@blood.ca.

Reminders

• Share your feedback through our employee experience and brand health surveys before Feb. 4. Find your personalized link at blood.ca/employeesurvey.
• This Bell Let’s Talk Day (Wednesday, Jan. 26), join Dr. Yasmin Razack, chief diversity officer, and colleagues from across the organization for a special employee-led panel discussion on mental health. Click the meeting link in your Outlook invite to join live, and visit Connect for more information.

Question of the day: Will there be the opportunity to carry over extra vacation time to the next fiscal year, given that travel is still largely restricted, and we are already facing staff shortages/higher than usual degrees of absenteeism because of the latest pandemic wave?

We understand that it may feel difficult for some of you to take your well-deserved vacation time when you are faced with high workloads, many competing priorities and/or illness on your team.

During stressful times like these, however, taking a break is more important than ever for your physical and mental health and well-being.

Employees and their managers are encouraged to have open and honest conversations about workloads and competing priorities and work together to make every reasonable effort to book accrued vacation time prior to March 31, 2022, as per your applicable collective agreement or the updated vacation carry-over policy.

That said, there are circumstances that exist where an employee may not be able to use all accrued vacation before the end of the fiscal year. Non-union employees can carry over one week of vacation time without approval, and up to two weeks with your director’s approval. If you think vacation carry-over may apply to you, please speak with your manager or supervisor as soon as possible. Review what work can wait while you take a well-deserved break.

Collaboration is key to supporting workload and preventing burnout. Senior leaders are having these important conversations with their peers and teams.

If you have questions about booking vacation time, please reach out to your PCP business partner. Frequently asked questions about the non-union employee vacation policy can also be found on 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.

Click here to read past editions of your digest. 

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