Your Digest

Changes to cleaning protocols effective June 30

Our consultation with medical and epidemiology experts has determined that the risk of transmitting COVID-19 through surfaces is very low and we can now safely reduce some of our enhanced cleaning measures at our sites. Effective Thursday, June 30, we will return to pre-pandemic levels of routine cleaning with the exception of a few surfaces which will continue to be cleaned more frequently. These changes will apply to all donor centres, mobile sites, administrative sites, staff buses and Life Buses. Managers will be sharing the details of these changes with their teams.You can also find detailed information on Connect.

Celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day and reflect on your personal commitment to reconciliation

Today, as we observe National Indigenous Peoples Day, we celebrate rich and diverse cultures, voices, experiences and histories of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. We also encourage non-Indigenous employees to think about the parts they can play in reconciliation and decolonization. Since releasing our Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) earlier this month, we’ve received questions from employees about how to apply the core pillars and actions within their own roles and communities. Visit Connect for a few answers from the experts at Quintessential Research Group, the consulting firm that has partnered with us, and to learn how you may be able to begin your personal reconciliation journey.

Submit your questions for the June 29 town hall

Our next live town hall event is coming up on Wednesday, June 29, 1–2 p.m. ET with our CEO, Dr. Graham Sher and his guest panelists. If you have a question you’d like to ask, please submit it to communications@blood.ca with the subject line ‘TOWNHALL’ or use this anonymous form by end of day Friday, June 24. You can also submit your question live. To join the event on June 29, click the meeting link in your Outlook invitation. If you’re unable to make it, a recording of the townhall will be available on the employee portal and the Connect on the Go app within 24 hours of the event.

How one employee celebrates Pride Month

If you follow @CanadasLifeline on TikTok, chances are you’ve met Emma Willms. The regional program manager, based in Guelph, Ont., has been racking up views for her amusing takes on all the ways to give. As a regular donor with friends who cannot donate, she is excited to see the changes related to sexual behavior-based screening for all donors. A member of the 2SLGBTQIA+ employee resource group, Emma recognizes the importance of celebrating Pride Month. “Seeing our Pride post on social media, seeing how Pride is being celebrated internally and all the strides that we’re making, I continue to feel so proud.” Visit Connect to read more about Emma and why June is extra special for her this year.

Quality Mindset survey launches

To reach our goal to continuously improve our understanding and commitment to quality, it’s key for the organization to know how employees feel about our quality management overall. That’s why we launched the Quality Mindset survey yesterday, June 20, 2022. Employees are encouraged to participate in this brief 15–20 minute survey which will allow the organization to understand how you feel and think about quality. The results will provide a new benchmark for moving forward on our objectives and priorities, developing quality education and training opportunities and improving our quality processes. The survey will run from June 20–July 15. Click here to participate. You can also access the survey on Connect on the Go or on the Employee Surveys page.

Question of the day

As we move into the summer months, will Canadian Blood Services be offering any new programs or events to support employee mental health and physical wellness?

Your well-being is a priority. Even though the summer months are supposed to be a time to relax and unwind, we understand that for many of you it may pose additional challenges. Whether you’re trying to juggle work and family life with the kids home from school, handling the stress of a vacation gone awry, or taking on additional work to support your colleagues — everyone can benefit from opportunities that support your mental and physical health.To help you prioritize your well-being, our wellness and recognition team has a number of workshops and events lined up over the summer.

• Register for our next wellness workshop, Running on "E:" Adding Energy and Fun to Your Life on Thursday, June 23 from 11:30 a.m.—12:30 p.m. ET. This 60-minute webinar focuses on helping you thrive at work, unleash your energy, and ignite enthusiasm in your busy life.
• Sign-up for our monthly well-being newsletter. Each month, you will receive updates for upcoming workshop, webinars, opportunities to connect with colleagues, wellness resources and a monthly calendar of events directly to your inbox.
• Stay tuned this week for more information on this year’s Summer Wellness Boost. This event will run throughout the month of July and will include fun and engaging opportunities for employees to win some awesome prizes, while supporting their mental and physical well-being.

Want more information or have questions? Contact our dedicated wellness team at wellbeing@blood.ca

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.