Your digest

Reminder to report your vaccination status by Sept.22

Tomorrow is the last day of the mandatory vaccination status reporting period. We are thankful to those who have provided us with this important information as we prepare for the next phase of our policy. As we approach the final hours of the reporting phase, we are encouraged by the number of employees who are fully vaccinated or on their way to being fully vaccinated.

Employees who do not report their vaccination status by end of day Sept.22 will be considered “unvaccinated” and will be contacted by a PCP team member to discuss the next steps.

You can enter your status and attestation through the COVID-19/My COVID-19 Vaccine app on meda.blood.ca which can be accessed through any computer, tablet or smartphone. You can also access MEDA from MyApps on the Connect home page. (To access the app, you will need to be connected to a Canadian Blood Services network, through VPN if working remotely, or use your Entrust Grid Card for mobile devices.)

If you are experiencing any challenges in accessing the reporting tool or have questions/concerns about the COVID-19 vaccination policy, please refer to the various supports on the vaccine policy page, talk to your manager or supervisor or email communications@blood.ca.

Stem cells without borders

When lockdown measures began rolling out across Canada at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, some stem cell patients were in the middle of a process called conditioning, which typically includes intense chemotherapy and radiation to destroy their bone marrow prior to receiving a transplant. At that point, the patient is at risk of dying if the new stem cells are delayed. Faced suddenly with modified travel requirements, tighter border rules and fewer flights, the team at Canadian Blood Services Stem Cell Registry realized that connecting stem cell donors to waiting recipients during a pandemic would require extra-heroic feats of logistics. Read the incredible story of how our employees, donors and stem cell couriers stepped up to help deliver lifesaving stem cells to patients during the pandemic at blood.ca/stories.

Childhood cancer survivor inspires his mother to become a donor

Five years ago, Kate Jollymore of Chester, N.S. received news no parent wants to hear. Her nine-year-old son Sean had acute lymphoblastic leukemia, a type of blood cancer. Sean’s diagnosis marked the beginning of a difficult battle that lasted more than three years, during which he required multiple blood and platelet transfusions. Seeing firsthand how blood donors helped save her son’s life inspired Kate to start donating blood in 2017. “Sean sat with me while I made my very first blood donation, which was really special,” she says. Now, four years later, Kate continues to donate blood as she watches her now 15-year-old son grow and enjoy a regular teenage life. Sean also continues to encourage others to become blood donors. Read Sean and Kate’s inspiring story at blood.ca/stories.

Long-term disability premiums resume Oct.1, 2021 (PP20/21)

Employees who are enrolled in long-term disability (LTD) group benefits through Manulife will see their regular LTD premiums resume as of Oct.1, 2021 (PP20/21). Earlier this year, a LTD premium “holiday” was negotiated with our benefits provider so that no LTD premiums would be processed from employees’ pay from Apr.1, 2021 to Sept. 30, 2021. After Oct.1, LTD premium deductions will be processed every pay for employee who are enrolled. It is worth noting that as part of the annual benefits renewal process with Manulife, premiums for LTD have recently decreased by 10 per cent. If you have questions about the LTD premiums and/or the change that is coming into effect, please contact your Human Resources representative.

Question of the day: What is Canadian Blood Services doing to mark the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation?

Beginning this year, on Sept.30, 2021, the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation will become a designated paid holiday for all Canadian Blood Services employees, as one small step toward our organization’s broader reconciliation goals.

This new federal statutory observance was created to honour and remember the more than 150,000 children who were forcibly taken from their families and communities and placed in residential schools, and to acknowledge the thousands of children who never made it home.

Leading up to Sept.30, we will be sharing educational resources on Indigenous inclusion, allyship and history with staff. We will also be sharing updates on the work that is being undertaken through our diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) program to respectfully strengthen relationships and partnerships with Indigenous employees, organizations and communities in Canada.

Employees who are interested in finding out more about our reconciliation work are encouraged to register and save the date for a special Lunch and Learn session on Wednesday, Sept. 29 (11 a.m. ET) with Quintessential Research Group Inc. (QRG), the Indigenous-led consulting firm that has been working closely with our organization to develop our own Reconciliation Action Plan.

During this session, employees will get the opportunity to learn more about Canadian Blood Services’ partnership with QRG, the collaborative work our organization has done so far to support reconciliation and what important steps we are taking next. For staff who are unable to attend, a recording will be made available following the session.

Visit our DEI resource page on Connect for more information and continue to read Your Digest leading up to the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation for more engagement and learning opportunities.

 

 

 

About your digest

This digest highlights 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