Your digest

Register for fall virtual fitness classes: With colder weather approaching and the challenges of kids going back to school, we know how hard it can be to remain active and ease feelings of stress. We’ve teamed up again with our partners at Goodlife to bring employees and their families virtual access to some of their most popular fitness classes. Dates and times are spaced out to ensure that whether you are on the frontlines, doing virtual work, or balancing being a parent and an educator, you can fit them into your day. Register on Connect, or via the links below. Remember, taking some time to unwind and de-stress is important for your mental wellbeing and your workplace productivity.

Zumba: Tuesdays at 1:00 p.m. ET

Boot Camp: Wednesdays at 11:00 a.m. ET 

Sh'Bam: Wednesdays at 6:00 p.m. ET 

Yoga: Thursdays at 12:00 p.m. ET 

Cord blood donation information sessions for expectant moms: As cord blood collections return to normal across the country, our cord blood team is launching a series of live, online information sessions to promote cord blood awareness and encourage public cord blood donation. We hope to encourage mothers delivering their babies at collection hospitals in Ottawa, Brampton, Edmonton and Vancouver to register for the information sessions and ask questions. Members of our cord blood team across the country will host these events every Tuesday and Thursday starting on September 29 from 2:00—3:00 p.m. ET. Registration is already open and it’s free. Learn more on Connect and help us spread the word.

Cancer survivor feels ‘blessed’ by stem cell donor’s act of kindness: This World Marrow Donor Day, stem cell recipient and cancer survivor Diane Charlebois from Calgary expressed thanks for a German man named Manuel Gamperl. His stem cell donation saved her life, even though he initially joined his country’s stem cell registry to try to help a girl in a town near his own. Diane and Manuel were supposed to meet in person in Calgary in August but the pandemic has delayed that joyful event. Read more on blood.ca/stories.

Question of the day: I am currently working at home, can I purchase an internet router, printer or monitor for use at home?

We want to ensure that employees who are able to work from home receive the support they need to achieve their work and maintain our essential operations.

As part of the new flexible and virtual work guidelines released last Friday, employees working virtually are now able to claim certain expenses, with reimbursement up to $200.

Eligible work-related expenses include personal computer equipment, such as internet routers, printers and monitors; furniture such as desks and chairs; and computer accessories like keyboards and headsets. All items are non-taxable, and a receipt is required when submitting the expense for reimbursement.

Our IT team has provided some recommendations for purchasing personal computer equipment which offer good technical support and are affordable. HP all-in-one models are recommended for employees purchasing printers, scanners and copies. Viewsonic ergonomic 24” monitors are recommended for those looking to purchase monitors.

To submit an expense, please reach out to your manager who can provide guidance on the process.

Learn more about reimbursement for expenses on our dedicated  Flexible and Virtual Work page.

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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.     

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