Your digest

Next Tuesday — live Q&A with our CEO:  Please join us on Tues. Nov. 17 at 1 p.m. ET for the next live townhall with our CEO. This month we will be focusing on the current state of the COVID-19 pandemic and how it affects our organization. Let us know what questions are top of mind for you by emailing us at communications@blood.ca with the subject line “TOWNHALL.” Join by clicking on the meeting link in your Outlook invite. We look forward to seeing you all there and to continue these important discussions.   

Service Award recordings now available on Connect: Congratulations to all employees who celebrated a service milestone this year. Over the last couple weeks, employees came together for our virtual regional awards and divisional head office celebrations. While we are all missing the opportunity to gather together, we hope that you found these events to be special and meaningful. If you happened to miss your event, the records are now available on Connect. In addition, if you would like to spend a special note of congratulations to your colleagues, you can also take advantage of our new interactive recognition platform to do so!

Our impact — World Quality Day: On Nov. 12 we celebrated World Quality Day, — recognizing quality achievements and those who uphold trust and improve performance every day of the year. Our organization is committed to delivering products and services efficiently, to the most rigorous standards, on time, every time. It’s a message Christie Beltran, a validation associate in quality and regulatory affairs in Brampton, Ont. helps to share as a brand ambassador. A message that hits close to home. Christie’s daughter was two years old when plasma products saved her life. “It amazed me. Within 24 hours it was as if nothing happened, as if she hadn’t been sick” she says. “I know the plasma she received is safe because we test it. It’s a matter of understanding the process. And once you know that, you can trust the product.” Learn more about Christie’s story on Connect.

Plasma recipient celebrates 10 years, 1000 blood donations with 100km fundraiser: We need donors of all kinds to help support us in our quest to help every patient, match every need and serve every Canadian. That’s why this National Philanthropy Day (Nov. 15), we’re celebrating generous financial donors who play an important role in strengthening Canada’s Lifeline and helping to catalyze meaningful change for patients and their families. Learn how plasma protein product recipient Natalie is paying forward the generosity of the thousands of donors who helped save her life, by becoming a blood donor, volunteer and fundraiser for Canadian Blood Services on Connect.

The COVID caregivers: Being a working caregiver is a balancing act. Managing both in a pandemic can seem next to impossible and increase feelings of isolation. Through the COVID caregiver series, your colleagues are sharing the challenges they’re facing, the steps they’re taking and how open communication can make all the difference. Today, we bring you a story from Jennifer Pellerin, a lab assistant in Dartmouth, N.S. who has worked for Canadian Blood Services for 17 years and mom to twin teen boys. Read more about her journey of being a working caregiver on Connect. If you are struggling, please know there are resources available for your through the employee assistance program and the COVID-19 leave supports for employees.

Question of the day: Since live virtual classes are being offered during working hours to all employees, where can front line staff attend these classes? Can we book a room on site to participate?

We are excited to see that so many of you are taking advantage of the virtual fitness classes! We’ve extended the sessions through the winter months and added evening classes so more of you can participate.

Unfortunately, we are not able to accommodate group fitness classes on site with more than one person in a room. Similar to our position on the re-opening of gyms, these spaces do not have proper ventilation or cleaning requirements, and physical distancing is not always possible. This decision was made with an abundance of caution to contain the spread of the virus, protect our teams and our operations.

If you happen to be working when your favourite class is live, you can still watch it for up to a week after it was filmed on Teams! The recording will be shared in the meeting chat. Outside of our traditional virtual fitness schedule, you can also check out Goodlife’s Instagram page for free fitness tutorials. Our virtual fitness instructors also share content on their own Instagram pages that you can take advantage of.

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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