Your digest

A special ‘thank you’ from our CEO: Yesterday, all employees received a heartfelt note of gratitude from our CEO, Dr. Graham Sher marking the National Day of Observance of COVID-19. “You have worked long hours and put yourselves at risk to make sure we can get patients the products and services they need to survive” says Graham. “Your unwavering dedication and determination in the face of the biggest health crisis in modern times, is unprecedented. Yet, here you are, helping to save lives every day during a time of deep national loss.” Read Graham’s full note to employees on Connect.

Helping you navigate vaccination rollout across the country:

Vaccination against COVID-19 is a top priority. We are advocating on your behalf and seeking prioritized access to the vaccine as a high-priority healthcare organization in each jurisdiction. Vaccination roll-out across the country varies greatly among provinces and territories and between local public health units. We know that inevitably, some employees may receive quicker access to the vaccine dependent on where they live and their individual health considerations.

To help you navigate the rapidly changing landscape of the vaccine rollout, we’ve launched a new page on your COVID-19 employee portal. On this page, you will find helpful information including:

• Regional breakdown of the latest local eligibility criteria and vaccine distribution sequencing information available; and trusted local public health resources, including vaccine registration websites where applicable.
• What you can expect from Canadian Blood Services to advocate, monitor and coordinate on your behalf.
• Approved vaccines in Canada.
• A detailed FAQ.

Things are moving quickly, and information is changing day-to-day. We encourage you to check the page at www.blood.ca/employees/vaccines regularly for the latest. It is important to remember that you may learn about changes to vaccination protocols at a local level first before being advised by Canadian Blood Services. If you hear about changes in your area, please let us know as soon as you can to help our team respond by emailing communications@blood.ca with the subject line “Vaccines”.

Third annual Green Shirt Day is less than one month away: Leading up to Green Shirt Day on April 7, we are partnering with the Canadian Transplant Association, the Kidney Foundation of Canada, and Canada’s organ and tissue donation community to encourage Canadians to talk about and consider organ and tissue donation and register in their province or territory. It is estimated that almost 150,000 Canadians registered as organ and tissue donors in the weeks following the Humboldt crash in 2018 that took Logan Boulet’s life and led to him becoming an organ and tissue donor. This became known as the “Logan Boulet Effect”. “Though the pandemic may keep us apart, ‘Together Strong’, the 2021 Green Shirt Day campaign slogan, reminds us to unite online to inspire conversations about the powerful impact of organ donation,” says Toby Boulet, Logan’s father. Learn more about you can get involved on Connect.

The lifesaving science of keeping delicate cells on ice: Cryopreservation might sound like a very technical concept, but it’s actually something we encounter in our everyday lives. Your leftover chili lasts much longer in the fridge than on the counter. And if you put it in the freezer, you can reheat it for another dinner weeks from now. It’s a simple illustration of how the length of time we can store organic matter is directly related to the temperature at which it's stored. The same basic principles apply to blood and stem cells that are used to treat patients. Units of red blood cells can last 42 days in the fridge. When frozen, they can last 30 years, and possibly even longer. Being able to store products is essential to what we do nationally. The fact we can store blood products outside of the body is the only reason we have a transfusion service. Read more at blood.ca/stories.

“What a treat!”: Employee Appreciation Day wrap-up: Last week, employees across the country took a break from the workday and had some fun as we celebrated Employee Appreciation Day on March 5. This year, we went beyond our normal celebrations to make this event fun and memorable for everyone, while ensuring the safety and well-being of our teams. Check out some of the highlights, access event recordings and get inspired with ways you can recognize your colleagues all year-round on Connect.

Question of the day: What would you suggest to leaders within the organization who feel burnt out and are truly in need of a break but feel uncomfortable disconnecting?

It is important for everyone in the organization to take breaks. Advance planning might be required to set yourself up for success, but it is imperative that everyone takes a break from work. We don’t expect employees to work while on vacation; this includes leaders at all levels.  

We encourage you to sit down with your leaders and team prior to your time off to align on what support or coverage is required. This will help ensure that you feel comfortable unplugging and enjoy a well-deserved rest during your vacation.  

It’s also important that leaders lead by example by setting boundaries, trusting our delegates and prioritizing our well-being by staying disconnected while on leave.  

If you require support and don’t feel comfortable speaking to your supervisor, please connect with your PCP business partner.

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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