Your Digest

LinkedIn Learning launches at Canadian Blood Services

As part of our strategic priorities, we continue to find innovative ways to create engaging and empowering employee experiences at Canadian Blood Services. That’s why we’ve partnered with LinkedIn Learning, to provide all employees with unlimited access to over 16,000 self-directed online courses, videos, exercises and resources to support your career growth and development. Activate your free LinkedIn Learning account here or click on the new LinkedIn Learning app on Connect (you may have to customize your apps and add it in). Find more information about LinkedIn Learning and answers to your frequently asked questions.

EMT direction letters set the tone for the year ahead

During this time of year, our CEO, Dr. Graham Sher, provides direction letters to every member of the executive management team, outlining performance expectations for the fiscal year ahead. These letters are an essential part of our annual planning cycle and represent the third set of direction letters delivered through the pandemic. While the COVID-19 pandemic and its waves of infection continue to be unpredictable, our planning must progress in alignment with our strategic plan, Keeping the Promise. Employees can read more about the process or view the letters on Connect.

Performance management: focusing on the conversation

As we quickly approach March — and the end of the fiscal year — we are also entering a new year in the performance management cycle. The past 12 months have demanded a lot of us, and work and life have become increasingly unpredictable and stressful for many. This is why we are focusing, more than ever, on making performance management about focused and engaged conversations and reducing the reporting steps. Read more on Connect for pointers, important dates and how to get the most out of performance appraisals for 2021–2022 and goal setting for 2022–2023.

Honouring Peter MacDonald’s memory

Our condolences are with our colleagues in Atlantic Canada and across the country today as they mourn and fondly remember the passing of a cherished member of Canada’s Lifeline. Peter MacDonald, director of Donor Relations and Collections in Atlantic Canada, passed away after a short but recurring battle with cancer. Peter was a leader, mentor, advocate and friend to the organization for 17 years. His position was in the Atlantic region, but his reach was much broader, supporting multiple regions in various roles. His deep level of commitment and corporate knowledge made him a valuable resource. A Partners for Life group, “Peter and Friends,” has been established, and all are encouraged to honour Peter’s memory by making a blood donation during the month of March. Read more on Connect about his lasting impact on Canadian Blood Services and how we can all honour Peter’s legacy.

Question of the day: As many of us celebrate Pink Shirt Day on Feb. 23, where acceptance and inclusion is so important and bullying is called out as unacceptable, what is Canadian Blood Services doing to ensure that employees do not experience workplace-related violence, harassment, bullying and/or discrimination?

Canadian Blood Services is committed to providing a safe, respectful work environment where everyone is treated with dignity. We have policies in place that protect employees from discrimination, and we expect that employees who witness or experience inappropriate behaviour, or even suspect it, will raise their concerns.

All employees are required to complete training regarding the policies, and promotion of a safe and respectful workplace is woven into regular communications. Our policies apply to all employees, volunteers and contractors at Canadian Blood Services. Disrespectful behaviour, violence, bullying or harassment of anyone covered by the policies will not be tolerated.

People, Culture and Performance is responsible for investigating reports of behaviour that is alleged to violate the policies. A safe reporting tool is also available for employees to confidentially report harassment, discrimination and other improper activities. This tool allows employees to confidentially report an instance or pattern of improper activities to an external investigative team. Occupational health and safety and legal are consulted as required.

If you experience, see or know of disrespectful behaviour, violence or harassment in the workplace, please report it to your supervisor, manager or a representative from People, Culture and Performance (PCP) or use the safe reporting tool available to you.

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.