Your Digest

They’re here for you: Meet your Well-being Champions 

The Well-being Champion Network (WCN) is made up of employees who are passionate about promoting wellness in the workplace. The network is celebrating growth, including a steadily increasing membership across the country and a new page on Connect that makes it easier for employees to find a Well-being Champion in their area. Guided by our mental well-being strategy, the 23 employees volunteer their time to look for new ways to educate and inspire a wellness attitude in colleagues. Check out the new page on Connect, browse the champions to find one in your area and reach out to them with any thoughts or questions on wellness initiatives at your site. 

REMINDER: Last chance to complete the employee experience pulse survey 

Today is the last day to participate in our latest employee experience pulse survey. The survey is an opportunity for you to share your feedback so we can better understand your communications preferences and learn about your current experience. Visit blood.ca/employeesurvey to participate. For more information, visit Connect. Thanks to everyone who has already completed the survey. We look forward to sharing the results and next steps with you. 

A haircut that could save someone’s life 

Canadian Blood Services will be hosting a three-day pop-up barbershop experience at Square One Shopping Centre in Mississauga, Ont. from Feb. 11–13. We will be offering free haircuts or beard trims while encouraging people between the ages of 17–35 to register to become a stem cell donor. We are especially focused on recruiting young men to join the Canadian Blood Services Stem Cell Registry since they generally produce more cells and can improve recipient outcomes. Guests will take a seat in the chair of a professional barber from Toronto-based Throne Barbershop to get a trim. Everyone is welcome to participate, including children, and there will be staff onsite to encourage people to join the stem cell registry. If you or someone you known is interested in attending the event, you can find more information here. 

O-negative blood donors are essential to saving lives

O-negative blood is critical because of what it doesn’t have: the A, B and D antigens, which can all trigger an immune response when the recipient isn’t a match. That’s why donations from people with O-negative blood can help patients with any other blood type, and why O-negative blood is vitally important to emergency and critical patient care. Read the full story and learn more about O-negative blood at blood.ca.  

Question of the day

How has the feedback received in past employee experience surveys been implemented at Canadian Blood Services? 

Employee surveys are tools to help support our strategic focus of creating an engaging and empowering employee experience. Last year’s employee experience and brand health survey achieved a 71% participation rate and provided valuable insight into your experience working at Canadian Blood Services. 

Over the last year, we’ve developed programming in key areas in response to your feedback, including: 

• Leadership and employee development 
• Psychological safety 
• Employee well-being 
• Frontline communications 

For more information, visit the Your Voice in Action page on Connect. A new video series summarizing some key highlights has also launched. You can watch the videos here.