Inside the Circle – September 24, 2024

Our Learning & Development team has recently launched the next course in our DEI series on the topic of covering. Covering is an activity done to to tone down a disfavoured identity to fit into the mainstream, and you can learn more about this through the new course.

Please note this course is mandatory for all staff to complete by Friday November 1, 2024.You will be enrolled in the course in Dayforce as of today, September 23. You will be paid for 20 minutes after completing this training.

It’s flu season again! Preventing the spread of illness is especially important for care workers to protect both yourself and your clients. Of course you want to keep yourself healthy so that you can help others, but you should also remember that a mild illness for you could be deadly to your clients.

Here are some healthy habits you to protect yourself and your clients from the flu and other contagious diseases:

• Get vaccinated! Each fall, a new flu vaccine becomes available, specifically designed to prevent the most likely strains. The vaccine trains your body to recognize and fight off the infection without endangering you or your clients.
• Practice good hand hygiene: wash hands frequently and avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth.
• Regularly clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces like countertops, faucets, tabletops, and doorknobs.
• Cover your mouth and nose. Masks protect both you and your client from spreading germs if one of you is infected. You should also turn away from others, especially when you cough or sneeze.
• If you do get sick, avoid close contact with other people, including staying home from school or work until you have fully recovered.
• Maintain good health habits all year to keep your body strong and ready to fight off infections. This includes getting plenty of sleep, drinking lots of fluids, eating nutritious food, and managing stress.

Don’t forget to log your step count for last week!

Wow! We are already halfway through the September Step Challenge!

Don’t forget to take credit for all the steps you take in your day. All step counts must be entered by 4:30 pm on October 3rd.  Track your steps, compete with your colleagues, and win prizes!

Challenge winners will be announced in the October newsletter. Prizes will be awarded to employees with the top 3 highest step counts:

• 1st place prize: $150 Walmart gift card
• 2nd place prize: $100 Walmart gift card
• 3rd place prize: $50 Walmart gift card
• Participation prize:  Starbucks gift card

All employees who log at least 42,000 steps by the end of the challenge (equivalent to 2000 steps/day) will be entered in a draw to win the participation prize.

Log your steps with our Step Count tracking sheet or email HRDept@circleofcare.com with your step count for each week.

What is GreenShield EAP?

GreenShield EAP is a confidential service designed to support your overall well-being. It offers a safe space where you can comfortably discuss life challenges – such as work, family, or other areas of life – with someone outside your usual circle who can provide you with guidance and support. Whether you need a listening ear, advice, or guidance, the EAP is here to help.

The EAP provides access to:

• Counseling Services: Speak with a professional, whether individually or as a couple, without long wait times or complicated processes.
• Health & Life Support: Get help from experts on topics like work, health, nutrition, and financial or legal issues.

How can I access GreenShield EAP?

We are currently piloting this program for our PSWs from September to December. During the pilot period, registration will be on a first come-first serve basis, capped at 50 employees. If there is enough interest, we hope to expand the program beyond the 50 employee cap.

This service is not anonymous, but it is completely confidential. Using this service will not be held against you and your personal information will always be private. Circle of Care will not know which services you use or what you talk about.

It can be hard to take time for yourself, especially on busy days.

Our Self-Care Calendar suggests quick activities you can do—like taking a few deep breaths or reflecting on something positive—each day to help you relax, reset, and feel better.

Click on the embedded links for guided activities that you can follow at your own pace!

Did You Know?

Taking short breaks throughout your day can help reduce stress and increase focus! Even a quick breathing exercise or a short stretch can make a big difference in how you feel.

Ambient music and nature sounds support relaxation and mental well-being.

Enjoy this curated playlist by CMHA and Little Symphony, perfect for any moment you need to unwind.

• Scan the QR code or
• Listen on Spotify: 

Stay safe at work!

If you did not complete the STF Prevention eLearning module in 2023 – or you just need to refresh your memory – it’s not too late to self-enroll through Dayforce.

Log into your Dayforce account, select the ‘Learning’ tab and then choose the STF Prevention module from the ‘Courses Catalogue’ at the top.

Please join us for the Protection from Burnout webinar!

In this one-hour session, we’ll learn about what burnout is, explore risk factors, and discuss strategies to help prevent it.

The webinar will be offered on two different dates, so you can attend the one that best fits your schedule.

Webinar Dates:

• October 2nd, 2024 at 12pm (1 hour)
  Zoom details: https://cmhaontario.zoom.us/j/84253449617?pwd=hVNE1RsPFkvTUEdvzuvLPQnkHQQo5a.1&from=addon 
  Meeting ID: 842 5344 9617
  Passcode: 746724
• October 16th, 2024 at 12pm (1 hour)
  Zoom details: https://cmhaontario.zoom.us/j/83546266091?pwd=I4V84L4WABbzCdCV0J45LZYUkDnSbP.1&from=addon
  Meeting ID: 835 4626 6091
  Passcode: 343887

Experience the Human Library, an innovative event that allows you to borrow people instead of books!

This online event creates a safe space for participant ‘readers’ to challenge stereotypes and prejudices through dialogue with human ‘books’. Human ‘books’ openly share their cultural backgrounds, lifestyles, and life experiences to prompt an enriching and respectful conversation with readers.

When participating as a reader, you’ll be automatically assigned to meet 2-3 ‘human ‘books’ in groups of 6-10 people.

Upcoming sessions

• Wednesday September 25 @ 9:00 AM
• Thursday October 24 @ 9:00 AM
• Tuesday November 26 @ 9:00 AM
• Tuesday December 3 @ 9:00 AM

Keep in mind that is an interactive experience, so make sure you are available to participate for the entire duration of the session.

To register, follow the link below and click the orange ‘select a date’ in the top right corner.

Have you had your mask fit tested and CPR training? Circle of Care requires all PSWs and Homemakers to be certified with valid and current CPR training and properly fitted for N95 masks.

Book your CPR training and mask fit sessions through First Aid Care today!

You can also book by calling 905-272-9214

September is World Alzheimer’s Awareness Month!

The Education, Access, Self care, and Empowerment (EASE) program is a free, 4 session program for PSWs who work with persons living with dementia. It is offered over Zoom through the Alzheimer Society.

The program will improve the level of care and support you provide to persons living with dementia by offering real-life insights and practical tools that you can use right away on the job.

Each session lasts one hour. Registration is required for each session, but you do not have to attend all sessions and you can complete them in any order. If you complete all four sessions within a 1 year period (April-March), you are eligible for a certificate acknowledging your participation.

The last session for this cycle, Personal Challenges, will take place on Friday September 27, 12-1pm, on Zoom.

This session will explore coping strategies when clients exhibit behaviours that trigger our own emotional responses.

A new cycle will begin in November taking place on Thursdays (November 7th, 14th, 21st, and 28th).

Has someone gone above and beyond at work? Give them a High Five!

The new High Five program lets you publicly recognize staff members for their outstanding work. High Fives will be posted in your weekly Inside the Circle newsletter.

To give a high five, just click on the button below or use the link in the rotating banner on the Portal home page.

I have noticed before that I have accrued vacation balance, but lately when I checked it, it’s gone. What happen?

As per the Collective Agreement, Circle of Care pays out all accrued vacation pay on an annual basis. This was paid out recently, on August 30^th, 2024. On your most recent pay stub (September 13), you will notice your vacation accrual has started again.

Once we’re eligible for benefits, then will we continue to have benefits every year or do we have to do 650 hours in the first 6 months of every new year?

Eligibility for Group Benefits ties into Employment Status (full time versus part time) which is evaluated every years based on hours worked. For more info, please visit https://psw.circleofcare.com/index.php/frequently-asked-questions-hr-department/

What’s the Accruals & Balances on our paystub?

The Vac $ Accruals is the percentage amount that is accrued on the hours for the current pay.  The Vac $ Balance is the total amount that is accrued so far as vacation pay. This amount increases with each pay.

I want to ask if Circle of Care provides documents needed for PR applications?

We are able to provide you with a Letter of Employment – and for any additional paperwork requests – we would recommend you reach out to HRDept@circleofcare.com.

Please be considerate when charging to fix the phone. IT is charging $250 to fix the phone but other cellphone repair shops charge way less. In my case I didn’t drop or damage the phone it just stopped working but I had to pay $250 to Circle of Care. Please do price match ups to some other repair shops. $250 for repair is like paying for a brand new phone that we don’t even own!

Thank you for this feedback – we will bring this back to our IT team.

We got our vacation pay already but how come there are so many deductions compared to last year? This is only our savings money, but still, so many deductions. Please help us also, we work so hard we need more of an increase as everything is expensive now, especially the gas is so high.

There is no human input into the amount of deductions that has been deducted from your vacation pay, this is completely automated.  Therefore, since vacation pay is a part of your earnings as well, all the statutory deductions (CPP, EI, Fed Tax) still applies.

Why do we not get the $3.00 on every pay? Why is it only on the last pay of the month? In some places like nursing homes the PSWs get the $3 pay on each pay week. We are PSWs too and do the same work.

The $3.00 premium is paid out every pay, and not only on the last pay of the month as the question implies.  This premium is paid on all client facing hours that qualifies for the government $3.00 premium.  This is shown on your payslip as PREM3, along with the number of hours that qualifies for the government $3.00 premium.

Have a question? Submit your questions or feedback anonymously below!

Please note that it may take us longer to provide some answers. If your question hasn’t been answered yet, we will get back to you as soon as we can.