Inside the Circle – March 28, 2023

In recent weeks, there have been an increase of violence reported on TTC vehicles and routes. The JHSC would like to remind employees to stay diligent while using TTC and review these important tips to ensure you are staying safe while using the TTC:

As a reminder to all employees, it is important to practice regular hand hygiene, and continue to screen yourselves daily to reduce the risk of COVID-19. Employees who are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 should remain home from work and take a COVID-19 test.

To reduce the risk of becoming sick or re-infected with COVID-19, we encourage employees to do the following:

• practice the 5 moments of hand hygiene
• screen yourself daily and screen your clients at each visit
• follow current PPE protocols such as universal masking and donning additional PPE based on screening, or when advised to do so because of potential exposure
• practice masking outside of work, or when in highly populated areas
• get your COVID-19 booster as they come available to you
•  get your annual flu shot

As a reminder, once you have received your booster dose(s), you can submit a copy to HRDept@circleofcare.com for filing.

Circle of Care celebrates and recognizes excellent PSWs and Homemakers through a variety of ways. Here are the programs and awards for PSWs & Homemakers:

• Applause: Applause (Achievers) is a recognition platform Circle of Care uses to celebrate and recognize all our employees. Any staff member can recognize another staff member through the platform by writing a message, which will be published to the Recent Activities page. Your supervisors also have the ability to award points alongside any of their recognitions.
• Spotlight Awards: The Yvonne Greaves Award for PSW Leadership and the Circle of Care Award for Home Care Excellence are two awards that are given out every December to our PSWs and Homemakers. Employees are nominated for these two awards by their managers/supervisors.
• Champions of Care Awards: These seven awards are open to union & non-union staff, and are collected from posts made to the Applause newsfeed. Awards are announced each year in June.

Circle of Care is always open to hearing feedback from our staff about the ways in which we recognize our staff. If you have any concerns or suggestions for our recognition programs, please contact Michelle Duklas, Communications Manager at mduklas@circleofcare.com.

All employees are invited to participate in our Recipe Challenge for a chance to be entered into a draw to win 2000 Applause points. To participate, please send your favourite recipe and accompanying photo to Evleen Khai ebenicta@circleofcare.com by Friday, March 31st. Challenge winners and a virtual cookbook will be shared during the first week of April.

Circle of Care employees have access to the following gym benefits through the North York Toronto Health Partners:

•  3 months of free gym membership
•  1 free fitness and lifestyle assessment
• 2 free personal training sessions

Circle of Care runs weekly exercise sessions for staff over the lunch hour, and we are opening these sessions up for PSWs and Homemakers as well! These sessions are held online (virtually) on Wednesdays at 12:00 noon on ZOOM. Cameras are turned off, everyone is muted, and you are able to follow along with the video. Our upcoming session will be offered this Wednesday March 29 at 12 noon. The workout will be a High Intensity Interval Training workout.

ZOOM Details
Meeting ID: 894 9910 4234
Passcode: workout