Inside the Circle – May 9, 2023

Circle of Care and the Joint Health and Safety Committee have launched a mandatory Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) course in Dayforce, as a way to help increase awareness of MSD risk and prevention.

To Complete the Training

Access the training through your Dayforce account, or through the PSW portal: https://psw.circleofcare.com/index.php/learning/. It will take about 20 minutes to complete. This is paid training time, and you will have until June 30, 2023 to complete the training. Payment will be issued in July.

Resources

We also encourage you to review the following resources:

Test Your Knowledge

[yop_poll id=”17″]

As per the Collective Agreement, all full-time employees for the current calendar year are eligible for SEIU’s benefit program.

For any questions about the benefit program, including what is covered under the plan, how to get your benefit card etc. Please reach out to SEIU benefits by calling 416-635-6000 or emailing seiubenefits@globalben.com

May 19 is PSW Day, a day to celebrate and highlight the vital contributions you provide to our clients. Whether you are supporting older adults physically by assisting them with their daily activities, or supporting them emotionally, each action helps our clients live independently at home.

This year, for Personal Support Worker Day, share your story with us by emailing Mary at man@circleofcare.com. Send us a photo of yourself wearing your Circle of Care uniform, and a written response (or video!) to the following question: “Over the last year, what has been your favourite moment of helping a client?”

Circle of Care is a member of NYTHP, and we are excited to highlight the May NYTHP wellness newsletter. This edition of the newsletter features webinars focused on mental health, dealing with workplace stress, and stretching.  Also featured are healthy recipes, activities for the summer, and a blog post on person centered care.

Join us for a virtual discussion on Dealing with Transitions and Managing Workplace Stress. This event is hosted by North York Toronto Health Partners (NYTHP), with special guest: Your Health Space organization from the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA).

This webinar will discuss strategies for dealing with transitions and managing workplace stress.

Date: Wednesday, May 17th
Time: 11:00am – 12:00pm

What are the qualifications to apply for the health benefits, like dental, massage etc.?

PSWs and Homemakers do not need to apply for health benefits. All union staff that completed 1,300 hours of work or more in the previous calendar year are automatically enrolled in the Group Benefits program. You cannot opt out of this program if you meet the eligibility requirements.  New employees (hired after January 1, 2022) will become eligible for the Health and Welfare Benefits if they complete 650 hours of work within their first six (6) months of employment.

Circle of Care itself does not run this benefits program – it is organized and run by the union, so if you have any questions, you will need to contact:

SEIU Benefits

416-635-6000

seiubenefittrust@globalben.com

I just completed CPR training and mask fit testing in school. Do I have to do it again?

CPR re-fresher training is required every 3 years, and mask fit testing is required every 2 years, so you would not have to do either of these again since you recently completed both. We would ask that you forward your mask fit size and CPR certification to HRDept@circleofcare.com so this information can be tracked and added to your employee file.

When can I withdraw my vacation pay amount?

Normally, vacation pay for PSWs and Homemakers is paid each year on September 1. If you would like to request your vacation pay to be paid out in advance, you can email payroll@circleofcare.com. They will then pay you whatever amount you have earned up to that point.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

We invite you to submit your questions or feedback below. Please note that it may take us longer to provide some answers, so if you’ve asked a question that hasn’t been answered yet, we will get back to you in the coming weeks.