Inside the Circle – October 28, 2025

We are happy to share that Circle of Care received Canada’s Healthy Workplace Month – Great Employer 2025 Award!

This award celebrates organizations that care about their staff’s health, safety, and happiness.

Circle of Care was measured in 4 areas:

• Physical Health
• Mental Health
• Social Health
• Community

Thank you to Ugochi Nwadioke for leading the submission and to all our staff for making Circle of Care a great place to work!

This is the last week to fill out the Global Workforce Survey. This survey gives you the chance to share your thoughts about your workplace. Your answers will help us understand what is going well and what we can make better.

The survey is anonymous (your name will not be shared). Thank you in advance for your participation!

Gardiner Expressway Closed from Spadina Ave to Highway 427

• When: Early November 2025 (Depending on Blue Jays World Series game schedule.)
• Traffic Changes: The Gardiner Expressway will be closed from Spadina Ave to Highway 427, and all six lanes will reopen by approximately 7 A.M. on Monday, November 3, in time for the morning rush hour.

Subway – Lines 1 and 2

• When: Throughout October
• TTC Changes: There may be early-weeknight closures (shuttle buses will run) and full weekend closures between Kipling and Islington stations (Line 2), St. George and Woodbine stations (Line 2), and Finch and Eglinton stations (Line 1 – Yonge/University).

King St and Dufferin St Intersection

• When: September 20, 2025 to Mid-November
• TTC/Traffic Changes: The King St and Dufferin St intersection will be closed to vehicles and transit for TTC track replacement work.

Westbound On-ramp Closed from Park Lawn Rd to the Gardiner Expressway

• When: November 2025 – April 2026
• Traffic Changes: The westbound on-ramp from Park Lawn Road to the Gardiner Expressway will be fully closed from November 2025 through April 2026 for bridge replacement work over Mimico Creek.

For more information about other road closures, tap here.

As people get older, it is normal for their vision, hearing, smell, touch, and thinking to change. But these changes can make it easier for a person to get hurt. 

You have a very important role to play in keeping clients safe at home. Use the ALC Checklist on your phone to identify noticeable changes in your client.

For more information, tap here.

Just a reminder that you must report any injuries, accidents, or hazards at work. If you get hurt while at work, tell the Call Centre, your Service Coordinator, or your CSS.

For more information, read over the Incident, Hazard Reporting, and Investigation Policy.

If you have any questions, please email HRDept@circleofcare.com.

Appointments must be booked through Circle of Care Training Hub or by calling 905-272-9214 or by texting 647‑496‑5189 with the following details (full name, email address, training location, and preferred session time).

Important Reminders:

• Please arrive 15 minutes before your training session starts.
• After booking, speak with your Service Coordinator if you need help rescheduling or have client conflicts. Try to choose a time when you have no client visits.
• Your schedule will be marked as unavailable during training. No need to sign in via phone.
• You’ll be paid 4 hours for CPR training and 1 hour for mask fit. This will be added to your schedule 1–2 weeks after the session and listed as ‘Miscellaneous’ on your paystub.
• All bookings and cancellations must be done through the online portal. You’ll receive confirmation and reminders via email/text.

Everyone 6 months and older should get a flu vaccine every year. It is best to get it in September or October (before flu season starts).

Flu vaccines are free in Ontario. You can get one at a doctor’s office, clinic, pharmacy, or public health unit.

Tap here to find locations that offer a flu vaccine. 

As days get shorter and darker, it’s harder for drivers to see people walking. Wearing bright or reflective (shines back light) clothes helps others see you, especially in the early morning or evening.

Tips to Make Sure Drivers See You in the Dark:

• Put lights or reflective tape on your backpack or jacket.
• If there is no sidewalk, walk facing the traffic so you can see cars coming.

Even small actions can help you be seen. Stay visible, stay safe!

Knowing the signs of these common diseases helps keep you and your clients safe.

• Mumps: Spreads through saliva or droplets. Causes swollen cheeks, fever, headache, and tiredness.
• Tetanus: Enters through cuts. Affects nerves and muscles. Adults need a booster shot every 10 years.
• Diphtheria: A throat infection that can cause sore throat, hoarse voice, and trouble breathing.
• Measles: Very contagious. Spreads through the air. Causes fever, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes. Risk is higher if not vaccinated.
• Hepatitis A & B: Infections of the liver. Can cause tiredness, nausea, stomach pain, yellow skin or eyes, and dark urine.

If you or someone in your family has these symptoms, stay home and call your doctor.

Learn simple ways to lower your taxes before the end of the year.

• When: November 12, 2025 (12:00 PM – 1:00 PM)
• Where: Online

Check out our Skechers discount through Perkopolis and save 30% on men’s and women’s shoes year-round! Use the promo code SKXDPERKOP30 when shopping online at www.skechers.ca or mention the code G8S in-store. 

Tap here for instructions on how to register for Perkopolis. 

People with dementia may act upset, angry, restless, or repeat actions. These are called responsive behaviours. They are a way to show needs, feelings, or discomfort when they cannot use their words.

This video helps explain these responsive behaviours and gives tips on how to safely deal with them. 

Does your body have aches and pains after a long day? Download the Free PainPoint app, where you can learn ways to reduce and prevent body pain. 

DEI = Diversity, Equity, Inclusion

Diversity – Different kinds of people (race, gender, age, etc.)
Equity – Fairness – giving people what they need to do well.
Inclusion – Making everyone feel welcome and valued.

To learn about DEI, you can read books, listen to podcasts, and find other resources here. We also have free DEI online learning courses in Dayforce!

Using respectful words that include everyone is a great way to show you want to make a space feel welcoming and safe for all people.

Tips for Talking and Writing:

• Avoid guessing if someone uses titles like “Mr.” or “Ms.” This tip sheet will help explain more.
• Learn the difference between gender-specific pronouns (like he or she) and gender-neutral pronouns (like they). To learn more, use this tip sheet.

We are pleased to welcome the following PSWs to Circle of Care:

• Mythreyi Melepurath
• Christine Platford
• Najma Abdi
• Ngawang Youtso
• Ayodele Adeyemo
• Princess Ogbeide
• Annette Danso
• Anne Ojieabu
• Kathy Briton
• Aminata Conteh
• Sahakuntala Kavita Ramsaroop

High Five for PSW Irene Gitau

I am very pleased with Irene’s performance. She is very responsible and considerate, and she even goes out of her way to assist me.

High Five for PSW Samantha St. Louis

Samantha is very kind and often goes above and beyond. I have peace of mind when she is with my loved one because I know they will be cared for the way I would care for them myself.

High Five for PSW Kabita Kanojiya

I am very satisfied with the care Kabita has provided.

High Five for PSW Pramila Basnet

Pramila is excellent and caring.

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

The 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.

Please note: We do not accept anonymous submissions for this program. High Fives must be submitted by an individual person, whether they are a staff member or member of the community.

Why don’t you advocate for PSW car stickers that we could park with, so enforcers wouldn’t give us tickets. There are disability car stickers, we could have something that says “PSW on Duty.”

Thank you for reaching out and for your idea. We do have parking signs available to be placed on your car dashboard, which can be requested at the office when you pick up your supplies. These are intended to help identify that you are a PSW on duty while you are attending client visits, in hopes that parking enforcement officers will take this into consideration. Please note that the sign does not guarantee that you will avoid receiving a parking ticket, as each enforcement officer may respond differently. You are still expected to follow all traffic and parking regulations while on duty. If you do receive a ticket while attending a client visit, HR can provide you with a letter confirming that you were on duty at the time. This letter may assist you in disputing the ticket, though final discretion remains with the enforcement authority. If you are experiencing any specific challenges related to parking or access while attending client visits, please let your CSS know and they can look into possible solutions.

How many hours do I get paid for a float day?

Full-Time employees are entitled to up to a maximum of 7 hours paid time off for their float day and part-time employees are entitled to up to a maximum of 3.5 hours paid time off for their float day.

How many hours of paid time off you will receive depends on how many hours you are scheduled on the day you take the float day. So for example if you are scheduled for 5 hours that day, you would get paid the maximum of 3.5 hours for your float. If you are scheduled for 2 hours that day, then you would get paid for the 2 hours for your float.

Why are new hires telling other PSWs how much they receive for vacation pay?

While we can’t control personal conversations between employees, we want to take this opportunity to remind everyone that pay and compensation details are considered confidential and should not be shared with others. The vacation pay entitlements can vary depending on different factors, so comparisons are not always accurate or helpful. HR is always available to clarify individual vacation pay entitlements directly. You can email us at HRDept@circleofcare.com.

Lots of PSWs complain about not having enough hours but you’re not doing anything about it. Stop suggesting calling the coordinator or CSS they don’t care at all to fix the issues! How can I pay my car insurance if I’m only getting 2-5 hours of client visits a day?

We would be happy to review your availability and see if there are clients we can align into your schedule. When clients have specific preferences, we honour those requests and try to schedule staff that best meets their needs. There are many factors that contribute to the distribution of hours and we encourage you to share your specific concerns by calling your coordinator and supervisor directly.

This isn’t a question but it’s a request, this goes to the fellow PSW workers who have served for a long period: stop making us look stupid in front of clients. One day I was at a client’s place and I had another PSW calling this client and telling her that she was back from vacation, and it looked like she might not be able to come back to serve this client. The PSW advised the client to call the office and ask for her. Suddenly the client’s mood started changing, and she started comparing me to the other worker. This isn’t professional.

Thank you for bringing this concern forward.  We understand your frustration regarding the other PSW contacting the client directly to inform them of their return from vacation.  As a reminder, all scheduling-related communications should go through the office to ensure consistency and fairness for all staff and clients.  Please inform your CSS of this matter so they can address this issue directly with the other PSW and remind them of the proper communication process. We also understand that the client’s reaction and comparison may have been upsetting.  Please know that client preferences can shift for a variety of reasons, and we do our best to manage schedules in a way that maintains a positive client relationship while ensuring fairness to all PSWs. If you would like to discuss this matter further, please email us at HRDept@circleofcare.com.

You are constantly saying to ask our Service Coordinator or CSS for hours and when we do it’s the same response: no hours. And yet new hires are getting so many hours that they have to refuse some visits. After working full time with Circle of Care, I was put to part-time because I didn’t get enough hours. This is so unfair. Every worker should get treated the same way.

We understand your concern and appreciate you bringing this to our attention. We’d be happy to review your availability to see if there are clients we can align with your schedule. While we always strive to distribute hours as fairly as possible, there are many factors that affect scheduling — including client needs, location, and specific preferences.

In some cases, new staff may be matched with clients whose needs or schedules align with their availability. We encourage you to reach out to your Service Coordinator or Supervisor directly to discuss your individual situation so we can look into potential opportunities for additional hours.

I have worked with Circle of Care for 21 years. My name is not on the list of the people highlighted for Years of Service. Why after all my sacrifice for this company are you guys refusing to recognize me? This is not nice. I am very disappointed.

Thank you for reaching out and for your incredible 21 years of service with Circle of Care. We truly appreciate your dedication and the many contributions you’ve made over the years.

This year, we highlighted employees who reached milestone anniversaries in five-year increments (5, 10, 15, 20, 25, etc.). Because 21 isn’t one of those milestone years, your name wasn’t included in this year’s list. That said, we absolutely recognize and value your long-standing commitment to Circle of Care, and we’ll look forward to celebrating your 25-year milestone with you in the future.

Thank you again for all that you do for our clients and community.

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.