No images? Click here COVID-19 Update #23Update on our redeployment process The redeployment of staff to support our essential services is in full swing. I’d like to take a moment to provide a brief update on progress made so far, as well as next steps. To date, over 200 staff have taken on temporary assignments, and are now fulfilling critical responsibilities that COVID-19 has created in our long-term care homes, EMS locations, Public Health and elsewhere. Making sure our staff feel safe and supported While most of these redeployments have stayed within the same department, we are now redeploying more and more staff, both union and non-union, outside their home department. For these employees, we understand this can cause feelings of anxiety, uncertainty about performing other work at an unfamiliar location, and concern about the safety of your assignment, as well as your ability to work outside of your areas of expertise. Throughout this process, we continue to take every reasonable precaution to make sure staff are safe in our workplaces. In each redeployment case, Human Resources works with the host leadership team to ensure employees are safe, prepared and well-supported in their role. All staff are fully briefed on their new assignment and receive orientation and training necessary to fulfill their role safely and effectively. It’s also important to point out that redeployment roles primarily support the work of existing staff – you will not be tasked with responsibilities that are beyond your ability. Redeployment fills a desperate need We must recognize the gravity of the current situation. COVID-19 has created a desperate need to immediately fill new positions across our essential operations. Some of our most pressing needs include support in meal preparation, cleaning and other tasks in long-term care homes, sanitization support at EMS bases, and screening employees and visitors at a number of Regional facilities. Many employees have already taken to their new roles energetically and enthusiastically, and have brought creative solutions to many of the unique workplace challenges caused by this situation. As a brief example, I learned recently of one of our sign shop employees who has been redeployed to work as a screener in one of our long-term care homes. Seeing an opportunity to use his own unique skill set to improve our procedures, this employee is working with his colleagues in the sign shop to prototype and manufacture Plexiglas shields that will further protect screeners at all of our long-term care homes. Stepping up to care for our most vulnerable residents It is also important to remind ourselves that we are all public servants; we have an obligation to care for our most vulnerable residents and protect the health and safety of our community. Redeployment assignments are not merely a request, or an offer; they are necessary tasks that must be filled. While every effort will be made to ensure employees are comfortable and supported in their assignment, those who refuse their redeployment assignment will be directed to take an unpaid leave of absence. To all our employees who have risen to the task, and are helping to maintain our critical services: thank you – you are an inspiration to us all. Our ability to come together as an organization to support the needs of our most vulnerable residents is a testament to the enthusiasm, resiliency and community spirit of all our staff. Ron Tripp, P.Eng. |