Title Change for Nik Van Egdom
Effective immediately, Nik Van Egdom’s title has been changed from Manger of Housekeeping and Laundry to Manager of Environmental Services.
Cyber Month week 3: The most social generation
Something all generations have in common is the desire to stay connected. When it comes to being online, however, there are a lot of threats like phishing that can make staying social difficult. Need help staying secure? Millennials can help – in fact, 82% of this generation is confident in knowing how to identify a phishing email or malicious link ! Here’s a glimpse of what we’re covering in week three to help you become part of Generation Cyber Safe.
Phishing
Phishing is a common tactic that cyber criminals use to steal personal and financial information. Phishing messages are unsolicited messages from cyber criminals who pretend to be someone they are not, like your bank. Cyber criminals have become increasingly sophisticated in their phishing campaigns, which is why it’s so important to learn the signs. This week, we’re discussing different ways you can spot phishing and how to be cautious online.
Social media
Social media platforms are a great way to stay in touch with family and connect with friends. But if you aren’t careful online, social media can also be an easy way for cyber criminals to learn more about you so they can steal your information. There are different ways to stay safe online, like spotting phishing, reviewing privacy settings and keeping your personal information private.
Social engineering
Social engineering is a form of phishing used by cyber criminals to steal sensitive information by manipulating victims. For example, a cyber criminal may contact you by email or over the phone using facts that you have made public (like posting where you work on social media) to make their request seem legitimate. This week, find out how to spot social engineering and how to protect your personal information from being exploited.
Identity theft and protecting your digital identity
Your digital identity is an online record of your personal information. It could include something as simple as your email address or social media account, or more sensitive information like your social insurance number (SIN), passwords and even your financial information. Explore ways to protect your digital identity like knowing how to spot phishing, keeping your information private, securing your accounts and more.
Artificial intelligence (AI) generated content
The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) generated content can make it more difficult to determine whether something you see online is real or fake. Even if you don’t believe what you see, disinformation can create doubt and cause confusion. There are tools that can help fact check disinformation like reverse image searching and tips on how to spot spoofing and other scams.
Conclusion
You can be part of Generation Cyber Safe by learning how to stay safe while connecting with others online! Learn more this week by getting familiar with the signs of phishing and social engineering, safe social media habits and learning how to spot AI-generated content.
Shake Out BC – Thurs October 17, 2024
On Thursday, October 17 at 10:17am, Menno Place will be participating in the annual Great British Columbia Shake Out.
This will be a 10 minute Code Orange Earthquake Drill.
A 2 min audio/video announcement will broadcast via the overhead PA system, desk speaker phones and live streamed on Ch59 (Home/Hospital Menno TV) and Ch10 (PG/TE/TW)
Instructions for Staff:
When you hear the Drill announcement (2min):
• Drop, Cover and Hold On where ever you are.
• Here’s a how-to video if there’s a desk or table nearby.
• Here’s a how-to video if there’s NO table or desk nearby.
After the drill (5min):
• Sign Attendance sheet at the nearest nurse station or with the Leadership Observers in your area.
Debrief
• Look around and think about what could fall or move in the event of an earthquake.
• What utilities/services could fail?
• What to do if you a caring for a resident?
• Are you prepared? Your family? More resources can be found at The Great British Columbia Shake Out
Instructions for Leadership Team:
Leadership Team will be assigned to various locations as Observers and document participation of staff. All documentation should be forwarded to David Janzen.
Resources:
For information about any of the Menno Place Code policies log into Surge Learning and search for “Code” in Courses Library.
Earthquake actions for Healthcare Providers and Patients
Earthquake actions for People with Disabilities
CORRECTION to APTS Staff 2025 Vacation Requests
To: All Apartments Staff
From: Staffing
Date: October 11, 2024
Re: CORRECTION to APTS Staff Vacation Requests
———
Menno Apartments staff received their vacation package on October 10th.
VACATION REQUESTS for Apartments staff do not need to be requested through the GoldCare portal yet as Apartments staff are in the process of being added to that system.
Please Note:
- Please return your completed package to the staffing office as soon as possible.
- Staffing requires 7 days’ notice for time off requests.
- Short notice time off requests (less than 7 days) must be approved by the department Manager. If approved by the Manager please forward to Staffing.
- ALL 2025 vacation must be taken by December 31, 2025
- 2025 vacation cannot be carried over and used in 2026.
- Part time staff please note that vacation hours are approximate. Final calculations will be done at the end of June 2025.
- Maximum number of staff off on vacation per day will vary depending on department and operational requirements.
- This is a good time to update personal information as well. Please ensure we have your most recent phone number and address on file.
APTS Staff: 2025 Vacation Requests to be submitted via Employee Portal
To: All Apartments Staff
From: Staffing
Date: October 10, 2024
Re: APTS Staff – 2025 Vacation Requests to be submitted via Employee Portal
———
Menno Apartments staff received their vacation package on October 10th. Starting October 10, 2024 – the Menno Apartments staffing office will not be making changes to your schedule unless it is submitted via Goldcare Portal. This includes vacation, LOA, sick pay, medical leave, OT and extra time requests. Any requests made on paper, email or via voicemail will NOT be approved, this may mean you will not get paid accordingly till it is submitted on the portal.
First Choice Vacation Requests:
- 1st choice Vacation Requests must be submitted by November 1, 2024 (ON GOLDCARE PORTAL).
Second & Subsequent Vacation Requests:
- 2nd and subsequent Vacation Requests must be submitted by December 1, 2024 (ON GOLDCARE PORTAL). This includes ALL remaining vacation hours.
- A maximum of (5) days may be left unscheduled, BUT must be booked by August 1, 2025 (if not, Staffing will assign, and no changes are to be made)
Please Note:
- Staffing requires 7 days notice for time off requests.
- Short notice time off requests (less than 7 days) must be approved by the department Manager. If approved by the Manager please forward to Staffing.
- ALL 2025 vacation must be taken by December 31, 2025
- 2025 vacation cannot be carried over and used in 2026.
- Part time staff please note that vacation hours are approximate. Final calculations will be done at the end of June 2025.
- Maximum number of staff off on vacation per day will vary depending on department and operational requirements.
- This is a good time to update personal information as well. Please ensure we have your most recent phone number and address on file.
Thanks, Brandi & Am
cc: Directors / Managers
Claire Colvin – Communications – Staff Prayer Oct 10
Shawna lead our prayer time with a devotional out of Nehemiah chapter 8 and we prayed for Claire Colvin and the Communications team.
Upcoming Improvements to Staff Scheduling
We are excited to announce that Menno Place will be implementing a new staff scheduling software system in early spring 2025. In alignment with our focus on wellness, the software will allow staff to report sick time sooner, fill open shifts faster, and reduce the need for units to work short.
The Pilot Project
There are many scheduling software options on the market so we will be running a three-month pilot project to see which solution works best for Menno Place staff in our healthcare environment. The teams involved in the pilot project are:
- Menno Home Housekeeping
- Menno Hospital Housekeeping
- Apartments Care Staff
Starting in mid-September these teams will test four different software options over weekday, weekend, and overnight shifts. The teams will provide feedback on ease of use, accuracy of reporting and other factors. A decision on which software we will use will occur in early December.
How will this affect the rest of the staff?
For now, nothing changes. Staff not directly involved in the pilot project will continue to follow all current scheduling procedure and protocols. There will be clear announcements and an onboarding process when the new system is put in place in 2025.
How Will This Affect the Staffing Team?
This new software will lighten the load for the existing staffing team allowing them to prioritize their time on filling the most critical shifts as needed and increased efficiency in other areas.
We want to thank the staffing team for all of the work that has gone into running the schedules using our current tools. We also want to extend our thanks to the care teams and nursing staff who have worked short in the past. We hope this new tool, once implemented, will make your work more manageable.
HCAs Attended the Hearts and Hands Conference
The Hearts and Hands Conference for healthcare assistants, presented by SafeCare BC, took place in Langley on Oct 2. The conference celebrates healthcare assistants while also providing education on navigating mental health, dealing with grief, and practical ways to support those living with dementia with their activities of daily living.
Speaking about the conference, Tonya Neufeld, HCA in Menno Hospital said, “The feedback was so positive. They all felt that they learned something and were truly appreciated.”
We’re delighted that a number of our Menno Place care aides were able to attend!
MEMO: 2025 Vacation Requests to be Submitted Via Employee Portal – HEU
To: All Regular HEU Members – Menno Hospital
From: Staffing
Date: October 1, 2024
Re: 2025 Vacation Requests to be submitted via Employee Portal
———
Starting October 1, 2024 – the Menno Hospital staffing office will not be making changes to your schedule unless it is submitted via Goldcare Portal. This includes vacation, LOA, sick pay, medical leave, OT and extra time requests. Any requests made on paper, email or via voicemail will NOT be approved, this may mean you will not get paid accordingly till it is submitted on the portal.
First Choice Vacation Requests:
- 1st choice Vacation Requests must be submitted by November 1, 2024 (ON GOLDCARE PORTAL).
Second & Subsequent Vacation Requests:
- 2nd and subsequent Vacation Requests must be submitted by December 1, 2024 (ON GOLDCARE PORTAL). This includes ALL remaining vacation hours.
- A maximum of (5) days may be left unscheduled, BUT must be booked by August 1, 2025 (if not, Staffing will assign, and no changes are to be made)
Please Note:
- Staffing requires 7 days notice for time off requests.
- Short notice time off requests (less than 7 days) must be approved by the department Manager. If approved by the Manager please forward to Staffing.
- ALL 2025 vacation must be taken by December 31, 2025
- 2025 vacation cannot be carried over and used in 2026.
- Part time staff please note that vacation hours are approximate. Final calculations will be done at the end of June 2025.
- Maximum number of staff off on vacation per day will vary depending on department and operational requirements.
- This is a good time to update personal information as well. Please ensure we have your most recent phone number and address on file.
Thanks, Brandi & Am
cc: Directors / Managers