MEMO: First Choice Vacation Requests
MEMO
To: All staff excluding MBS
Subject: First Choice Vacation Requests
Date: November 13, 2025
All first-choice vacation requests have now been reviewed in the GoldCare portal.
If a discrepancy was found in your request, you should have received an email from the Staffing department.
You can check the status of your first choice vacation request directly in the portal. Please do not contact the Staffing Office to confirm approval.
If you notice a discrepancy, please send an email to the Staffing Office and include your Manager in the email.
Thank you for your cooperation.
MEMO: New Mental Health Benefit for HEU Employees
MEMO
To: Menno Apartments – All Employees covered under HEU Communities Bargaining Agreement
Date: November 14, 2025
________
The Joint Community Benefits Trust (JCBT) provides your health and wellness benefits. This email contains important information about a change to your Health Benefits Plan. Please visit www.jcbt.ca to learn more about the JCBT and the ongoing benefit review that may impact you and your family.
The Trustees of the Joint Community Benefits Trust (JCBT), in partnership with the Community Bargaining Association (CBA), want to let you know about a new mental health and wellness benefit available under your Extended Health Benefits Plan.
This new benefit is part of a special joint pilot project co-sponsored by JCBT and CBA:
- Effective Date: November 15, 2025
- Annual Limit: A combined maximum of $1,000 per calendar year for eligible covered employees
- What’s Covered
- Registered Psychologist
- Online Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (iCBT) – this is an online-only benefit through specific PBC-approved providers. Learn more here: PBC’s Online Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
- Registered Clinical Counsellor
- Registered Social Worker
- Marriage and Family Therapist
- Reimbursement: Up to the Pacific Blue Cross (PBC) reasonable and customary limit per visit, subject to coinsurance
- Eligibility: This benefit is for Members only and does not cover Dependents
- Pilot Period: This enhancement will be re-evaluated after two (2) years
We encourage you to visit www.jcbt.ca to stay informed about upcoming initiatives and updates. For more information, please review the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) below.
Thank you,
The Trustees of the Joint Community Benefits Trust (JCBT)
Reminder: Report your influenza vaccine choice
All staff working in resident spaces are required to report their decision on whether or not to receive the flu shot by November 30, 2025.
Safety Blitz: What To Do If You Get Injured at Work
If you get hurt at work, act fast to protect yourself and others.
Here’s what to do:
- Notify your supervisor immediately.
They need to know what happened so they can support you and start the reporting process. - Report to First Aid.
Even if the injury seems minor, get checked out. It’s important for your health and for documentation. - Complete the Employee Incident Report in QRM.
This helps us track what happened and ensures proper follow-up. - Accept modified duties if you’re able.
Staying engaged at work while you recover helps your healing and keeps you connected. - Be part of the investigation.
Your input helps us understand what went wrong and how to prevent it in the future. - Support a culture of safety.
Every report and every conversation helps make our workplace safer for everyone.
Your safety matters. Speak up, take action, and help us build a safer care environment.
Safety Blitz: Why You Should Keep Your Sick Days
Your sick time is more than just time off, they are your “safety net”.
Think of your sick days like an insurance plan. If you get injured or seriously ill, you may need time off while waiting for approval from WorkSafeBC or your Long-Term Disability (LTD) provider. These approvals can take time, sometimes weeks or even months.
Here’s why saving your sick time matters:
- Delays happen. Claims can take time to process and are not guaranteed to be approved. During that waiting period, you might not receive income, unless you have sick days saved.
- Sick time bridges the gap. Having banked sick hours means you can still get paid while waiting for claim approvals.
- Peace of mind. Knowing you have a cushion, or a safety net lets you focus on recovery, not finances.
Protect yourself. Use your sick time wisely. Save it for when you really need it.
If you have questions about your sick time or how claims work, talk to your supervisor or P&C team members. We’re here to help.
Educational Seminars – Managing Stress & Achieving Balance
To: All Menno Place Staff
Subject: Educational Seminars – Managing Stress & Achieving Balance
Menno Place is pleased to share an opportunity for all staff to participate in upcoming online educational seminars offered by HEABC and LifeMark Health.
These seminars focus on promoting well-being, resilience, and healthy workplace practices — valuable for anyone seeking to enhance balance and coping strategies in both work and personal life.
Participation in these sessions is voluntary and is not employer-paid. Staff who wish to attend are encouraged to register. If you are working at the time of the seminars, please seek Manager approval.
Workshop 1: Managing Stress and Achieving Balance
Date: Thursday, November 20, 2025
Time: 11:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. OR 12:30 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.
Registration Deadline: November 18, 2025
🔗 Click here to learn more and register
Workshop 2: Achieving Balance or Understanding Depression
Date: Thursday, December 4, 2025
Time: 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. OR 12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Registration Deadline: December 2, 2025
🔗 Click here to learn more and register
These sessions are an excellent way to build practical skills for managing stress, improving self-awareness, and supporting overall mental health. Participation is encouraged and open to all interested staff.
Report your influenza vaccine choice by Nov 30, 2025
All staff working in resident spaces are required to report their decision on whether or not to receive the flu shot by November 30, 2025.
Nurses: Sign up for Mandatory interRAI Education
There are 10 dates to choose from. Each training session is a full day,
Submission of Second and Subsequent Vacation Choices
To: All Menno Home, Hospital and Apartments Staff
Date: November 02, 2025
Re: Submission of Second and Subsequent Vacation Choices
Menno Home, Hospital and Apartments staff,
The deadline for first choice vacation requests was November 01, 2025. Staffing will work on processing these requests. Keep an eye on your GoldCare portal for updates.
Up next are the second and subsequent vacation requests. These requests must be submitted by December 1, 2025, this includes ALL remaining vacation hours with the exception of 5 days.
Only a maximum of (5) days may be left unscheduled, BUT must be booked by August 1, 2026 (if not, Staffing will assign, and no changes will be made).
