Safety Comes First — Supporting One Another During Current Flood Conditions

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Dear Team,

We are aware of the ongoing flooding in Abbotsford and the closure of Highway 1 and nearby routes. We understand this situation is creating real concern and disruption for many of you.

Your personal safety is our highest priority. No employee is expected to travel to or attend work if road conditions, closures, or other flood-related circumstances make travel unsafe or uncertain.

For those who are able and comfortable coming to work using alternate routes that are confirmed open and safe, your support helps us continue essential care for our residents during this challenging time. This decision is entirely voluntary and should only be made based on your own assessment of safety.

If you are unable to report to work due to unsafe travel conditions and road closures related to the flooding, please notify as soon as reasonably possible, following usual call-in procedures. These circumstances are understood to be beyond individual control.

Leadership teams are actively coordinating staffing and contingency plans to ensure resident care needs are met while respecting employee safety, rights, and collective agreements.

Thank you for your continued professionalism, compassion, and care for one another and for our residents.

Pooja Mishra,
Executive Director of Care

How to Contact Work for Evacuation Orders on Dec 11, 2025

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Your safety is important to us, and we know individuals have been impacted by the flooding.

If you are affected by the evacuation orders and you are unable to come into work,  please contact:

  • UNTIL 6 PM – Home Staffing Office 604-851-1345 (Including Hospital )
  • AFTER 6 PM – Please resume the normal process to report absenteeism

The City of Abbotsford has provided an interactive map showing the evacuation orders and alerts.

See: https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/2b4c162bc2f44a459c9be0321a63f520

Thank you and stay safe.

How to Access Your Pay Stub

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We’ve had some questions from staff so here’s a quick reminder on how to access your pay stub.

Pay Schedule: Employees are paid every other Friday. (Dates may shift slightly around statutory holidays.)

Delivery: Pay Notices are emailed at least 1 day before the deposit date and include a password protected PDF.

Password Format:

  • Default password = First & Last initials (uppercase) + day of birth (2 digits) + last two digits of birth year (no spaces).
    Example: Jordan Smith, born August 14, 1989 → JS1489.

Email Address: Please ensure your personal email address on file with People & Culture is current.

If You Don’t Receive Your Pay Notice:

  • Check your junk/spam folder first.
  • If still missing by Friday of your expected deposit, contact your manager for assistance.

BCNU: Union Dues & Benefits Transition

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MEMO

To: All BCNU Members – Menno Apartments and Menno Home

This memo is to keep you informed regarding the transition to BCNU.

Union Dues:

Union dues will be deducted starting on the following dates:

  • Menno Apartments: November 30, 2025
  • Menno Home: December 7, 2025

Benefits:

We are still waiting for updated benefits information from the carrier.

  • Health Benefits Trust (HBT) is the overall benefits provider.
  • Pacific Blue Cross administers the Extended Health and Dental benefits.
  • Canada Life administers Group Life, AD&D, and LTD benefits.

During this transition period, employees may need to pay out of pocket for eligible prescriptions and services.

Please remember to keep all receipts. You will be able to submit expenses for reimbursement once your coverage becomes fully active. You can download a copy of this memo as a PDF here: MEMO BCNU: Union Dues & Benefits Transition

Thank you

Safety is Everyone’s Business: The True Cost of WorkSafe Claims

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Every claim counts — prevention protects everyone.

When an injury happens, the impact goes beyond the individual. WorkSafeBC claims affect staffing levels, morale, and even funding that supports programs and care delivery.

Here’s what happens when we reduce claims:

  • We keep premiums lower, meaning more resources for staff wellness and equipment.
  • We maintain consistent care for residents and clients.
  • We protect our reputation as a safe, supportive employer.

Here’s what you can do:

  • Work safely every day, follow policies and use equipment correctly.
  • Support coworkers who return to modified duties.
  • Keep communication open,  ask for training if you’re unsure.
  • Be proactive: prevention is the best cost savings strategy.

Let’s make every shift count:  for ourselves, our residents, and our community.

 

MEMO: All BCNU Members – Menno Apartments & Menno Home – Key Changes

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To: All BCNU Members – Menno Apartments and Menno Home

 This memo provides nursing staff with key information regarding the upcoming transition to the British Columbia Nurses’ Union (BCNU).

 Implementation Dates

  • Menno Apartments: November 16, 2025
  • Menno Home: November 23, 2025

Key Changes

  1. Enhanced Disability Management Program (EDMP)
  • All regular full-time and part-time nurses must participate in the EDMP.
  • EDMP provides structured reviews and monitoring for employees off work due to illness or injury, supporting a smoother and earlier return to work.
  • TeksMed is the EDMP provider for Menno Place.
  • Refer to MOA – Enhanced Disability Management Program in the Collective Agreement.
  1. Resignations
  • Regular employees must provide 28 calendar days’ written notice of resignation; otherwise, a penalty may apply.
  • Refer to Article 15.
  1. Internal Job Postings
  • Vacancies nine (9) months or longer will be posted as temporary postings.
  • Internal postings will be posted on Tuesdays and remain open for 72 hours (reduced from 7 days).
  • Refer to Article 17.
  1. Increments
  • Casual employees: Advance one increment every 1,950 hours worked.
  • Regular employees: Advance on their anniversary date.
  • Refer to Article 12.
  1. Supplemental Employment Benefit (SEB) – Maternity Leave
  • Staff are entitled to SEB when taking maternity leave.
  • Refer to Article 38.
  1. WorkSafeBC (WCB) Claims
  • Employees with an accepted WorkSafeBC claim will remain on the employer’s payroll.
  • The employer continues to pay the employee, and WorkSafeBC reimburses the employer.
  • Refer to Article 42.
  1. Personal Leave Bank
  • Regular employees are entitled to two personal leave days per year.
  • For 2025 only, the allocation is as follows:
    • Nurses hired into a regular position before June 30, 2025: 2 days
    • Nurses hired into a regular position after June 30, 2025: 1 day
  • You must currently be in a regular position to receive this benefit.
  • Personal leave banks from 2025 may be carried into 2026, up to March 31st.
  • Refer to Article 43.
  1. Casual – Minimum Hours to Work
  • Casual Employees are required to work a minimum of 400 hours over a twelve (12) month period.
  • Refer to Article 11
  1. Status of Casual Employees in Temporary Positions
  • Casual employees in temporary positions will be considered regular employees for the duration of the assignment.
  • This includes eligibility for all benefits available to regular full-time or part-time staff.
  • Refer to Article 17

 Important Note

 This memo does not cite the full Collective Agreement and is intended as a summary of key points only. It is the employee’s responsibility to familiarize themselves with the full Collective Agreement. The complete document can be accessed here:
BCNU Collective Agreement – Nurses Bargaining Association

If you have any questions, you can reach out to your shop steward:

 Meg McCusker
Steward at Large, Fraser Valley Region

BC Nurses’ Union
P:  604 433 2268 | 1 800 663 9991

E:  megmccusker@bcnu.org

You can download the full text of this memo as a PDF here: The Culture Volume 2025.07

MEMO: Second Vacation Requests Reminder

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MEMO

To: All Menno Home, Hospital and Apartments Staff
Date: November 28, 2025
Re: Submission of Second and Subsequent Vacation Choices

Menno Home, Hospital and Apartments staff,

This is a friendly reminder that all second subsequent vacation 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).

If the Staffing Department does not receive your second and subsequent vacation requests, they will randomly assign vacation dates.

 

All BCNU Members – Menno Apartments and Menno Home

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To: All BCNU Members – Menno Apartments and Menno Home

This bulletin is to keep our nursing staff informed regarding the transition to the British Columbia Nurses’ Union (BCNU).

Menno Home and Terrace East at Menno Apartments were certified under BCNU as of April 08, 2025. A contract has been signed as of November 25, 2025, with the Union.

The effective dates of the implementation are:

Menno Apartments – November 16, 2025

Menno Home – November 23, 2025

As per the contract, all eligible nurses are to be transferred from the current benefits provider to the Health Benefit Trust (HBT) effective December 01, 2025.

Your benefits with Empire Life will be terminated effective November 30, 2025.

HBT is in the process of setting up your new benefits. During this transition period, employees may need to pay for eligible prescriptions and services out of pocket. Please keep all receipts—you will be able to submit them for reimbursement once your coverage is fully active.

Next Steps:

We will share further details, including the new carrier contact information and instructions for submitting claims as soon as the transition is complete.

Thank you

You can download a PDF of this bulletin here: HR Bulleting Vol 2025.06 – All BCNU Members – Menno Apartments and Menno Home

MEMO: ComVida Walk-In Support Nov 29, 30, Dec 1 & 3

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To: All Menno Home, Apartments and Hospital staff.
Date: November 28, 2025
Subject: ComVida Walk-In Support Available Nov 29, 30, Dec 1 & 3

This memo is to inform all staff of the upcoming ComVida Walk-In Support sessions available at both Staffing Offices located in Menno Hospital W1 by People and Culture. Staff may drop in during the times listed below for assistance with ComVida access.

Schedule:

Saturday, November 29, 2025
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Sunday, November 30, 2025
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Monday, December 1, 2025
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Wednesday, December 3, 2025
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM

If you cannot attend any of these sessions and have questions regarding ComVida access, please connect with your department manager.
________________________________________

All staff should have received their new ComVida username via email on November 26, 2025. The new usernames are to be used effective Friday November 28, 2025.

All call outs except after hour call outs will be done through ComVida.

If you did not receive your new username, please contact:

Jessy Manhas: jessy.manhas@mennoplace.ca
Or

Sourajita Panda: sourajita.panda@mennoplace.ca