Nine months in … feeling exhausted?

If you missed the all staff email from Esther Zdolec, VP, OEHR, regarding taking care of ourselves, check it out here.

Race, Racism, and Human Rights … Call It Out

Undoubtably over the past few months many of you have noticed the unprecedented media coverage related to systemic discrimination and specifically the inequities faced by Black and Indigenous peoples within our communities.

These necessary conversations have started to spread within the post-secondary environment and a lot of good work is being undertaken to examine systemic inequities, including at Fleming. Some of you may be interested in these topics but aren’t sure exactly how to engage in the conversation. An important first step is taking responsibility for our own learning.

Everyone is encouraged to check out this 30-minute eCourse on race, racism, and human rights, titled Call It Out. The course offers a foundation for learning about race, racial discrimination and human rights protections under Ontario’s Human Rights Code. The course offers a historical overview of racism and racial discrimination, explains what “race,” “racism” and “racial discrimination” mean, and provides approaches to preventing and addressing racial discrimination.

 

Looking to Build New Skills or Professional Development?

Check out LinkedIn Learning – choose from a broad selection of high quality on-line training on a large array of topics, at no cost to you and available via single sign-on.

Want your group benefit claims reimbursed faster?

Submit your claim online!  Never submitted a benefit claim online? Want to know how to track a claim? Learn how here.

* New * Sun Life electronic beneficiary designation

As of November 30^th, employees enrolled with life insurance through the College will be able to view and update their beneficiary information using Sun Life’s Digital Beneficiary tool at www.mysunlife.ca.

It is important to review and ensure your life insurance beneficiaries are up-to-date.  If you haven’t already, please register on mysunlife.ca so that you can access your beneficiary information, submit claims online, and check your claims history.

Remember, you can access your plan Member ID by visiting the Fleming Portal, then My Self Service > Benefits > Sun Life Member ID.

Here is a link to a short 3 minute tutorial on using the digital beneficiary tool.

Finding it hard to get your point across in virtual meetings?

The communication tactics we once used in the face-to-face meetings don’t always translate into the virtual world. The Harvard Business Review provides guidance on how to elevate your presence in a virtual meeting. Some of this advice includes focusing on the camera and not your colleagues, maintaining a strong voice, being present and mindful, and turning off distractions.

Want to know how to rock a virtual interview?

As video interviews become the new normal in recruitment, we all need to adjust our interview preparation practices to put our best foot forward.  From preparing our space (lighting, privacy / lack of distractions, and so on) to preparing ourselves (professional attire, practicing “eye contact” on video, and so on), helpful tips can be here.

Have a comment or a question?  Let us know what you think here.

WELCOME! 

Welcome to the new OEHR newsletter!

This is the spot where you’ll find updates that affect or might be of interest to employees, links to resources, opportunities to weigh in on questions, and news on what’s coming up.  This is our first edition so consider it a test run, along with the next several issues, and send us your constructive feedback on what works, what you’d change (include adds and deletes), and what else would be of value.  All constructive suggestions will be considered and acknowledged.

Cheers,

Esther

 

OEHR Newsletter – November 2020

Ever Wonder … what unconscious biases lurk deep in your subconscious?  We all have them – we pick them up as children, or later in life, without even realizing we’ve got them.  And we use them as filters that we’re not aware of either.  Harvard University, along with other researchers in the field, have developed a series of free, open-access “Implicit Association Tests” or IATs.  They allow us to do a confidential self-assessment to find out what biases we might not even be aware of – and since awareness is the first step toward change, why not take a few minutes to satisfy your curiosity – you can access them here. Let us know what you think here! 

Calling All Health & Wellness Employees 

If you work in the health and wellness field at Fleming take advantage of San’yas, our Indigenous Cultural Safety program.  Now more than ever we need to respect and understand the unique history of the Indigenous populations we serve.   The limited number of seats that are available have been reserved primarily for those in the School of Health & Wellness.  Contact pd@flemingcollege.ca today to sign up.

Career Corner 

Career advisors often tell us to customize our resume for the specific role to which we’re applying.  That’s good advice.  In addition, however, all of us should have an up-to-date “master” resume – a version where we capture all of our accomplishments, new skills we acquire, additional credentials … a central place from which we can pull together a job-specific resume quickly and easily.  And, make sure you can add one or two key accomplishments each year to maintain your edge in a competitive job market! 

In the struggle or just need some extra support? 

Check this out, a free, on-line cognitive behavioural therapy program created by MindBeacon and Morneau Shepell. Change the thoughts, feelings, and behaviours that are getting in your way, including a special program to help you address anxiety symptoms related to the unique and changing pandemic circumstances.

@Home Ergonomics 

After seven months of working from home, we’ve either figured out how to set up our workspaces for efficiency and comfort or we’re dealing with some aches and pains from sub-optimal set-ups.  Check out our Fleming Health & Safety team’s Your Home Workspace Working from Home – Ergonomics page for quick tips, videos, stretching resources, and more.

Food for Thought

Looking for ways to recognize your team members/colleagues or others?  How to provide positive feedback without sounding awkward?  Ideas on how to celebrate wins, big and small?  Check out this resource from the Achievers Workforce Institute – 38 Employee Appreciation Quotes to Recognize Others

And last, but not least … what’s one thing you can do this week to move one step closer to your goals and what’s one thing you can do to support someone else in reaching their goals?

Care to share?  Contact us here.