Newsletter #8

 

Applying for a promotion or a lateral move? Here are 5 tips for success.

  1. Preparation is key – customize your resume based on the position you’re applying for to emphasize relevant skills and experience.
  2. Be concise: aim for two pages plus a cover letter. ​
  3. Focus on what you can bring to the new role, including experience carried from your current one.
  4. Tell your manager about your intentions. That includes your temporary or home manager.
  5. If you doubt your qualifications – don’t. Apply!

Take care of your mind and get outside!

Spring is in the air – how refreshing! With another stay-at-home order recently implemented, we all know how difficult it can be sometimes to see past the four walls of our homes.  One of the best ways to stay productive is to ensure your mind gets a break regularly throughout the day, so why not take advantage of the longer days and better weather by incorporating daily routines such as walking, running, or even outdoor meditating.  Check out the CDC’s site to find other ways to cope with stress as we continue to live through the pandemic.

Employee Recognition

Wow! The response to the Spotlight Awards was phenomenal!  Thank you to all who submitted a nomination. While we wait for further information on the Spotlight Awards event in the coming weeks, it is still important to continue recognizing each other for the great work we all do.  The George Washington University suggests using the tactics below to make your day-to-day recognition that much more meaningful:

  • Be Personal – thank the person by name.
  • Be Specific – be specific about what action you are thankful for.
  • Why? – Explain how the behavior helped you or made you feel.

CAAT Retirement Planning Session

Did you miss the CAAT retirement planning session? Fear not! There is one more session available on May 18, so make sure to register today! The session is applicable to all members in DBprime and DBplus and will cover topics including:

  • How much money do I need for retirement?
  • How much pension will I get?
  • Is my pension secure?
  • What do I have to do to start my retirement?

Newsletter #7

Interview Tips

Want to ace your next interview? Try using the STAR framework when answering questions.​

Example:  Tell us about a time that you had to handle conflict within a team.

S –      Specific Situation – What happened?​

“My team of four had a deadline and one member had not contributed their share to complete the project.  This caused friction with the rest of the team.”

T-       ​Task – What were you trying to achieve?​

“The project was due in five days and we realized we would not get it done without his contribution.  Through conversation, I discovered that he was having some personal issues.”

A-       Action – What steps did you take?​

“I asked what I could do to help him make the deadline.  He asked for some other things to be taken off his plate temporarily.”

R-       Result – What was the outcome?​

“He was able to focus on his deliverables and the group was able to complete the project successfully and on time.”

 

San’yas Indigenous Cultural Safety

In our Strategic Plan 2019 – 2024, Fleming College has made a commitment to: Strengthen our relationship with Indigenous Peoples by helping to create opportunities in post-secondary education, and actively participating in the process of reconciliation by ensuring all students and staff gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of Indigenous peoples, their ways of knowing and histories.

To work towards a deeper understanding and appreciation of Indigenous people, Fleming College launched a training initiative in May 2019 for employees to participate in a large-scale, online, Indigenous Cultural Safety training program called San’yas. This is an 8-10 week online training program facilitated by the Southwest Ontario Aboriginal Health Access Centre. Information on the three different program offerings can be found here.

There are a few spots remaining in this offering. If you’re interested in participating, please speak with your manager for approval and have them email pd@flemingcollege.ca to reserve your seat before March 31, 2021.

Resiliency @ Fleming – Keynote Speaker – Dr. Robyne Hanley-Dafoe

Did you want to attend but couldn’t?

With stress, uncertainty, and unrest at a record high, Dr. Robyne Hanley-Dafoe’s message was both inspirational and practical. She introduced her “Five Pillars of Resiliency”, and shared strategies to help foster each pillar in ourselves and others based on research-informed best practices and real-world applications.

Robyne’s session generated an abundance of positive feedback from our colleagues and community, check out the recording of this session and more here.

It is never too late to make yourself priority!

 

Public Sector Salary Disclosure – the “Sunshine List”

Did you know that there were 27 bi-weekly pays in calendar 2020?  That means some employees who would not normally appear on the “Sunshine List” have been included this year because their T4 earnings from Box 14 less Box 40 (taxable benefits) exceeded $100,000.

In March of each year, as a provincially-funded organization, the College is required to report the earnings and taxable benefits of all employees who earned more than $100,000 in the calendar year. Only the name, job title, earnings and taxable benefits are included in the release.

Reminder: CAAT Pension Plan Webinars

Have you wondered how much money you’ll need for retirement? Or interested in learning more about the pension plans offered through the College’s of Applied Arts and Technology? You’re in luck, there are several webinars hosted by CAAT pension plan in the coming weeks. Check out the webinar offerings here.

Planning to Retire in June? 

The end of June tends to be a common retirement date for College employees.  CAAT advises that you should start the process 3 months in advance to ensure a smooth start to your pension.  Please access the links below for more information, and feel free to reach out to benefits@flemingcollege.ca with any questions or to initiate the process.

https://department.flemingcollege.ca/hr/benefitspension/retirement/

https://www.caatpension.ca/members/planning-your-retirement/im-ready-to-retire

Newsletter #6

T4’s

By now you might have seen your T4 on-line and noticed 4 new boxes in the bottom section.  Canadian Revenue Agency (CRA) announced that all Canadian employers must report certain employment payments on the 2020 T4 slip, “Statement of Remuneration Paid”, using new information codes that correlate to defined periods. According to the CRA, this additional information is intended to validate payments made to individuals under the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) and the Canada Emergency Student Benefit (CESB) programs, as well as payments made to employers under the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS).

The T4’s new information codes must be used to report employment income and retroactive payments to employees paid in the following time periods:

  • Code 57: Employment income – March 15 to May 9
  • Code 58: Employment income – May 10 to July 4
  • Code 59: Employment income – July 5 to August 29
  • Code 60: Employment income – August 30 to September 26

For more details review the CRA website New T4 Boxes 57- 60.

If you need a refresher on how to access your T4, please see below:

 

Did you hear…Award season is around the corner

Do you work with someone that excels in everything they do? How about a colleague or team that makes outstanding contributions to Fleming College by helping us move closer to our Strategic Goals? Or what about a co-worker that consistently displays one or more of Fleming’s five values? Do you know anyone who empowers our students in a unique way? If you answered yes to any of these questions, nominate this person for a Spotlight Award. The deadline for submissions is March 5, 2021 at 5pm.

LinkedIn Learning

Have you ever wanted to learn more about project management? Project management techniques and principles can be used by anyone to help achieve goals and make projects more successful. These are just some of the reasons your colleagues have found the Project Management Foundations course to be so beneficial.

Fun Fact: LinkedIn Learning has been reviewed and approved by the PMI® Authorized Training Partner Program. The above-mentioned course qualifies for professional development units (PDU’s), if you have your PMP certification.

Fleming College offers a great variety of courses and learning materials to meet the academic needs of all staff, faculty, and students. Since November 2020, our community has been busy, having participated in many hours of LinkedIn Learning activities. Also, remember you can use LinkedIn Learning to brush up on some fundamental skills. Among the most popular courses taken in the last few months are Learning OneDrive, Learning Excel Desktop (Office 365), and Microsoft Teams Essential Training. What LinkedIn Learning course have you taken recently? Tell us here.

Tips for separating work life and personal life

After close to twelve months of working from home (for most of us), you have probably heard your colleagues and friends say “What day is it? Is it “blurs’day”?” Do you need help re-establishing the work/life balance you once had? Separating our work and personal lives can be difficult for many of us. Want some  The Muse has some great advice on this topic and James Clear, author of  Atomic Habits provides some powerful ways of forming new habits.

Newsletter #5

Continue to make yourself a priority in 2021 

It’s 2021 – what do you want from this new year?  Why not take 21 minutes a day to do things that are good for your heart, health and soul, like … 

  • Read something educational, inspirational or intriguing 
  • Walk, and really notice your surroundings – there is a lot of beauty out there in the world 
  • Meditate – try free apps such as Insight Timer or Headspace 
  • Call a friend or family member – and really listen 
  • Colour – Colouring can be a good therapeutic way to unwind and relax (and feel free to colour outside the lines if it makes you happy!) 
  • Learn something new – check out Linkedin Learning 
  • Clean out a closet or cupboard and consider selling or donating what you no longer use 

Virtual Wall of Gratitude and Appreciation   

Remember to show your appreciation on the Virtual Wall of Gratitude & Appreciation, created by the Fleming Colleagues. Just like our Shout Out Board in the main lobby, the Colleagues have now made it as easy as a click of the finger to build each other up and bring us together. 

 Follow this link to add your appreciation or gratitude to a fellow Fleming employee!  

Sustainable Lifestyles Workshop- February 10th 

Have you considered the impact your actions have on the planet? Have you thought about living a more sustainable lifestyle? OEHR and the Office of Sustainability are pleased to offer a lunch n’ learn workshop run by Random Acts of Green on Sustainable Lifestyles.  

This workshop examines key areas in how to grow more sustainable habits and how to encourage individuals to shift their choices that meet basic needs that provide a better quality of life and minimize the use of natural resources and emissions.    

The overall objective of this workshop will be to discuss some ways to successfully influence collectively acceptable behaviours and shape, reconstruct, challenge, and change perceptions and associated social norms to discourage unsustainable behavior and introduce, as well as encourage, more sustainable lifestyles through various research-drive behaviour change methods. Click here to learn more and register for this event! 

  

Linkedin Learning  

Interested in taking advantage of Linkedin Learning but don’t know where to start? Overwhelmed by all the content? Linkedin Learning is hosting a webinar to show users how they categorize and organize their content, how to leverage the platform to develop hard and soft skills, and concluded by a question-and-answer period. Click here to register for the webinar.  

Newsletter #4

Welcome to 2021

While January is traditionally the time for new year’s “resolutions”, those tend to be “shoulds” with a sense of duty and heaviness attached – no surprise almost all of them are set aside by the end of the month.  Consider setting a context instead – whether for the year, or month by month.  What do you want from this year?  What will you contribute?  What principle will guide your actions?  It may be health/wellness, or family, or balance/equilibrium, or achievement … whatever it is for you, take a moment to define it.  How will you know you’re aligned?  You may find this is an exercise you think through and make an intention choice, or you may find it works well to sit quietly, meditate, or walk in nature and allow a word or phrase to bubble up from your subconscious.  We’d love to share ideas – let us know what came up for you for 2021 here.

Need some inspiration?  Here’s what the OEHR team is creating this year …

 

Human Rights and Inclusion Change

Please join us in wishing Shauna Elliott all the best as she takes on a new career opportunity – she will be missed!  Until we’re able to hire a new Human Rights & Inclusion Officer, please direct all Human Rights and Inclusion inquiries to humanrights@flemingcollege.ca.  This is a confidential email which will enable us to determine who can best support you.  Thank you for your patience!

2021 Payroll and Benefits Updates

Check out the HR webpage to see the 2021 updates to statutory deductions, income tax, T2200 and much more. Check it out here.

Staff Tuition Fees

Start the New Year off right by expanding your knowledge through Fleming’s Staff Tuition Fee program!  The College offers eligible employees the opportunity to participate in Ministry-funded courses at a nominal fee of $20.  Taking advantage of this learning opportunity can expand both your personal and professional development.  We encourage you to learn more about the program and find out if you’re eligible to participate.

PD Leaves

A friendly reminder that the deadline to submit applications for Professional Development Leaves is quickly approaching.  Professional Development Leaves provide an opportunity for individuals to refresh, develop and grow in different ways. They are a mechanism through which refreshed work experience can occur, increased academic credentials can be pursued, or professional qualification can be acquired/improved upon. All application forms, guidelines, and relevant information can be accessed through the HR website. Priority consideration will be given to applications that align with the College’s strategic direction.

Please see the All Staff communication that was sent on Monday, November 23rd for more information.  All applications must be submitted to Human Resources by your Dean or Director by no later than Friday, January 22nd, 2021.

San’yas Indigenous Cultural Safety

In our Strategic Plan 2019 – 2024, Fleming College has made a commitment to: Strengthen our relationship with Indigenous Peoples by helping to create opportunities in post-secondary education, and actively participating in the process of reconciliation by ensuring all students and staff gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of Indigenous peoples, their ways of knowing and histories.

To work towards a deeper understanding and appreciation of Indigenous people, Fleming College launched a training initiative in May 2019 for employees to participate in a large-scale, online, Indigenous Cultural Safety training program called San’yas. This is an 8-10 week online training program facilitated by the Southwest Ontario Aboriginal Health Access Centre.  Information on the three different program offerings can be found here.

There are a few spots remaining in this offering.  If you’re interested in participating, please speak with your manager for approval and have them email pd@flemingcollege.ca to reserve your seat!

We want to hear from you! Provide us feedback here.

Employee Newsletter #3

Human Rights Day – December 10th

Did you know that December 10 is Human Rights Day? It marks the anniversary of the adoption of the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights, which was signed in 1948, and lays out inalienable and universal rights for all persons.

This year more than ever has shone a light on some of the inequities and systemic discrimination experienced by people in our own communities, from health inequities due to race and class, to an increased understanding of the disproportionate ways in which Black peoples in our communities are excluded or targeted at a systemic level.

Let’s take a moment to reflect on what human rights mean to each of us and what role each of us has to play in ensuring that all members of our community have the same level of access, support, and resources.

For more information on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, watch this video.

Holiday Break

The holidays may look different for many of us this year – big family gatherings over video apps are just not the same (although it is easier to mute Uncle Fred when he gets a bit too over the top).  However, you plan to spend your holiday break, the OEHR team wishes you and yours the best of the season:  goodwill, good cheer, good times – and please stay safe!  Thinking about what to do over the extended break?  Here are some ideas to consider …

  • Feed your spirit – Learn something new, pick up a hobby, find a new appreciation for the arts, or virtually explore somewhere you have never been. Connect with family and friends – reach out to someone you haven’t spoken to in a while and catch up, or send the first ten people in your contacts a note or a text telling them how much they mean to you or what you most appreciate about them. (Lifting someone else up has a powerful positive effect on them and on you!)
  • Feed someone else’s spirit – Even with the current social distancing guidelines we can still give back in many ways within our communities. Drop off food or holiday gifts at your local food bank or fire station. Consider giving back throughout the year via payroll deductions- sign-up for the United Way Employee Campaign
  • Reflect – Try some mindfulness over the break; just a few minutes a day can impact your general wellbeing. Here is a mindfulness calendar that may be helpful.
  • Slow Down – It can be hard to unwind, even on leave, and often we’re tempted to keep busy even when we don’t need to be. This advice about slowing down may be useful.

Have you had a change in address, phone number, or emergency contact?

Don’t email OEHR and wait for us to make the changes – take advantage of self-service in Evolve!

  • Go to the MyCampus home at https://mycampus.flemingcollege.ca/group/portal/home
  • On the left side menu, click on Evolve Administrative Systems
  • Select the Navigator button in the top right hand corner ()
  • In the navigator, select My Self Service>Campus Personal Information>Addresses
  • Update your address using the edit button () and save
  • You can also update your phone number and emergency contact information the same way
  • We recommend you review this information on an annual basis to ensure it’s kept up to date

Visual learner?  Watch here.

 

Expenses associated with working from home are being addressed by the Canada Revenue Agency.  While details are still to come, employees working from home in 2020 due to COVID-19 will be able to claim up to $400 in related expenses without needing to track details and without a Form T2200 from their employer.  Stay tuned for more information as it becomes available.

Networking in a Virtual World

As with most things, networking has changed due to the global pandemic.  Asking yourself how you can stay connected or grow your professional network while working from home with limited opportunities to meet new people? Networking can help with collaborating, career advancement, support from a professional community, personal growth and, now more than ever, a feeling of being connected. LinkedIN Learning has great content on building and managing your professional network – check it out!

OEHR Newsletter #2

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 30th, 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.

OEHR Newsletter #1

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.