Message from the CEO - March 23, 2020
I hope you had a restful weekend. I’d like to recognize the outstanding amount of project work that was completed last week, thank you for your continued support. In follow-up to the message I sent on March 16th, I’m pleased to report that in spite of this evolving situation, we have been able to keep consistent with our initial plan, as communicated last week.
Today, I’m providing an update on the staffing plan that will extend beyond March 30th. The next phase of our plan, which will extend to April 9, will continue to see all currently scheduled Full-Time and Regular Part-Time One Team Members reporting to work. Part-Time and Casual staff will again be scheduled in where there is capacity to complete portions of the major annual shutdown projects that we have accelerated. We continue to ask for your flexibility with this project work, which may include moving employees between departments and locations so that we can successfully advance our projects in an appropriate manner while providing work for as many team members as possible.
Staff at a higher risk, including those who are elderly, pregnant, chronically ill, have compromised immune systems or pre-existing respiratory disease may request alternate arrangements to be redeployed. This will also be the case for those with young children who are impacted by the closure of schools and daycares.
I encourage you to reach out to your supervisors to discuss the process for handling these special circumstances. Full-Time and Regular Part-Time employees will be reporting to work as scheduled unless alternative arrangements have been made with supervisors regarding the special circumstances listed above.
Scheduled employees may choose to self-isolate and in doing so may apply any accrued leave time for these absences (i.e. earned time off, vacation, personal days). If you do not have accrued leave time, any requested time off will be without pay.
Upon request, HR will provide a Record of Employment to facilitate employment insurance applications. These requests should be sent directly to Lisa Major.
Information related to employment insurance can be found at the following link: https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/ei.html
This will be our path forward through to April 9. As the situation remains fluid, I will keep you updated of any changes to this plan. With regard to future phases of our plan, please anticipate that I will follow-up with you no later than the end of the day on Friday, April 3. Just a reminder that I will be setting aside 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. daily for team members who would like to chat with me in-person or over the phone about any questions or concerns. To arrange a time to chat, please contact Nichole James
During this past week a great deal of information has come forward resulting in some significant changes to our daily lives. I’ll take this moment to remind you of the mental health resources that are available to you and encourage you to reach out for support if needed.
Help is available 24/7 at 1-800-663-1142.
Also, please continue to check in with our ONE Team Updates webpage, which includes additional supports and resources: https://www.rrcwb.ca/one-team-updates.