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Our Team
In 2008, we continued to focus on attracting and retaining the best people to UHN, and providing them an environment in which to thrive. A number of diverse programs reflect our commitment to the professional growth, well-being and safety of our staff. For the sixth consecutive year, we were named as one of Canada’s Top 100 Employers, affirming our success in these areas and the need to continue to both maintain and grow as an employer of choice.
Creating a culture of recognition
This year, we moved forward in our efforts to create a vibrant culture of recognition, largely driven by our Employee Opinion Survey (EOS) results, where staff have identified a need for improvement in demonstrating recognition of staff. We were proud to launch our new Recognition program, You Make a Difference!, which gives staff a number of creative ways to recognize their colleagues when their work and actions align with UHN’s key values. The programs include an online recognition card, a virtual wall profiling staff and plans to introduce an annual lunch with our President and CEO, Dr. Robert Bell, for those staff who have been recognized by their colleagues. The program is in addition to existing recognition programs across the organization, and is unique in that it encourages both managers and peers to get involved in recognizing each other’s efforts on a daily basis.
We’ve also just completed our 2009 EOS, where 89 percent of our staff told us that UHN is a great place to work.
Employee health, safety and well-being
Our Oasis Wellness Centre, now in its second year, continues to create innovative lifestyle and wellness programming. Over 100 programs and series were offered to UHN staff across all three sites, including healthy eating challenges, cooking demonstrations, a stress management series and naturopathic and natural living seminars. The Centre also launched the Nurses’ Toolbox, a combination of physical and stress reduction exercises, such as yoga and relaxation, tailored to clinical nursing staff and designed to fit around nursing schedules. Feedback from participants has been overwhelmingly positive.
Our Occupational Health & Safety Department continues to set the bar by reducing time lost as a result of workplace accidents. The department redesigned our Modified Work Program, ensuring a safe and early return to work for our staff, while also reducing costs relating to short-term disability and the Workplace Safety & Insurance Board. We also undertook an organization-wide musculoskeletal risk assessment in injury prevention. Over the next year, we will roll out changes based on the findings.
Workplace diversity
For the second year, we have been named one of Canada’s Top Diversity Employers. Our efforts to build an inclusive, respectful environment—through programs such as our Code of Workplace Ethics—continue to be recognized and are a source of pride to employees as we keep building a multicultural workplace.
Strengthening our leadership
The Supervisory Skills Development Program continued to grow this year, with our first cohort completing their training in February. The program promotes a collaborative approach to managing in a unionized environment, and includes coaching support and practice to actively engage participants in transferring their new learning into the workplace. With the support of participants' managers, through on-the-job coaching, we ensure a return on investment in leadership skills for UHN, our staff and, ultimately, our patients.
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