Many things are different now. Our conversations, our outlook, and our thoughts have been prefaced with phrases like “before COVID”, “since COVID” and “after COVID.”
In our organizations, many of our policies have changed too. We may have implemented new working from home guidelines and certainly new safety protocols. It is one thing to announce change and another to see it take hold. What makes some changes stick when others fail?
It is about communication. How often we communicate, who is doing the communication, the medium by which it is being communicated, and of course, the message itself.
Take safety for example. After your employees are oriented in their first few days on the job, how often is safety a topic for discussion? COVID has certainly given us an opportunity to keep it front and centre. What are your policies and plans “after COVID”?
Sue Buckley, MCE’s Business Development Officer for the 519 area, and I have been very fortunate to have engaged in many conversations on this topic with an organization called “MYSAFEWORK”. (mysafework.com) Rob and Jess are passionate about ensuring students, employers and employees alike understand the importance of safety in the workplace. With their guidance, we at MCE have developed a course to address this as well.
LEADING THROUGH THE LENS OF SAFETY is the final day of a 3-part series (see below) focused on the importance of open communication. Open communication is critical in the enhancement of union management relations, labour relations, and employer-employee relations. Starting with orientation through to retirement, this course discusses ways to keep the safety conversation alive throughout the lifecycle of the employee.
We commend and thank our colleagues at Mohawk College for keeping us safe yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Special thanks to Cathy O’Donnell, Director, Security Services.
P.S. LEADING THROUGH THE LENS OF SAFETY can be taken as a stand-alone course as well as part of the series.
