YOUR WEEKLY EMPLOYEE NEWS UPDATE

NOVEMBER 29, 2023

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU - PLEASE JOIN US

For Direct/Non-Direct Care Staff

• Friday, Dec. 1
• 2 pm - 3 pm
• Location: Admin Conference Room

• Monday, Dec. 4
• 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm
• Location: Hogan Room

• Friday, Dec. 8
• 10 am - 11 am
• 2 pm - 3 pm
• Location: Admin. Conference Room

• Monday, Dec. 11
• 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm
• Location: Hogan Room

For Management/People Leaders

• Friday, Dec. 1
• 10:30 am - 11:30 am
• Location: Hogan Room

• Monday, Dec. 4
• 10 am - 11 am
• Location: Hogan Room

• Monday, Dec. 11
• 11 am - 12 pm
• Location: Hogan Room

• Friday, Dec 15
• 1 pm - 2 pm
• Location: TBD

• Tuesday, Dec. 19
• 7 am - 8 am
• Location: TBD

*Management/People Leaders: Please reference the Supervisor Bulletin for the SignUp Genius links for staff and management.

TIME IS ALMOST RUNNING OUT TO NOMINATE YOUR COWORKERS FOR THE 2023 ANNUAL EMPLOYEE SERVICE AWARD

Pictured clockwise: Lupe Olivo; Dante Hayes; Leslie Burgard; Kathleen Keating; Tracy Prather; they are last year's winners of our Annual Employee Service Award.

FLOATER GUIDELINES

Floating has become a daily practice across campus due to staff shortages. These shortages are not unique to Misericordia. Residential programs across the country are feeling the pressure to obtain and retain quality employees. While our human resources and recruitment teams continue to work on bringing in new employees, we look to our current employees to provide support to the residential areas. We cannot express enough thanks to our employees who regularly pick up extra and overtime shifts in our residential areas. Your support is instrumental in ensuring we are safely able to continue to provide quality care to our residents. This shows your commitment to all of the residents of Misericordia. Because we have areas both outside and inside of residential who are new to floating, we would like to share guidelines to keep in mind when being asked to float and when signing up for extra or overtime shifts across the residential area.

• When signing up for an extra or overtime shift in a specific area or home, there is a chance you may be floated to an area that is experiencing a greater need.
• Each residential area will maintain a float log so that there is fair practice in deciding who will be floated should the need arise.
• Refusal to float while working a regular shift, extra shift, or overtime shift will result in the employee being sent home. This refusal is subject to subsequent disciplinary action.
• The supervisor of the area and staff of the home or apartment will be expecting the float staff. They will ensure the float staff has the information they need to successfully care for the residents they have been assigned to and can answer any questions they may have as it relates to the care of the residents and structure of the shift.
• Cancellation of an extra or overtime shift less than 24 hours prior to the start shift is considered a call in and will be documented as an unexcused absence.
• It should be understood that the duties of an employee who has picked up an extra or overtime shift are the same as a regularly scheduled employee.

There are a number of variables factored into why you may be asked to float outside of your desired area or home. These variables include unexpected resident emergencies, call ins, terminations, transfers, or overall changes in levels of service. Our Directors and Supervisors work hard to share this information as soon as they can with all employees impacted, but they can only give as much notice as they receive. We understand that the need to float disrupts familiarity in routines and employees may feel unsure of themselves and/or uncomfortable in areas with residents whom they have not developed relationships. Our Supervisors, Directors, and AVPs will do their best to help you feel supported to care for our residents. As an additional support, Staff Development will provide retraining on lifts to any staff who believe they would benefit from it. If there is additional training you would like retraining on, please reach out to your Supervisor and Director so we can make that happen. Float Guides are also available in every residential area. These guides include information needed to provide care for our residents and can be used in conjunction with support from the area Supervisor and DSP’s of the home or apartment. Should further clarification be needed about guidelines surrounding floating, or you would like to share your experience about floating to another area, please reach out to your management team. Like our residents, our employees are at the center of all we do. The support we have seen provided to areas across campus that are struggling with staff shortages is immense and we thank you for showing up for our residents and your peers in the way you do. Your willingness to be an additional support across campus keeps our residents and employees safe and your efforts have not gone unnoticed.

EMPLOYEE TRANSIT BENEFIT

P&A Group is a national employee benefits provider specializing in the administration and implementation of benefit plans.

Effective January 1, 2024, Misericordia will now offer a transit benefit through the P&A Group. This benefit allows eligible employees (FT/PT) to save taxes on the money used to pay for transit expenses by using pre-tax dollars on eligible commuter costs. Staff who choose to enroll will receive a separate, prepaid card via mail to use to load funds onto their transit accounts. These funds can be used on public transportation systems within the jurisdiction of Pace, Metra, or Chicago Transit Authority. 

More information regarding this transit benefit, including how to enroll, will be shared in the coming weeks. 

RIDGE PARKING LOT CLOSURES

Tomorrow (Thursday), November 30, there will be no staff parking in the Ridge Lots (both North and South lots) from 9 am to 2:30 pm to facilitate parking for a large event taking place in the Jean Marie Ryan Center. Thank you and sorry for any inconvenience this may create.

FIT FOR SUCCESS: TIER 2 APPLICATIONS ARE NOW AVAILABLE

Look for the above flyer posted in your areas.

THE VIRTUAL TRAINING EXPO ENDS DECEMBER 6

Expo topics will include:

• Safety Procedures
• Mandated Reporter
• Nutrition
• Behavior
• Employee Resource Info
• Sexual Harassment Prevention
• Bystander Training
• and more!

COVID MANAGEMENT

Please be advised that we are experiencing an uptick of positive COVID cases on campus. While we’ve returned to a state of pre-pandemic operations, it is critical to stay current and thorough on our policies and practices in times of recurrence.

For your reference, click here for the policies for resident and staff exposure testing, and click here for COVID + protocols. Please review these policies and ensure all exposures and cases are managed accordingly.

If you are symptomatic it is your responsibility to remain home and pursue COVID testing. In the event of a high risk exposure, you should test at home on day 1, day 3 and day 5 post exposure. Source control will be utilized along with self-screening for symptoms of COVID-19. If asymptomatic, you will maintain your current work schedule.

Please practice vigilance, as an illness due to COVID will require work restriction for 5 days, and will require the use of PTO.

LAST CHANCE: PLACE YOUR ORDER FOR A HOLIDAY HAM

LET'S WORK TOGETHER TO SOLVE PROBLEMS

CELEBRATING MISERICORDIA'S WORK FAMILIES

Do you have the pleasure of working alongside a family member here at Misericordia? Campus Connection is excited to showcase these extraordinary bonds. Share the unique dynamics, teamwork, and dedication that set your family apart!

If you and your family member are interested in being part of this feature, please fill out this short survey here. Your experiences, insights, and cherished moments will inspire others within our organization. Share it with us today and become a part of this wonderful unique initiative.

MISERICORDIA COAT DRIVE

What to Donate: Clean, gently used winter coats and jackets, sweaters and sweatshirts, gloves (pairs pinned together), hats and scarves for adult and children sizes.

Where to Drop Off Your Donations: A semi-truck is located in the St. Henry Parking Lot adjacent to the northwest corner of Misericordia’s campus across from the Receiving Dock. Please enter off 2051 W Devon Avenue. (Click here for map.)

When Donations are Accepted: Daylight hours, seven days a week (for the time being).

GRATITUDE-GRAMS FOR THE MONTH OF GRATITUDE

Thank you to everyone who submitted Gratitude-grams this season. It is always so moving to see how much appreciation staff show for one another. Please read below to see the latest 'grams and click here to all of them from this month.