VCH Pink Shirt and Bracelet Day is February 22! All staff are encouraged to wear their VCH pink shirt, or their own pink shirt, and bracelet to show your support for a respectful workplace.

This week, Employee Relations staff started distributing the pink bracelets to the 1400 staff who completed the online respect commitment form. If you completed the form, watch for your bright pink bracelet to arrive via interoffice mail this week. You can still get your complimentary bracelet if you complete the online form by noon Friday, Feb 17. Making a commitment is a powerful way to join together to help us create a psychologically healthy and respectful work environment that benefits us all – staff, patients and the public.

Pink Shirt Day celebrations

All staff are invited to drop by our pink tables where Employee Engagement staff will be distributing pink cupcakes and bracelets to staff who still need one. Let’s celebrate how far we have come together in taking a stand against bullying at VCH!

• Lions Gate Hospital: Feb. 22, 7 – 9 am (Beside cafeteria)
• VGH: Feb. 22, 7 – 9 am (JPP – main hallway across from Gift Shop)
• Richmond Hospital, Feb 22, 7 – 9 am (main lobby)

*Individual units may also organize their own Pink Shirt Day recognition events.

Help spread the word: printable promo posters

Dealing with bullying

We can all learn from one another when it comes to respect. Here are some of the most recent stories shared through the online form. Share your story to be entered into the pink gift basket prize draw.

A corporate services employee shared her experience on speaking up as a team, “While in a team meeting, I witnessed a staff member belittling another staff member.  What was comforting to me was that several staff member spoke out to the individual who was being disrespectful and to let that person know it was not acceptable.  It made me realize that it’s ok to call the culprit out and that I was not the only one feeling that it was inappropriate.  I will never hesitate to speak out if I witness or experience bullying again!”

A technician at VGH that was recently involved in a respectful workplace investigation shared his experience on the process, “A patient services manager was identified as exhibiting bullying behaviour on the unit with a number of people. There was a meeting with the unit manager, an HR representative, and some staff members to have the ‘difficult conversation.’ I was surprised to discover that my anger towards this person completely disappeared after this process and we were able to work together much more effectively. I felt that I could understand where she was coming from, and both of us behaved differently afterwards. The positive changes were lasting. It’s not easy, but this process really does work.”

If you need to address disrespectful behaviour directly, a Vancouver Acute employee reminds us that you may need to educate others on VCH’s Respectful Workplace expectations. “I referenced the Respectful Workplace Policy in a conversation with a co-worker during a heated moment and this resulted in her pausing to think and agree that there was a better way to express her thoughts,” she said.

Remember to share your photos from Pink Shirt Day with Employee Engagement for possible inclusion in VCH News: EmployeeEngagementInquiries@vch.ca

More information

More information about VCH’s No-bully support options is available on the Employee Relations page:
http://vch-connect/ee/emprelations/Pages/EmployeeRelations.aspx

Questions?

If you have any questions, please email Kathleen Daluz, HR Advisor Lead.