My Healthy Workplace Charter

 

Charter Purpose

The present Charter defines the scope, goals and overall approach guiding the My Healthy Workplace Committee as it prepares and shepherds McGill in its pursuit of becoming a Silver-level certified Healthy Workplace according to the Excellence Canada Standards. This is in direct alignment with one of Principal Emerita Fortier’s top priorities: that McGill becomes more of a “Learning Organization”.

Goals

The Primary Goals in McGill’s Healthy Workplace Plan, core to the work of the MHW Committee are:

  • To provide leadership in making McGill University a “Healthy Workplace” by
    • Developing a Communication and Action Plan that informs about (supports) healthy workplace priorities
    • Recommending and creating MHW structures and mechanisms (i.e. suggesting activities and resources) that support an approach of continuous learning and improvement
    • Promoting and informing on an integrated approach to the Healthy Workplace across McGill University, its different faculties and units
    • Proposing and advising on spaces and physical structures that support a Healthy Workplace
    • Recruiting volunteers and connecting interested parties to work on this initiative
    • Ensuring effectiveness of actions through a set of indicators or measures to establish allowing for comparison with our peer organizations.

Target Group

Our target group includes all administrative and support staff on both campuses, and directly includes Ms, Cs, Ts. As reflected in the MHW Plan, the MHW Guiding Principles and the MHW committee composition, the Healthy Workplace initiative aims to harmonize with, and complement, related McGill initiatives beyond its scope (eg Rossy Hub for students, equity initiatives on campus, sexual violence policy and training, etc.) MHW thus enables the involvement of other members in key activities, and considers policies, procedures, structures and learning opportunities that can reach across the University.

Scope of Work

The MHW initiative is part of a larger continuous improvement effort, as McGill seeks to embrace the agility and innovation of a true learning organization. Healthy Workplace Assessments and plans give value to established programs, structures and offerings, and bridge identified gaps in the areas of both remedial and preventative healthy workplace efforts.

In the early stages efforts include ensuring:

  • Wider understanding by employees of the organization’s strategic approach to a healthy workplace.
  • Broader participation by employees in achieving the organization’s healthy workplace goals.
  • Evidence of strategic and operational plans.
  • Establishment of baseline indicators, measures and related goals for a healthy workplace.

Healthy Workplace® Objectives

Directed by our Guiding Principles, co-created with the working group and the McGill community, we will develop a framework that supports a culture for delivering organizational excellence at McGill in health, safety and wellness that supports our values of:

  • Compassion
  • Inclusivity
  • Community
  • Collaboration
  • Accountability
  • Sustainability

Our short-term goals are:

  • Wider understanding by employees of McGill’s strategic approach to a Healthy Workplace
  • Broader participation by employees in achieving McGill’s healthy workplace goals
  • Providing a five-year plan for MHW at McGill
  • Establish baseline indicators, measures and related goals for a healthy workplace

Our longer-term goal is to transition McGill University into an Employer of Choice in key areas of employee health and wellness and continuous learning.

Excellence Canada’s Healthy Workplace® Standard provides a strategic umbrella for continuous learning and improvement. It is structured in a progressive implementation model with four levels and is comprised of the following Drivers: Leadership, Planning, People Engagement, Process and Risk Management

Structure:

Our Executive Sponsor: Yves Beauchamp, Vice-Principal, Administration and Finance

Co-Sponsor: Diana Dutton, Associate Vice-Principal, Human Resources

The My Healthy Workplace Working Group (MHWWG)

Role of MHW Working Group

The My Healthy Workplace Working Group (MHWWG) is composed of a diverse cross-section of staff who are leading a culture change to adopt a healthier workplace at McGill University.

The working group is responsible for overseeing the healthy workplace activities at McGill, including enhanced programming and communications, to help improve employee wellness, satisfaction, and engagement.

Members are asked to:

  • Contribute their knowledge, experience and networks to help drive success and remove roadblocks to McGill becoming a “Healthy Workplace” in accordance with Excellence Canada Silver Standards.
  • Be an active member, bring ideas to the table on how to bridge the gaps identified in the April 2018 assessment;
  • Attend and participate in all related working group meetings;
  • Participate in assessment activities;
  • Serve as links to our Executive Sponsor, Professor Yves Beauchamp, VP Administration.

Core Membership:

Name

Role in the University

Pierre BARBARIE

Director, Campus Public Safety

Mandana BASSIRI

Manager, Office of the VP Admin & Finance

Susanne BAUMAN-MOROY

HR Advisor, Faculty of Engineering

Christopher CARSON

Associate Director, Campus Public Safety

Judy DEAR

Manager, HR & Operations, Faculty of Arts & President of MUNASA

Dina DIAB

MHW Recording Secretary, Human Resources Coordinator, Organizational Development, HR

Diana DUTTON

Associate Vice-Principal, Human Resources

Evelina ENE

Director of Operations, Student Services

Allison FLYNN

Director, Integrated Communications Integrated Communications
Vice-Principal (Communications and External Relations)

Joanne GRAHAM

Program Manager, Organizational Development, Excellence Canada Liaison

Johanne HOULE

Director of Organizational Development, HR & MHW Committee Chair

Suzana KAFADAR de RODRIGUEZ

Director, Administration, Dentistry

Lana KOBEICI

Sr. Admin Coordinator, Microbiology, Immunology, Medicine, member of MUNACA

Genevieve LEROUX

Senior Disability Management Advisor; Interim Director of Benefits

Janice McGRAW

Associate Director, Risk Management & Insurance

Francois MILLER

Executive Director, Office of Sustainability

Denis MONDOU

Associate Vice-Principal, Facilities Management and Ancillary Services

Angela MORSE

Organizational Development, Talent Management Advisor

Excellence Canada Liaison & Ambassador Network Lead

Mark ORDONSELLI

Director, Office of the Vice-Principal (Communications and External Relations)

Giovanna SANTULLO

Executive Director, Internal Audit (On leave)

Anna VRONTAKIS

Interim Executive Director, Internal Audit

Kally WALSH

Manager, Communications, Human Resources


Key resources will join the MHW working meetings as needed, including:

  • Ross McDonald, OD Advisor & Co-lead of My Sustainable Workplace
  • Jessica Scittarelli, OD Advisor & Co-lead of My Service-Oriented Workplace
  • Joan Vickers, Sr Organizational Development Advisor & Co-lead of My Engaged Workplace

Terms of Service

To ensure consistency in assessments and move the process forward, membership on the My Healthy Workplace Committee is effective until the Excellence Canada Assessment, scheduled for Fall 2021. Membership will be revised subsequent to lessons learned and the determination of next steps in the University’s continuous improvement journey.

In the event that a member can no longer serve during the said term, he/she/they is/are asked to appoint a suitable substitute and transfer information as needed.

Excellence Canada Timeframe includes:

DATE

STEPS

 

January 2018

 

 

Partnership with Excellence Canada and McGill established

 

April 2018

 

McGill’s initial self-assessment with Excellence Canada (EC) criteria

 

November - May 2019

 

Launch of 5 Learning Communities

 

April-May 2019

 

Learning Organization Survey with new Healthy Workplace Pillar

 

April 2019


McGill’s 2nd self-assessment to ensure readiness to apply

 

January 2020

Notice of Intention to Apply for Silver Certification with EC

 

April 24, 2020

McGill’s 3rd self–assessment to ensure readiness to apply

Time Commitment

Large group meetings will not exceed – on average – one-half day per month, with some tasks being addressed independently or in subgroups according to areas of specialization.

Members are encouraged to liaise with one of the 5 MHW Learning Communities or the Connectors’ Group to maximize shared learning and alignment. This could constitute the equivalent of an additional few hours per month.

Success Factors:

  • Leadership support, sponsorship and promotion of initiative from our sponsor Yves Beauchamp
  • A consistent approach on the process to meet the needs of our internal and external clients/audience
  • Cross-functional participation from faculties and Administrative units
  • Participation and proactive support from leaders i.e. The Principal, VP’s Deans, Chairs
  • Effective and timely communication
  • Employee/Team engagement and buy-in (including staff participation in awareness training, focus groups and organizational assessments)
  • Achievable milestones are established and met
  • Have fun while doing this! Celebrate success/milestones!

Risks:

  • Identified resources with conflicting demands - not available for hands-on work (not strictly advisory)
  • Not reaching parts of the organization (perception of inequities)
  • The perception that this is not a high-value initiative… Window dressing
  • Not effectively addressing ‘What’s in it For Me’ at all levels of the organization
  • Sustainability and follow-through of workplace health and safety policies and practices (levers, accountability)
  • Loss of momentum…staying the course

 

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