Workplaces are changing. The global pandemic, emerging technologies, and social and economic trends are changing the way we live and work. These changes are having an impact on both employers and health care workers. In response, the Canadian Home Care Association has launched an initiative to share ideas on how to design, establish and maintain great workplaces where employees are valued, respected and nurtured.

Using a reflective methodology, we can better understand, apply and mobilize evidence and knowledge toward action. Our adaptive knowledge translation approach involves a process of continuous learning based on research evidence, storytelling, lived experiences and catalyst conversations. Join our national campaigns and explore new ways to support, empower, recognize and invest in your employees.

  • Discover evidence and facts that support action.
  • Learn from employers’ experiences.
  • Share your ideas in our catalyst conversations.

SUPPORTING WORKING CAREGIVERS

(2021/2022)

Evidence for Action

Over 6 million Canadians combine their paid work with some level of unpaid care. Employee caregivers make up 35% of the total Canadian workforce. Many caregivers must stop working, reduce their work hours or change jobs and accept a lower income to balance their work and care responsibilities. Health care workers are especially impacted as they take on both paid and unpaid caring. As an employer, you are impacted through loss of skilled workers, greater absenteeism and increase costs for your extended health benefit plans.

Experiences for Success

The global pandemic has reinforced the importance of providing supportive and inclusive workplaces. Working from home, taking on increased care responsibilities (both child care and elder care) and navigating shifting routines has posed new challenges for employers and their employees. Read about Canadians who are balancing work and care and how employer champions are creating flexible workplaces for their staff.

Opportunities for Change

The new Balancing Work and Care report aligns with the evidence gained through the multi-year research project “CIHR/SSHRC Healthy Productive Work Partnership Grant” and experiences of employers and employee caregivers across the country. This alignment is the foundation for the evidence-to-action abstracts provided in the report. Vision statements reflect the lived experiences and voices of employee caregivers and employers. In addition, the “knowledge accelerator” sections provide key learnings that inform potential opportunities for change. Using adaptive knowledge translation, we have identified four fundamental pillars that will accelerate the creation of caregiver-friendly workplaces across Canada.

ADOPTING TRANSFORMATIONAL TECHNOLOGY

FALL 2022

How is technology affecting today’s work environment?

What is the evidence for change?

Is online learning the new way to enhance employees’ competencies?

What culture, skills and processes facilitate the adoption of innovative technology?

What is the future of virtual home care?

How can technology impact the future home and community care workforce?

Join our national campaign to discover the answers to these questions and many more.

FOSTERING WORKFORCE RESILIENCY

(Planned for Spring of 2023)

Frequent restructuring of home and community care systems across the country, exacerbated by the unprecedented COVID-19 crisis, has resulted in numerous human resource challenges for employers. All home and community care providers are facing the challenges of staff burnout, employee turnover, organizational restructuring and job-retraining.

This campaign will share how employers can introduce educational content, training, tools and resources to:

  • increase their employees’ well-being
  • build a resilient workforce
  • improve workers’ job satisfaction and job performance
  • increase retention of skilled and qualified workers

Join the CHCA team and experts in the spring of 2023 to learn about evidence, experiences and opportunities to create a resilient and vital workforce.

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