We are delighted that Jodie will be speaking in Calgary this October as part of our Wellbeing at Work Summit Canada.
We caught up with her to find out how she’s feeling in the run up to the summit.
Hi Jodie, we are thrilled you will be speaking at our Wellbeing at Work Summit Canada in October. Our first and most important question is, how are you doing today?
Thank you for asking, I am wonderful. I am fulfilled both professionally and personally. Professionally, I have the privilege of working on an incredible team of like-minded people dedicated to improving the employee experience. Personally, I’m a proud mama of twin boys who remind me every day how to enjoy the simple things in life.
As a leader based in the region, what are the main challenges you are facing when it comes to employee wellbeing?
There is an increase in what employees need from their leaders to support their wellbeing, and at the same time, our front-line leaders are getting more burned out than ever because they can’t be everything to everyone. It’s difficult to live up to these many expectations.
What strategies have you seen developing over the past 6 months, both internally and externally, that are moving the dial on wellbeing in the workplace?
A couple of the things we are investing in are:
- Emphasis on reducing the administrative burden of our leaders; trying to meet leaders where they are at by bringing solutions to them instead of them having to find them on their own.
- Leadership development programs tailored to your experience; emerging, foundational and advanced. We have also rolled out a Leader Coaching program.
- Targeted education on supporting psychological safety, diversity and inclusion and respectful workplaces (conflict resolution).
Why is employee wellbeing so important to you personally?
I am passionate about improving the employee experience, and employee wellbeing is a big part of that. I am passionate because I want everyone to go home at the end of the day and still have something left in their tank for what fulfills them personally and brings them joy. That is what it’s about.
What are you most looking forward to about the Summit in October?
Sharing and learning with others.
Tell us, what is your vision for the future workplace, in terms of engagement, health and wellbeing?
We need to foster cultures of appreciation and recognition and create environments where employees feel heard, valued and connected to what is going on. We do this by supporting and developing our leaders, by listening to our workforce and by offering a variety of wellness supports and resources that reflect the needs of our teams.
What areas do you think employers should be focused on over the next 12 months?
Employers need to ensure that the employee experience (whatever level of employee they may be) is put at the centre of every decision/program/service to ensure we are truly adding and creating value. Systems are built to get the results they get, and taking an employee-centric approach will reduce barriers and make way for the changes that are needed and wanted.
How has your organization been leading the way?
We have implemented an in-house coaching service for our leaders to access professional coaching services for free and our goal is to eventually have every member of our organization experience coaching by making it part of our culture and accessible.
We have a Wellness Champion network with about 500 employees from across the province registered and committed to encouraging and promoting workplace wellness. It takes a village as they say!
We offer leadership development programs, change adoption programs, engagement & recognition services, 1:1 team effectiveness support for leaders, and so much more! We are committed to continuous listening through regular engagement and patient safety culture surveys, exit & transfer surveys and by leveraging various advisory committees representing different groups within health care.
I am proud to share that AHS is one of Canada’s Top Diversity Employer’s for six years in a row and one of Alberta’s Top Employer’s for seven years in a row.
Jodie will be speaking in Calgary at the Wellbeing at Work Summit Canada which takes place live and in-person in Toronto and Calgary with an additional day of virtual sessions too. Further details on the Summit can be found here.
