The Guelph and District Human Resources Professionals Association (HRPA) has recognized the recipients of its fourth annual Employer of Distinction Awards.
The awards were handed out on Jan. 17 at the Delta Guelph Hotel.
In the large employee category, NGF Canada Inc., manufacturers of glass products for building, automotive and information electronics applications, took home the honours.
Hospice Wellington won in the small employer category.
“It feels like an incredible acknowledgement of our hard work and our governance,” said Rosslyn Bentley, executive director of Hospice Wellington.
“We’ve never received this kind of award and I am really thrilled because this award is for the whole team.”
Hospice Wellington has been operating for 31 years, offering free end-of-life care and bereavement services to local clients, including wellness programs in the community, emotional support to the families of their clients and a respite for those caring for ill patients at home.
With 22 staff in its community and residential programs, Bentley credits the support of the board of directors and volunteers in making the workplace a positive one.
“We’ve created an environment where employees are treated as equals,” Bentley said.
“They are engaged in the strategic and organizational direction of our planning. Reps from all groups participate in the feedback loop.”
Hospice Wellington opened a 10-bed residential hospice in June 2010, providing professional care and a tranquil environment for those who wish to die at home but do not have sufficient support there.
“In our business, we accept clients 24 hours a day, whenever there is availability, and our nurses are empowered to make the calls for the best care of our clients,” Bentley explained. “When we empower our employees … everyone is very client-centered.”
She also credits a flexible work environment, with “long gaps in shift patterns.”
This allows employees to have breaks and time for what she refers to as “positive self-care.”
“We practice holistic care for both our patients and our staff,” Bentley explained. “Because you can’t give great care unless you are feeling good yourself.”
Creating a positive atmosphere is important for both the employees and patients alike, not only because of the nature of hospice work, as a compassionate service, but also because Hospice Wellington, a not-for-profit organization, relies on funding support in large part from private and public donations.
Bentley explained approximately 60% of funding comes from the Wellington Waterloo Local Integrated Health Network and the United Way of Guelph Wellington. The remaining 40% must be raised by the hospice.
“If we didn’t offer really great service, we couldn’t rely on these donations,” Bentley said. “Our donations have gone up and we see it is a direct correlation, since we opened the residency.”
Melanie Hill, committee chair for the HRPA awards, said, “Hospice Wellington stood out in may ways, because they had clearly decided how they wanted their organization to run and they made it happen. It had a direct impact on how they deal with their staff, their patients and their volunteers.”
Hill added, “Their pride is what made us feel really good about having them involved in this process. We’re very proud of them. They really stood out across the board of all the years we’ve been doing this.”
For Bentley it’s just good business practice.
“Our patients appreciate the care we provide, and the staff can do that because they feel valued in the workplace and the care they provide,” she said.
Hospice Wellington is located at 795 Scottsdale Drive in Guelph. For more information contact 519-822-6660 or visit www.hospicewellington.org.
