A positive workplace culture does more than boost morale – it supports productivity, resilience and long-term organizational success. When employee well-being is overlooked, however, it can affect engagement, performance and overall workplace dynamics.
Leading organizations recognize that a proper work-life balance and strong workplace culture are crucial to both performance and long- term success.
But that alone is not enough. Organizations also need the right processes in place to help employees navigate a variety of challenges, whether they originated at work or in their personal lives.
Jodie Voth, manager of employee assistance services at Manitoba Blue Cross, says top-performing organizations understand that employees are emotional beings and need to be looked after holistically.
“If employers want the best from their employees, they need to ensure the workplace is supportive and psychologically safe. It’s not just about performance. It’s about how people are cared for when aspects of work and life do not go as planned,” she says. “For many years, people were expected to manage challenges on their own. We understand now that life events and workplace pressures have a real impact. The most effective employers acknowledge that and respond accordingly.”
The workplace well-being services offered by Manitoba Blue Cross are designed to equip leaders with practical tools to navigate a wide range of situations, and leader consultations often serve as a starting point for many organizations.
When an organization gets in touch with Manitoba Blue Cross, a specialist conducts an initial consultation to understand the full scope of needs and recommends the most suitable tools and services. A Manitoba Blue Cross benefits plan is not required to access these fee-for-service offerings and the initial consultation is provided at no cost.
“Leaders often reach out asking, ‘how do I approach this?’ We provide coaching and guidance in a way that’s sensitive and supportive, so they feel confident in how they respond,” she says.
Organizations may seek support for a variety of reasons, including changes in employee performance, increased workplace stress or challenging interactions in public-facing roles. In more serious cases, support may be needed following a critical or traumatic workplace incident.
“We’re often brought in to provide immediate support following an incident, and in many cases, we continue working with teams over time to support recovery and resilience,” Voth says.
For employees working in high stress or public-facing roles, repeated exposure to difficult situations can take a toll.
“In these cases, customized supports are often created, such as facilitated debriefings and targeted educational content, to help teams process their experiences and build coping strategies together,” she says.
Manitoba Blue Cross has provided a leading employee assistance program for nearly four decades and continues to evolve its services to meet the needs of today’s workplaces. It currently supports about 300 organizations across Manitoba, including some of the biggest companies in the province.
“We have heard from employer groups how beneficial it is to leverage these services,” she says. “There is strong interest in leadership development, particularly given the workforce shifts in recent years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Many organizations are focused on supporting new and emerging leaders and ensuring they have the tools they need to succeed,” she says.
Manitoba Blue Cross offers a range of services designed to support leaders of all levels, including leadership coaching, workshops and seminars and customizable group sessions. Within their comprehensive catalogue of workshops and seminars, compassionate leadership training builds leaders’ capacity to foster respectful, psychologically safe workplaces through compassionate communication and support leadership practices. This training aligns with Manitoba’s recent legislative recognition of psychological health and safety as an essential component of workplace safety.
“Every organization—and every employee—can benefit from the services we provide. That’s why these supports are available to all organizations in Manitoba, not just existing clients, helping to build a stronger workforce across the province,” Voth says.
Organizations can get started with a no cost initial consultation to explore the most effective and personalized options for their teams by visiting wellness.mb.bluecross.ca. They can also contact the Manitoba Blue Cross team directly at workplacewellbeing@mb.bluecross.ca or by calling 204-786-8880 or 1-800-590-5553.
