July 2024: Staff Survey, Rent Supplement Programs, HR Downloads Rebrand, Wage Increase, Extreme Temperature Safety, and Gross vs. Net Pay Explained
Posted on Jul 17, 2024
Staff Survey
This week, HHF will be sending out a survey for all staff to complete. You can fill it out online or pick up a paper copy in the breakrooms. The survey will be open for two weeks.
By completing the survey, you can enter a draw for a chance to win one of three $100 Walmart gift cards.
Your feedback is crucial for updates to our benefits program, staff engagement efforts, and our shared values. When you see the email containing the survey link or see the paper copies in your breakroom, please take 10 minutes to complete the survey and enter the draw.
Rent Supplement Programs
Did you know HHF offers rent supplement options to help offset the costs of rent for people who qualify? This option is available to anyone who resides in Strathcona County or Fort Saskatchewan.
Rent Assistance Benefit (RAB) provides long-term rental assistance, and the benefit is calculated based on your rent & annual household income. Recipients can stay on the program as long as they qualify. Eligible applicants are added to a priority-scored waitlist.
Temporary Rent Assistance Benefit (TRAB) is a short-term subsidy with the same eligibility criteria as RAB, with the additional rule that applicants must not be in receipt of social assistance and must have worked within the last 24 months or currently be working. The benefit is a set amount based on the number of bedrooms in the home and is paid for a maximum of 2 years. Eligible applicants are added to a first-come-first-serve waitlist.
To learn more about these programs and to see if you or someone you know may qualify, please visit https://www.heartlandhousing.ca/rent-assistance-programs
HR Download Re-Branding
HR Downloads has re-branded to Citation Canada.
“Atlas, the Citation Hub” will replace what was the HR Downloads platform (website).
This re-branding will be gradual, but moving forward you should now see notification emails from Citation Canada instead of the HR Download email, as well the login page will look different. Please continue to go to https://app.hrdownloads.com/login when logging in, using your current login information.
Click here to see what the new login screen will look like.
Wage Increase
During our staff meetings in June, we were pleased to announce a 5% increase for all staff members in appreciation for your dedication and kindness making a significant impact to the vibrant communities we serve and through the additional funding provided to lodge providers from the Government of Alberta. This increase took effect on June 28th, 2024 and will appear on your paycheque starting July 19, 2024.
Over the next few months, we’ll carefully evaluate our Compensation Philosophy and benefit offerings. Our goal is to ensure that we reward you appropriately for your contributions to the well-being of residents and our organization. Please ensure you answer the survey being released later this week to have your say in the work that we are doing.
Thank you for your dedication to our residents and Heartland Housing Foundation. Your hard work makes a difference every day.
Staying Safe in Extreme Temperatures
Did you know not everyone reacts to heat the same way? We can be affected or unaffected by extreme heat due to:
Personal Factors:
- Acclimation - Your body’s ability to effectively adjust/tolerate extremely hot temperatures
- Chronic skin disorders (eg. Rashes, dermatitis, and healed burns)
- Age – Individuals 40-65 years of age are generally less able to cope with heat
- Diet (eg. low sodium diet, deep fried foods, high amount of caffeine, limited water/fluid intake)
- Medical Conditions (eg. diabetes, hyperthyroidism, high blood pressure, respiratory issues)
- Medications (eg. amphetamines, antidepressants, barbiturates)
- Drug and Alcohol consumption
Environmental Factors:
- Air temperature and humidity
- Radiant heat from direct sunlight can magnify through glass
- Air circulation
- Physical exertion
- Clothing materials
Here are some ways to prevent heat stress and keep yourself cool this summer:
- Stay hydrated with clear, non-alcoholic fluids and ensure you are incorporating electrolytes and/or adequate salt intake in your diet during hot spells
- Apply a cooling pad or run cool water on your body’s ‘hot spots’ – wrists/back of neck/ankles
- Schedule outdoor activities or activities in hot places to the coolest time of day, morning or evening
- Keep window coverings closed on windows with direct sunlight and run fans to circulate air during hot days
Gross Pay vs. Net Pay?
Gross pay and net pay are very different, and unfortunately, these two terms can get easily confused or mixed up if a person doesn’t familiarize themselves with the difference.
What is gross pay? Gross pay is the amount of the employee's earned wages before deductions. Gross pay is the exact amount of their salary or hourly wage. If an employee makes $50,000 per year, then $50,000 is their gross pay.
Net pay is the amount that an employee takes home after taxes and deductions from their gross pay. This is the amount that is deposited into an employee’s chequing account. For example, net pay would be the amount received after taxes and deductions are taken from their gross pay of $50,000.
The first step in calculating net pay is determining the gross pay. Once you have that number, take out all the employee’s deductions from it, such as taxes and other contributions. Net pay is what is left of gross pay minus all the employee’s deductions. Employers pay their employees gross pay, but employees take home net pay.
There are two types of deductions: involuntary and voluntary. Involuntary deductions are mandatory deductions every employee has, such as taxes, Canadian Pension Plan and Employment Insurance. Voluntary deductions are deductions that an employee specifically asked to withhold, such as healthcare benefits and retirement contributions. Once these withholdings are properly withheld from an employee’s gross pay, the leftover amount is the net pay.