Member Interest Articles – ASPA (Administrative and Supervisory Personnel Association)

Benefits Reminder

It’s time to think about your “use it or lose it!” benefits!

With the end of the calendar year fast approaching, please don’t forget about the various benefits available to you that may be expiring soon. These include:

Your allotment for various medical claims through SunLife. These renew on January 1^st, and any unclaimed amounts cannot be carried over to the next calendar year. This includes paramedical benefits, like massage therapy, counselling, and chiropractor (note that vision care is a bit different, and renews on the second year following a claim). More info on your SunLife health plan.
Your Flexible Spending Program benefits (i.e., the Health Spending Account or Personal Spending Account). The annual amount ($900) carries forward for 1 calendar year, meaning if you have any ammounts left from 2022 you need to use them by December 31, 2023, and If unspent cannot be used towards eligible purchases (although you can still submit claims after January 1^st). The PSA amount can be used on a wide variety of expenses, including online music subscriptions, traditional medicines, transit passes, pet care, and even RRSP/TFSA contributions! More info on the Flexible Spending Program.
Your three (3) Personal/Family days. These are for emergent, personal or family situations, and do not roll over from one year to the next. See Section 20.9 in the ASPA Collective Agreement.

Remember also that your choice of allocation for the Flexible Spending Program needs to be made before the end of the year. This will allow you to select to place money either towards the Health Spending Account (HAS, non-taxable) or the Personal Spending Account (PSA, taxable). More info on allocating funds to your Flexible Spending account.

Saskatchewan Federation of Labour (SFL) Occupational Health and Safety Feedback Report

Written by Patrick Hauser

The 2023 Saskatchewan Federation of Labour Occupational Health and Safety Conference was held in Saskatoon, on September 13th to 15th. Twenty-three ASPA members attended the conference this year to take in sessions focusing on prevention of violence, psychologically safe workplaces, OHS committees, OHS legislation, among others. ASPA sent a short survey to these 23 members to gather their anonymous feedback on the conference to determine the value of attending, evaluate the learning opportunities provided to our members, and whether they would attend again in the future.

National Day of Truth and Reconciliation 2023

tānisi. hãn. ëdƚanet’e? taanishi. aniin[Cree. Dakota/Lakota/Nakota. Dene. Michif. Saulteaux]

We hope this message finds you well. The ASPA executive wishes to take a moment to express our support for the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, a day of immense significance for our country and its ongoing journey towards reconciliation with Indigenous peoples.

The establishment of this day of observance, is a crucial step towards acknowledging the painful history of Indigenous communities in Canada. It serves as a powerful reminder of the need for healing, understanding, and unity as we work together to create a more inclusive and just society.

Reconciliation is not a one-time event but a continuous process that requires our communities to engage in meaningful dialogue, education, and reflection. By dedicating a day to truth and reconciliation, we are committing to confronting the truths of our past and present, no matter how uncomfortable they may be. It is an opportunity to listen to the stories and experiences of Indigenous peoples, to learn from their rich cultures, and to take action in support of their rights and well-being.

As we observe this important day, let us remember the survivors of residential schools, their families, and all Indigenous communities who have been impacted by the legacy of colonialism. Let us also acknowledge the resilience and strength of Indigenous peoples in their pursuit of justice, healing, and equality.

We encourage everyone to take part in events, discussions, and educational initiatives on this day. By doing so, we can contribute to building a more inclusive and compassionate Canada defined by the principles of truth, reconciliation, and respect for Indigenous rights. Please participate in the activities organized by your college or unit including the Orange Shirt days. We encourage every ASPA member to wear orange shirts supporting the “Every Child Matters” message throughout the week leading up to Sept. 30th.

Let us come together to honor the past, learn from it, and commit to a better future for all Canadians. The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is an opportunity for us to unite in the spirit of healing and hope, and we wholeheartedly support its significance in our nation’s history.

Thank you for taking the time to read this message. We are proud that we stand together in support of truth and reconciliation.

Sincerely in solidarity,

Your ASPA Executive

Reconciliation is about taking action. We encourage our members to read a book, watch a film, attend a presentation, or attend a campus or local event.

Click here to learn more about Truth and Reconciliation.

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Not Just Another Day Off-Orange Shirt Day and the Legacy of Indian Residential Schools – YouTube

Sask Music Producer Hopes New Studio Will Help Indigenous Artists Flourish

Tyler Barrow
Multi-Skilled Journalist CTV News Saskatoon
Published June 6, 2022, 4:22pm

George Parker attached a studio to his home in Cando, Sask. to help provide opportunities for Indigenous artists.

The studio is fully-equipped to help artists, podcast producers and documentarians.

“It gives us a place to work under our own time constraints. The clock is not ticking for us,” said Parker, who has worked in the Indigenous music industry for 30 years.

Cooking Video – Fatteh (Chickpeas with Yogurt and Pita Bread)

Video courtesy of Rana Mustafa/Syrian Cuisine 2022

Please feel free to cook along with Rana as she creates this wonderful dish!

National Day of Mourning

Happy Earth Day 2022

Happy Earth Day from the USask Office of Sustainability!

The world has changed a great deal in the past two years and we’ve had to stay on our toes to make campus a more sustainable place despite the ever-changing circumstances. Sustainability still remains a complex realm stitching together all aspects of campus life to reduce our overall impacts and help transform the world for the better; however, with the shifting away from campus many of us have experienced due to COVID-19, being agile and taking advantage of opportunities to improve campus has never been more important.

How to Handle Criticism in the Workplace

Written by Karen E. Mosier

Personal and professional success depends on being able to receive criticism and deal with it in a calm way. Criticism in the workplace is unavoidable since we as humans are prone to make mistakes. The goal of constructive feedback is to improve your abilities and performance. Self reflection on your flaws or mistakes and acknowledgement of the areas needing improvement will help you handle criticisms at work.

Here are some key ways to handle criticism at work:

Practicing Self-Compassion at Work

Written by Karen E. Mosier

Everyone knows the feeling that comes with making a mistake or failing to meet others’ expectations. These feelings can be heightened when we do not meet our own expectations and judge ourselves too harshly. When failures occur, this relentless self monitoring, behavior correction, negative self-talk and self-criticism can be counterproductive. We need to make room for self-compassion if we want to move beyond our mistakes and toward future successes.

Here are some key ways to practice self-compassion at work:

How to Empower Others in the Workplace

Written by Karen E. Mosier

Employees seek autonomy to take action and make decisions within their organization. They want to feel valued and contribute in a meaningful way to the company goals. Empowering employees is a culture. There must be trust and understanding in place ensuring that their actions are in line with their organization’s mission and values.

Here are some key ways to empower employees: