Database of Health Workforce Innovations

Redeployment opportunities allow Michener staff to exchange their typical full-time work for a weekday, weekend or evening shift as they adjust to a new work-life balance that includes managing childcare and
school closures, while also giving back to the community. Michener’s HR team has been temporarily redeployed to the available roles. Sarah Thackray is a Human Resources Coordinator at Michener and has taken on redeployment shifts at Toronto Western Hospital’s Respite Centre (each UHN site has a Respite Centre where hospital staff can go to rest and refresh). The Centre volunteers carefully practice physical distancing and help keep the Centre disinfected, while staff can drop in to talk with the volunteers about what they’re dealing with on the job, participate in a relaxing activity or even sit quietly with a cup of tea.