CEO Update - March 2022

Community Social Services Awareness Month

March is now recognized province-wide as Community Social Services Awareness month. As we emerge from what has likely been two of the most challenging years of our professional careers, I’d like to applaud all employers for their resilience and adaptability, as well as staff for their bravery and commitment in continuing to serve vulnerable British Columbians in the midst of a global pandemic. As we slowly move to increase in-person interactions, I hope you will consider submitting a nomination for this year’s Community Social Services Awards of Excellence to recognize outstanding individuals working in the sector.

Community Social Services Awards of Excellence

After a two-year pause in large gatherings, CSSEA is excited to once again present the Awards of Excellence, sponsored by TELUS, as an in-person event. Many of you have no doubt worked alongside some extraordinary individuals over the past year and there is no better way to honour their efforts than by filling out a nomination. CSSEA will be accepting nominations until 5pm on April 22 and full details, including the online nomination form, can be found on our awards website. Pending any changes to the current health situation, we look forward to celebrating with you in person on October 26 at the Vancouver Marriott Pinnacle Downtown Hotel, as part of CSSEA’s 2022 AGM and Conference.

2022 Bargaining

CSSEA and its employer bargaining team continues to be actively engaged in collective bargaining with the Community Social Services Bargaining Association in an interest-based bargaining approach. We will keep members apprised of key developments through our Bargaining Updates as they arise. This is a very difficult bargaining year due in part to heightened union expectations, as well as inflation rates not seen in 30 years; as a result, we anticipate a longer bargaining process than the previous round. Our employer bargaining team is doing excellent work and ensures that member issues such as recruitment and retention and healthy, safe workplaces are foremost at the table.

In the meantime, if you have not yet responded to CSSEA’s e-mail requesting that you provide your agency’s current primary contact, please do so at your earliest convenience so we can be prepared once the ratification process commences. If you have any questions, please contact Doris Sun, Director of Communications, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

2022 Compensation and Employee Turnover Report

By now, members should have received an email with an invitation to complete the 2022 Compensation and Employee Turnover Report. The deadline for completion is May 31, 2022. If you are using the payroll extract method, you can submit your payroll extract now.

To facilitate completion of the report, CSSEA will be holding a series of online orientation sessions starting March 23, 2022 to provide agencies with the necessary information and tips to efficiently and effectively complete the report. The schedule for those sessions is as follows:

Wednesday, March 23, 2022 – 10am to 12noon
Wednesday, April 6,, 2022 – 10am to 12noon
Wednesday, April 20, 2022 – 10am to 12noon
Wednesday, May 4, 2022 – 10am to 12noon
Wednesday, May 18, 2022 – 10am to 12noon

To register for one of the complimentary sessions, complete the online form at https://www.cssea.bc.ca/register/

Community Social Services Health & Safety Association of BC

The Community Social Services Health & Safety Council of BC (the Association) has been working hard since 2019 to transition from a pilot project to an official entity, and I am pleased to share that the Council is now an officially registered society - a first of its kind health and safety association for the social services sector in Canada. Over the past three years, council members have collaborated extensively to foster and engage industry in addressing much-needed health and safety training, education and resources for the sector. Through the Association, the sector now has a voice directly at WorkSafeBC to influence policy. This is an achievement that all members can be proud of and I invite you all to join us at the Association’s inaugural AGM on May 4. Registration details will be sent to members as soon as they become available.

Updated PHO Order - Workplace Safety

The Office of the Provincial Health Officer recently announced that effective April 8, 2022, employers will no longer need a COVID-19 safety plan and that communicable disease guidelines, which were introduced prior to the latest Omicron surge, will be re-activated. For more information on how to create a communicable disease guideline, please consult this WorkSafeBC webpage. Additional resources on communicable disease prevention can be found here.

We encourage employers to continue to with their Risk Assessment policy and follow the ever-evolving PHO guidelines with respect to their programs. Members can also consult with the Joint Occupational Safety and Health Committee as required. If you have any further questions, contact your HRLR Consultant or Advocate, or e-mail Fiona Senyk, Health & Safety Coordinator at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

CSS Violence Risk Assessment Tool and the Health & Safety 101 Presentation

Earlier this year, the Council presented a virtual information session on the CSS Violence Risk Assessment Tool (VRAT), as well as a Health & Safety 101 session. The information session presented an outline of the CSS VRAT elements, while the Health & Safety 101 presentation introduced concepts such as Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) legislation, hazards and controls, workplace inspections/investigations, WorkSafeBC’s employer health and safety planning toolkit, and more. We acknowledge the Council Advisory Panel members who worked diligently over the past year to create these resources. The Violence Risk Assessment Tool (VRAT) resource and presentation are available on the Council website.

WorkSafeBC CSS High Risk Strategies Webinar

In late 2021, the Council had the opportunity to provide direct input into WorkSafeBC’s High Risk Strategic planning process. The Council will be holding a WorkSafeBC CSS High Risk Strategies Webinar on April 5 from 1-2 pm to discuss details relevant to our sector. The session will be free of charge and members can register here.

CSSEA Staffing Update

As CSSEA continues to recruit for vacancies on its HRLR team amidst sectoral bargaining, we are happy to welcome back long-time CSSEA Consultant Anne Campbell on an interim basis. Anne will be using her considerable knowledge and expertise to support the team with membership inquiries. CSSEA is also pleased to welcome Stewart Arnold as a temporary Consultant. Stewart has extensive experience in labour relations, having worked in BC’s health sector, and also consulted with the Vancouver Island Health Authority. I thank Anne and Stewart for stepping in and providing the membership with timely advice in this exceedingly busy time.

2021 Executive Director/CEO Salary Report

Members can expect to receive a hard copy of the 2021 Executive Director/CEO Salary Report in the mail in the coming days. The purpose of this report is to provide a salary administration tool for our member agencies and it was made possible based on feedback from the Compensation and Employee Turnover Report. We thank all members for their input in making this valuable report possible.