By Sarah Jessop, HR Generalist
By Mohammed Mounir, Mobile Patrol Supervisor
The Crossing Guard Division would like to recognize Xhevdet Celaj for his creativity, attentiveness, and friendliness. During a routine inspection with Mobile Supervisor Mohammed ‘Momo’ Mounir, it was noticed that Xhevdet invented a new and efficient way to press the walk button at his crosswalk by attaching a small plastic flange onto the side of the stop sign, eliminating the need to connect with a high-touch surface repeatedly. While he was crossing the students, he was also consistently giving a warm welcome greeting and a very happy smile. As students were crossing from his side of the crosswalk, Xhevdet continuously paid attention to the other side of the intersection, making sure to help as many students cross as safely as possible.
Xhevdet, thank you for being an excellent Crossing Guard and ASP team member!
By Keba Walters, Assistant Manager, Recruitment (RES/CIC)
At ASP, growth and development are at the core to providing the most information possible to anyone of who we are and how we operate. Last Quarter, starting a new role with us, ensuring you are prepared for we announced our Voice of ASP focus groups, which gave a platform for employees from all divisions to voices their needs, wants, critiques, and suggestions in relation to their positions and their development at ASP. This quarter, we had the privilege of presenting this anonymous information to the entire management team at ASP. Our goal is to turn your feedback into real action.
On March 7, 2022, the management team at ASP met, reviewed your feedback, and spoke about how they intend to create meaningful changes that impact the daily lives of ASP employees.
Some of the major points discussed were the following:
• Growth plans across the organization for each role
• More training for employees looking to develop
• Better communication to all employees
• Encouraging more feedback to improve the day-to- day lives of all members of ASP
Our recruitment team knows it is integral for employees to feel that all the promises made during the interview and onboarding process are met. We are committed to provide the most information possible to anyone starting a new role with us, ensuring you are prepared for that next step in your career.
We want to see how we can make the ASP experience even better. We also want to thank all the members of management who took the time to learn more about the needs of their employees; it really showed that there is a heart to this company that strives to be better each day. If you know a person who is interested in:
• Training and development
• Protecting the community
• The importance of safety and security • The value of customer service
Ask them to join our team and be part of the company where Security MattersTM.
By Jason White, Manager Strategic Initiatives
This quarter’s theme is doing business communications right. There are many ways to interrupt ‘right’ when it comes to communications, and we are going to explore a few.
The golden rule of treat others as you want to be treated doubly applies to communications. Being polite reduces miscommunication, especially in business emails.
Almost without exception, people do not take offence if you are polite when asking for something or following up on a sensitive issue. Being nice in your communications also means that if you make a mistake or your message is confusing, at least you were not mean about it. Your reader will be more understanding. It is never looks good to be full of righteous indignation only to find out, you are in the wrong.
Next, ask yourself – am I communicating using the right method. For example, will a text message be better than a phone call. Is my tone, tense, and vocabulary appropriate? Is my messaging clear? Is it suitable for a work environment? There are dozens of factors to consider when communicating, and for the most part, we do this unconsciously. However, for our audience to get the right message and to ensure we are business appropriate, we need to step back and take a moment to reflect on our communication. Before sharing memes and jokes with co- workers by email, for example, I always ask myself, would I send this to my mother. If it is not appropriate for my mother, it is not appropriate for work.
Finally, proofread your emails and do not assume your reader is going to understand the bigger picture. Get in the habit of checking your emails for grammar, spelling and style errors before hitting send.
We have all hit send too soon and realized there are typos after the fact. I hate that feeling. So, take the time
to send proofread emails. Similarly, make sure your message, email, text, or request is going to get the response or answer you are looking for. There is nothing more frustrating than sending a request by email and getting an ambiguous response.
For example, if I send an email to a supervisor saying “I’d like my break at 11am or 1pm”, I could get a response saying “OK”. Well, which is it – 11 or 1? Take the guess work out of the message for the reader and write something like “Please let me know if I can take my break at 11am or 1pm because I need to make a phone call.”
By Debbie Ciccotelli, Vice President, Strategic Initiatives
Spring is an exciting season, it is a time of Spring will also be a busy time for ASP with crossing awakening, rebirth and growth which brings with guards ensuring children’s safety from ice, rain, slush and it a level of optimism in us all. I am sure you are as through identifying and reporting damage to curbs or excited as I am to see the warmth and sunny days we have cross walks which have occurred over the winter months been longing for, finally arrive after a long winter.
Spring is a time to celebrate many multi-cultural holidays such as Easter, Passover, St. Patrick’s Day, Holi Festival, Shunbun No Hi, Mother’s Day, etc. as well as other special observance days, including Employee Appreciation Day and International Women’s Day, just to name a few.
Spring is also a time for renewal which is evident as we begin to see green shoots pop up and flowers and leaves appear. This year spring also brings a renewal of our personal lives and our business as we enter the phase of “living with COVID”. The decline in COVID infections and the lifting of many COVID restrictions is a positive sign of recovery – we can now see light at the end of the tunnel. Although we have all experienced some form of “pandemic fatigue”, as we move toward recovery, I urge you to take a moment to stop, reflect, re-engage and take stock of what we have learned and achieved.
March break is also the busiest travel period which means our aviation teams will be bustling with passenger flow/queue management, crowd control and customer services activities, which will be amplified by passenger confusion with changing COVID rules/restrictions as well as potential weather issues. Additionally, the warmer weather will result in a significant increase in people moving through Union Station, shopping at St Lawrence Market, etc. where we provide security services.
Take the opportunity to develop a more positive outlook during this season where flowers bloom and join me in jumping with both feet into the exciting world of optimism.
By Darren Scott, Manager, Acting Manager
During peak times of the day, you may be waiting on hold to speak with a Workforce Scheduler. We all have busy lives and this can be frustrating. If you require immediate attention, you can alternatively contact your direct Supervisor or Manager. We also encourage you to email your requests and inquiries to scheduling@security-asp.com This email inbox is monitored from 06:00-21:00 every day and you can expect a reply within 12-24 hours depending on volume. Your questions and requests are important to us and we will do our best to respond as soon as possible.
inTime Scheduling App and Preferences
Never miss an available posting again using the inTime App. The inTime App improves communication by putting your schedule on your smart phone.
From the App you can:
- Sign up for shifts and overtime
- Apply for Leaves
- Sort and filter available postings
- Punch in and out
Have you set your Preferences?
Using your portal or inTime App, you can tell Workforce Scheduling when you prefer to work. When an individual shift is open or a long-term assignment becomes available your preferences are reviewed to assist scheduling.
Without having preferences set on your portal you may be overlooked. For more information regarding the app or if you require assistance it, please contact Workforce Scheduling Department.
inTime App Video Did you know there is an instruction video on how to use the inTime App? If your having difficulties or curious of the various functions available follow this link for more information: https://fast.wistia.net/embed/ channel/6gne3j7rl
By Laurel Woodhouse, Manager, Health and Safet
What Should You Know When Buying Footwear for Work?
Good footwear should have the following qualities:
- The shoe must grip the heel firmly.
- The forepart must allow freedom of movement for the toes.
- The shoe must have a fastening across the instep to prevent the foot from slipping when walking.
- The heel should be not more than 60 mm (about 2.5 inches), and the heel should not be lower than the ball of the foot. (From CSA Z195:14 (R2019) Protective footwear)
People buying footwear for work should take the following advice:
- Do not expect that footwear which is too tight will stretch with wear.
- Have both feet measured when buying shoes? Feet normally differ in size. • Buy shoes to fit the bigger foot.
- Buy shoes late in the afternoon when feet are likely to be swollen to their maximum size. • Ask a doctor’s advice if properly fitting shoes are not available.
- Consider using shock-absorbing insoles where the job requires walking or standing on hard floors.
When selecting footwear, one should remember that tight socks or stockings can cramp the toes as much as poorly fitted shoes. Wrinkled socks, or socks that are too large or too small, can cause blisters. White woollen or cotton socks may be recommended since coloured socks cause skin allergies in some people.
Type of Footwear Appropriate for Cold Conditions
Selection should be made to suit the specific working condition. Working outdoors in cold weather poses a special requirement on selecting the proper footwear. “Normal” protective footwear is not designed for cold weather. “Insulated” footwear may give little temperature protection in the sole if it has no insulation there. Loss of heat through steel toe caps (commonly blamed for increased heat loss) is insignificant.
Foot protection against cold weather can be resolved by:
- Insulating the legs by wearing thermal undergarments.
- Wearing insulating overshoes over work footwear.
- Wearing insulating muffs around the ankles and over the top of the footwear
How to care for your feet?
- Feet are subject to a great variety of skin and toenail disorders. Workers can avoid many of them by following simple rules of foot care:
- Wash feet daily with soap, rinse thoroughly and dry, especially between the toes.
- Trim toenails straight across and not too short. Do not cut into the corners.
Wear clean socks or stockings and change them daily.
Some feet sweat more than others and are more prone to athlete’s foot. Again, following a few simple guidelines may help:
- Select shoes made of leather or canvas – not synthetic materials.
- Keep several pairs of shoes on hand and rotate shoes daily to allow them to air out.
- Use foot powder.
If problems persist, see a doctor or health care specialist. In cases of persisting ingrown toenails, calluses, corns, fungal infection, and more serious conditions such as flat feet and arthritis, see a doctor and follow the doctor’s advice
By Ivanna Skotar, Canine Handle
With the transition from a crisp fall to a cool winter, the canine unit has been extremely busy in the last few months in preparation for the holiday season. You can almost consider all the FedEx handlers “Santa’s helpers” for assisting in getting everyone’s Christmas gifts delivered efficiently, securely, and safely. In Montreal, all the FedEx locations have been busy and really warm this Christmas season. Many a times, the handlers were invited to enjoy the FedEx staff Christmas meals! It really goes to show you how important it is to build and strengthen our relationship with the employees of our contractors. With the extra hard work, both the handlers and the dogs are putting in their very best every single shift and going above and beyond each time. While working phenomenally as a team, we achieve the high standards that ASP strives for, and it is acknowledged and appreciated during these times. It’s great to see that the dog’s drives are still sky-high and they’re always ready to work. Screening all the parcels at all the different locations and ensuring the safety for all packages is something we thrive for.
By Russ Fox, Master Trainer, Canine
In the past couple of months K9s Roef (Malinois) and Zsoti (GSD), along with handlers Chris and Courtney underwent the first ever Transport Canada and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) inspections for A.S.P. Incorporated at FedEx Canada. The inspection was to view how our K9s operated in the fields that they were tested in palletized and non-palletized cargo.
We (the handlers) were tested on our understanding of the legislation Explosives Detection Dog Handler Teams Security Measures (EDDHTSM), as well as how well we interpret change of behaviour in our dogs when they identify explosive odours.
With us having worked operationally since May and having understood what the legislation requires of us to do, we were able to exceed standards and pass our inspections.
The knowledge we attained from the inspection was passed on, in hopes that other locations would follow in these footsteps and continue to show Transport Canada and our future potential clients our units high standards for performance and compliance. With peak season among us, things have been ramping up here in Ottawa. Our shifts always begin with screening auto parts, and we then move on to screening cargo for international and economy flights. How we screen in a tandem has not changed, as we have devised a process that works to include ample searching time with good amount of rest. The location in which we operate out of is very dog friendly and dog oriented as the phrase “we’ll do anything for the dog” can be heard in the many conversations that we’ve had with FedEx employees. We occasionally must add in a joking manner “what about us” just to make sure they don’t forget about the handlers.
The phrase “we’ll do anything for the dog” can be heard in the many conversations that we’ve had with FedEx employees”.
I would like to start by addressing our current staffing issues at YYC. 2021 has been a challenging year, and although we have been actively recruiting since the summer, we could not have anticipated the unusually long wait times for TC clearances. We currently have over 20 individuals who have been hired but cannot train because they do not yet have clearance. This has led to many issues but because of the great teamwork we have here, everyone worked together, and we were able to get through this difficult time. TC clearances have finally started coming through and we should start to see more staff soon.
As a result, I want to thank each one of you for the hard work you’ve put in over the last 6 months. Many of you have been reassigned while on shift, assisted in covering breaks or asked to complete work you do. Many of you have also been working so much overtime that I don’t think you ever leave work. If this was any other team, I don’t think we would have been able to make it through this tough time. Secondly, I would like to discuss supervision at YYC. Our contract was recently extended and as part of that extension, a change was made in the supervisor structure.
Thank you again to everyone for working as a team and stepping up when it was needed. Your hard work and dedication have not gone unnoticed.
While we previously had an ITB and DTB Supervisor, a decision was made to have one Terminal Supervisor and one Airside Supervisor. This will increase supervision on the airside and will better help structure our team. We have lost of few supervisors over the last few months and have been using backup Supervisors ever since. Part of the reason for not filling these positions sooner was because of this structural change to the team. Now that the contract has been signed, we are actively recruiting new supervisors and they will be on the floor soon.
The supervisors will go through an enhanced training program meant to better develop their interpersonal skills and ensure better communication with staff. I believe this training will make a great difference and will benefit all staff. Thank you again for all the hard work, everyone is proud of everything this team has accomplished and what we all know we will accomplish in the future.
2021 has been a very difficult year but if we made it through this there’s no reason we can’t make it through any other challenges, especially once this pandemic has ended.