Grant: Travel Awards - Institute Community Support

Tungasuvvingat Inuit (TI) means a place where Inuit are welcome. Our vision is Inuit specific programs, services, and support that empower and enhance the lives of Inuit and are available and accessible to all members of the Inuit community. The mandate of our organization is to employ a workforce that reflects the population we serve and that means many of our employees will share much of the same experiences as our clients. Therefore the diligence that TI must apply is to create a supportive, nurturing work environment to fortify its team. TI's approach to cultivating a resilient workforce can be expressed in four broad themes. Effective Communication: Inuit traditional knowledge passed down from generation to generation is articulated as the eight guiding principles of Inuit Quajimajatuqangit. By embracing these principles in our work, we set the stage for a supportive work culture. Training and Development: Training by watching and doing (Pilimmaksarniq) is coupled with formal instruction to make sure staff know how to react and respond in certain situations. Accommodating Mental Health Situations: By de-stigmatizing workplace mental health, we create a safe environment where staff trust they will not be wrongly judged or mistreated. Supporting Self Care: We allow for flexible work hours and work arrangements, have generous leave provisions, comprehensive health benefits coverage and set aside time to have fun with team building events. Our initiatives to cultivate a resilient team have been validated by observable and measurable positive outcomes including reduced employee selection error rates, improved employee retention, quicker return to work following mental health-related absences, and lower rates of negative workplace behaviours such as conflict and underperformance. Supportive employment practices that are strength-based and have enabled TI to leverage this resilience and thrive as an organization to serve our community for 30 years.