I believe that being there for our employees starts with our organization’s culture. Closing the Gap Healthcare’s brand is “a team made for caring,” not only for our clients, but for each other as well.

We understand that everyone has responsibilities outside the workplace. We are not looking to balance people’s work and personal lives, but rather to integrate them. This cannot be done without fostering trusting relationships between each other. To that end, our leadership development program involves doing rounds with our employees once a month to facilitate dialogue. I hope this gives employees the comfort to say, “I might be smiling today because I need to be, but this is what’s going on in my personal life and I might need your support.”

We prioritize being there for our employees who are going through difficulties, irrespective of what these difficulties might be. This can mean making sure their work schedules are flexible enough to accommodate requirements outside of the workplace, such as caregiving, encouraging employees to take leaves of absence if they need to, and making sure they access their available employee benefits.

It is important to note that our employees are more likely to take on the role of caregiver in their personal lives given the nature of their work. Due to their professional experience, family members will often look to them for this care when needed. A caring work environment provides our employees with the support they need. One way we do this is by making sure our employees’ benefits include all the healthcare services that Closing the Gap provides.

The pandemic has shown that people are very good at integrating home and work. People have demonstrated real commitment and dedication, and I am hoping we continue to manage people on what they deliver, rather than how they do it.

-Leighton McDonald, President and CEO, Closing the Gap Healthcare