On June 24, 2022, Food Services staff will return in-house as Providence Health Care employees after almost 20 years of being contracted out to Sodexo.

Welcoming and transitioning the 225 staff is a tremendous team effort across many areas of our PHC People team (Labour Relations, Recruitment, Staffing, Compensation and Classification, Workforce Strategy, Systems and Analytics and Occupational Health & Safety), Facilities, Operations, Finance, IMITS, Business Initiatives & Support Services (BISS), and Communications; and is being supported through the project and change management support provided by the Office of Strategy and Results.

At Providence, we value the close relationships that we have had with the Food Services teams over the years, and we will build upon these relationships as we work together to continue delivering exceptional care for the patients and residents we serve. Aligned with PHC’s People-Forward strategy, a comprehensive change management plan is guiding how we support unionized and non-unionized Food Services staff in the key changes they will experience in becoming PHC staff.

Preparing staff and future leaders for a successful day one

From learning how to view their schedule and paystub using new online systems like Andgo’s My Schedule and the electronic pay statement website, to changing to a new scrub-like uniform, it’s been a busy three months of building awareness and knowledge. “Overall, staff have shown very high levels of engagement and satisfaction with the fairs, events and trainings. It’s been a pleasure to work with our Food Services teams to ensure that they have the tools to be successful at PHC.” said Aparna Ramesh, Project Change Specialist, who is facilitating weekly meetings to engage PHC’s future Food Services operations managers.

“Our goal is to empower these future leaders in feeling confident in the resources and support available to support their staff’s safety and wellness.” This also includes translating how our Mission, Vision and Values ground the foundation of everything we do here at Providence. A large part of onboarding Food Services staff to our systems and culture took place this week at Orientation Fairs across our sites in preparation for day one.

The success of these cumulative efforts will come when Food Services is delivered on June 24 without patients, residents and PHC staff knowing that such a large transition has even taken place. While the goal is a seamless transition, we still want to mark the momentous occasion.

Join us on June 24 to welcome Food Services staff to Providence!

On June 24, we invite PHC staff to celebrate all the Food Services staff who are marking their first day at Providence. The project team is holding celebratory events within the Food Services’ areas across our sites – please stop by, say hello and help us in making staff feel welcome.

A total of 225 Food Services workers will be repatriated to the following PHC sites:

• Holy Family Hospital
• Langara Residence
• Mount Saint Joseph Hospital
• St. Paul’s Hospital
• Youville Residence

For more information about the Food Services transition visit the Food Services Onboarding web page or email  WelcomeFoodServices@providencehealth.bc.ca.

For more information on Change Management support at PHC and how it can make a difference for your team, please contact Marta Filipski, Director of Strategic Change Management. ​

People-Forward