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There’s a family vibe at Manitoba Blue Cross

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This article was published 12/03/2024 (557 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It didn’t take much to convince La-Toya Gibbons to come back to Manitoba Blue Cross after leaving due to a move.

Gibbons worked at the company from 2003 until 2006 before moving to Ontario. When she returned to Manitoba, she visited the office. “They said ‘Why don’t you come back?’ That’s really all it took,” says Gibbons, group service representative. “The people are one of a kind. There’s really a family vibe. It’s like home.”

One of the aspects Gibbons appreciates most is the company’s community involvement. Though she regularly volunteers on her own time, Gibbons also takes advantage of the two paid days off Manitoba Blue Cross gives employees each year to support causes of their choice.

Gibbons also enjoys volunteering with co-workers, including fundraising for HSC Winnipeg Children’s Hospital and United Way Winnipeg. In 2011, she started a donation drive, inviting employees to regularly donate gently used clothes, toys and small appliances. The initiative is ongoing and whenever the collection gets large enough, Manitoba Blue Cross gives Gibbons time during her work day to deliver the items to a local women’s resource centre.

President & CEO Benjamin Graham says working together to support the community is a win-win for everyone. “Volunteering helps to boost our camaraderie while we collectively impact the community in a positive way,” Graham says.

Manitoba Blue Cross bases its community contributions on three focus areas: wellness, diversity and community development. It supports many local organizations like the Manitoba branch of Make-A-Wish®️ Canada and Winnipeg’s Bravestone Centre, which helps women and their children affected by domestic violence.

The company also recently secured naming rights to the Winnipeg Goldeyes’ baseball park. Manitoba Blue Cross will partner with the team’s Field of Dreams Foundation, which supports children’s charities. Graham says the company is hoping to use the field to run events and programming for disadvantaged children and will also provide free game tickets to families.

In addition to supporting the community, Graham says an equally important priority is to help employees develop in their careers. The company’s Manitoba Blue Cross University provides many training courses and employees can work with a career coach through its comprehensive career development program.

“It’s essential to us that our employees know there is a bright future here and for the community. Not only do we provide volunteer opportunities, we focus on offering plenty of career opportunities. That results in a lot of movement within the organization where employees take on new roles or responsibilities,” he says.

Gibbons has completed cross-training in different departments within the company, learning skills for roles outside of her own, such as developing and processing claims.

“It was really helpful to me as someone in customer service,” she says. “If you are working with a client and they want to know what is happening and you also have claims experience, it provides context and you can better communicate with the client.”

The ability to provide support through her job makes Gibbons happy to work at Manitoba Blue Cross. “You want to be proud of the work you are doing,” Gibbons says. “If I can help clients and the community in some small way, that is what the job is all about. Manitoba Blue Cross believes that too. Working for a company that really cares resonates with me.”