Mervin Mandes Career Spotlight
Mervin Mandes is an Environmental Services Worker (ESW) from Beardy's & Okemasis' Cree Nation near Duck Lake, SK. He currently works in Saskatoon at the Royal University Hospital with the Saskatchewan Health Authority and has been working as a ESW for 13 years.
What are you responsible for as an Environmental Services Worker (ESW)? What is a typical day like?
"Generally speaking, ESWs are responsible for the cleaniness of healthcare facilities. Key duties include cleaning patient rooms, hallways and other areas of the the facilities. Also included is laundry and linen services. A typical day for me starts at 7:00am at the hospital. In the morning, we receive a shipment of clean laundry and linens that need to be distributed throughout the hospital and exchanged with used and soiled laundry. Each member of the team handles a floor when exchanging soiled linens for clean ones. The used linens then are carted down to be loaded on the truck to be taken to the ware house for cleaning. The second truck comes at around 10:00am and we exchange the used linen carts with the clean ones. Also during the morning, we check patient and other healthcare worker requests such as extra linen requests for a patient and fulfil requests accordingly. We typically have lunch around 11:30 to 12:00 then continue our work until another truck arrives around 2:30pm. This truck carries other clean materials such as mop heads, ISO gowns, flannels, cloths for cleaning and do another round of cart exchanges. At 3:15pm we are all caught up for the day and we finish at 3:30pm. The carts we work with are quite big and heavy so the nature of my job is physically demanding and fast paced. We do a lot of walking in our role, one day I got over 30,000 steps! Overall the days go fast and your busy every shift."
Can you describe how somedays are different than others?
"Delays can happen due to weather, truck breaking down or availability of staff if people are sick etc. On those days, sometimes you have to stay a little later than usual to make sure carts are exchanged and delivered throughout the hospital accordingly. These days are not too common but it does provide you an opportunity to step up and help out your team the best you can."
How is your work-life balance in this role?
"My current role is part-time so I am scheduled a couple shifts per week and then I pick up extra shifts if I need to. I like to keep myself busy so I typically pick up extra shifts to match full time hours. Key point is that I have the choice to work extra if I want to which helps a lot with work-life balance."
Have you always wanted to work in the healthcare industry?
"Growing up, I always observed healthcare workers whenever I visited family and friends in hospitals and it caught my interest that this would be a good fast paced environment to work in. One day I visited my nephew at St. Paul's Hospital and I saw this poster that asked if I was interested in working in healthcare. This poster was directed towards Indigenous people and was part of a recruitment campaign. So I dropped my resume off and received a call a little while later that offered me a position that started right away. I accepted and we started our training program for three weeks in Saskatoon then we were placed in different facilities across Saskatoon. I saw the opportunity and took it and I am glad for it as I am still here 13 years later! I also have many family members that also work in healthcare."
Are there opportunities to move up to manager and other leadership roles?
"There are managerial positions available if you are looking to move up. These include managers and assistant managers for Environmental Services Workers and other departments. Working with the SHA has opportunities available to you across the province if you are considering moving around the province."
Do you have any advice for students looking to apply on ESW positions?
"Take a chance and put your best foot forward. Also maintain a positive attitude and confidence that you can do hard things. Once you obtain your role, you will develop a strong work ethic that will open up other doors for you. Usually you will start in a casual position and some weeks you don't work any hours due to seniority or shift availability. You need to be as flexible as you can be when starting out so you can build up seniority. Also with entry level positions, once you get into that first position it opens up doors to other departments and positions. Lastly, come in with a opportunity mindset. If you want to work hard, there are plenty of opportunities to do so in healthcare."
What is the number one thing that you love about your job?
"Being comfortable and confident with myself and my duties. Also being comfortable with my coworkers. Ultimately its the team! I work with a supportive and hard working team that has fun and gets the job done. Our managers are excellent to work with and are very supportive of the team and if any issues come up."
Anything else to add?
"I would love to see more indigenous people working in healthcare. For me when I first started I was a little nervous but I prayed and hoped that I would do a good job. I think the healthcare industry is intimidating for indigenous applicants but I try my best to encourage people to apply and be a role model for indigenous healthcare workers. I am 61 years old, if I can do it, you can do it to!"
