Employees are not machines, they are individuals with individual needs, wants and motivators. If employees are to be happy and productive their needs, wants and motivators must be addressed by the employer. But where does an employer start? Well, by giving employees a voice, of course. There is a prevalent thought among management that they [...]
Tomorrow has arrived and the much talked about labour shortage is here. Now more than ever it is imperative that businesses attract and hire the right candidates. But what happens after a business attracts the right employee? How does the company retain them? Perhaps more importantly, understanding that more than 50% of all employees come [...]
Non-solicitation agreements Years ago I worked for the world’s leading manufacturer and marketer of tissue, packaging, paper, pulp, and building products. There were more than 40,000 employees. Each employee had a definitive job and rarely did anyone step outside their job descriptions. Small and medium-sized businesses, by contrast, are lean. Employees do many jobs, and [...]
This article by HRpros’ Tanya Seliakus outlines the advantages of diverse staffing. As immigration to Atlantic Canada continues to be encouraged, our markeplace is changing. Reflecting the needs of its changing faces through hiring strategies is not only ethically correct, it creates new business opportunities. (J.T.) Diversity and inclusion are principles which enrich our lives. [...]
Are You Doing it? People are any business’s greatest assets and businesses with the highest calibre people, committed to the organization and its goals, have that advantage. Interestingly enough, while many businesses prepare a formal business plan, few have a written human resources (HR) management plan as part of their overall business strategy. But if [...]
Helping to find a balance. Employees are more than employees. Employees are also spouses, partners, parents, caregivers, and volunteers. Role overload occurs when the total demands on an employee’s time and energy is too great to perform any role comfortably. Feeling overloaded by the pressures of multiple roles is a significant roadblock to work-life balance. [...]
Making it work. I used to head an HR department in an IT help desk facility. Help-desk facilities have notoriously high turnover. Turnover is disruptive to staff, has high training costs, fosters low productivity, drives recruitment costs and whittles away the bottom line; however, our turnover was only 17.5%! How did we do it? By [...]
There are so many reasons why people volunteer. Some people do it to gain career experience, network and build their resume; to develop skills or learn new ones. Some people volunteer to build self-esteem and make themselves feel better. Some may volunteer as a result of an instilled set of values that compel them to [...]
Labour and OHS Legislation a Year in Review 2010 was a significant year for labour and occupational health and safety legislation. The Safety Administrative Penalties Regulations came into affect and the draft Labour Relations and Employment Board Act was put before the Legislature with a promise to be enacted in 2011. When the Safety Administrative [...]
SALARY SECRETS EVERY EMPLOYER SHOULD KNOW. In an economic downturn, companies seem to believe that they have carte blanche to limit salaries and low-ball salary offers. But that shouldn’t be the case. Below are some salary secrets all employers should consider. With this information in hand you’ll be in a better position to attract and [...]
