As many employers navigate a potential return to the office, new research from the Angus Reid Institute has revealed some startling data about the potential of plummeting employee retention rates. Survey results found that more than half of Canadian households had at least one member working from home during the pandemic. Of those who worked from [...]
As we all breathe a sigh of relief that the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic may hopefully finally be behind us, employers and employees alike are now grappling with the question; what comes next? What will the 'new normal' look like? And what has the past 18 months taught us about the nature of the [...]
As Plato once famously stated, 'necessity is the mother of invention'. Well, never has that been more true than when it comes to workplaces in 2021. This past year has been unlike any other in how we think about and approach our work. And while things will eventually return to a 'new normal', our advice [...]
One of the go-to responses we hear when we talk to clients about how they are supporting employee mental health is, “We have an EFAP (Employee and Family Assistance Program).” When pressed further, beyond some usage rates, few have a good handle on whether the service is useful, of high quality, or meeting their employees’ [...]
Before COVID-19, 1 in 5 Canadians experienced a mental health problem or mental illness each year. As the pandemic stretches into 2021, the mental health crisis is following suit. As a leader, it is important that you recognize where your responsibility to support an employee with a mental health issue begins and ends. You have a responsibility [...]
November is Canada Career Month, a time to celebrate the importance of meaningful work and to improve access to career services and education that ensure all Canadians, from coast-to-coast, are better prepared to develop their careers. Amidst tragedy and disruption, career development has taken a backseat in the pandemic era. Many organizations have been forced to [...]
Last December, we released a 2020 HR trends blog that covered up and coming innovations and predictions for the year ahead. Of course, we did not predict COVID-19 or the profound impact the global pandemic would have on our lives at home, at work and in our communities. A lot has changed in 2020. Office workers have left their [...]
Despite Alberta's economy opening back up and students going back to school this fall, the pandemic is not over. In fact, as recently as July 27, Dr. Deena Hinshaw declared, “the curve is no longer flat in Alberta.” Meanwhile, cities and towns across the province continue to debate mandatory masks, following bylaws being passed in Banff, Calgary [...]
After several months at home, some organizations are transitioning back to the office. Unfortunately, it is not going to be as simple as unlocking the door. In the wake of the pandemic, the workplace must be reimagined, and leaders who are ready to transition teams back into the office need an intentional reopening plan. If [...]
Call it what you want, but for most people, living through the COVID-19 pandemic feels nothing like a vacation! Many people are working from home, facing unemployment, or navigating the world of government benefits. Many are balancing work and family obligations, while others are still dealing with sudden restrictions that have curtailed their social, leisure, [...]
