Source: www.forbes.com As we enter 2023, the future of work has become the now of work. Many of the changes which started during the pandemic were accelerated and have become permanent aspects of our working lives. Just as I have done in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022, here is my countdown of what you should include on your HR roadmap for 2023.
Source: www.forbes.com Uncertainty defined 2022, a tumultuous year in which war, pandemic and climate change reigned over the stage. While a new cycle looms large, the unpredictability that shaped the past 12 months lingers on. With momentous possibilities on the table — a deep or a shallow recession, the continuation of a costly war or peace, new vs. old leadership and much more — four workplace trends have the potential to make or break organizations in 2023.
Source: saltwire.com Audrey Balsor wasn’t sure what to expect when she applied for Skills for Hire Atlantic. After more than a year in the program, the Lantz resident says it has opened new doors. When Audrey Balsor came across a listing for the Skills for Hire Atlantic program in early 2021, the Lantz resident didn’t expect to get in.
Source: troymedia.com A threat to both our quality of life and economic competitiveness We live in an age when a nation’s quality of life depends on a sufficient supply of science-based professionals possessing the skills needed in our technologically advanced world.
Source: cbc.ca ‘After 36 years of service it was terrifying stepping out of a uniform and into civilian service’ “Terrified” is the word a high-ranking officer and a military veteran used to describe how many people feel about the prospect of leaving the Canadian Armed Forces for civilian life.
Source: lfpress.com Courtney Axford always loved working with her hands – even taking shop classes in high school – but thought trades careers were “just for boys.” Then COVID-19 hit, forcing the Londoner, 28, from her job tending bar. “The entire industry was kind of shut down,” she said. “I started looking for different opportunities.” Axford found Tomorrow’s Trades, a 12-week Ontario program exposing young people to careers in skilled construction trades and helping funnel them into apprenticeships. It even pays a bit.
Source: sloanreview.mit.edu Character is about a lot more than ethics — and fostering a culture where it is valued equally alongside competence can result in better decisions and better outcomes. For all of the attention that leader character gets when we witness its negative extremes — such as when an authoritarian CEO presides over a corrupt or an abusive culture — most organizations give surprisingly little thought to what is actually one of the most significant available levers to effect positive organizational development.
Source: www.theglobeandmail.com There may be no better time for Canadians to switch jobs given record low unemployment and the tight labour market. Yet many workers worry about making a change as the economy slows and recession fears mount, bringing with it the increased risk of layoffs. The fear is becoming a victim of a ‘last one hired, first one fired’ scenario.
Source: cbc.ca ‘It’s very hard to concentrate for a full 5 hours at a time. None of us can do that,’ HR consultant says Taking breaks from work not only boost workers’ well-being, but it also increases their performance while on the job, according to new research out of Simon Fraser University (SFU). In a review of 83 studies, all but one of which were peer reviewed, researchers found that breaks of 10 minutes or more can decrease stress and fatigue — two things that hinder workplace productivity. Zhanna Lyubykh, lead author on the review and assistant professor of management and organization studies at SFU said there’s not necessarily a particular type of break that makes people more or less effective at work — it’s all about how much the individual enjoys the break.
Source: thestar.com With our mental health strained and workplace arrangements changing, it’s time for an in-depth look at what’s needed to improve matters. Everything is connected. It is not enough, as Premier Doug Ford sometimes seems to think, to throw up a few “Open For Business” signs at the Ontario border, note the 300,000 or so job vacancies in the province, then look no farther at what is an ongoing crisis in mental health and ongoing revolution in the way people work.
Source: cbc.ca Workplace experts also encourage both sides to discuss what’s possible as pandemic arrangements shift The pandemic necessity of doing your job away from the workplace is ending as restrictions and mandates ease and employers refocus on getting people back to in-person work. While employers can wind down temporary measures, they should also consider how the work environment has changed since COVID-19 took hold early in 2020, that flexible arrangements have proved to be possible, and how employees may feel about going back to in-person work, experts in Canada say.
Source: www.hcamag.com Shifting work arrangements challenge employee experience On the onset of hybrid work across the world, an overwhelming number of executives are confident that their company cultures will remain under the new working arrangement. A study from global professional services firm Genpact revealed that 97% of 500 senior executives from large global enterprises believe that they can maintain a shared culture under hybrid work.
Source: cbc.ca Organizations are under pressure to boost wages and supports, experts say Ten years ago, Nola Simon caught an unlucky break that gave her an extended preview of the future. Back then, she was taking part in a pilot project at her workplace, which allowed participants to work from home some of the time. A foot injury left her unable to drive for a bit, forcing her to do all of her work at home.
Source: www.benefitscanada.com Many Canadian companies are taking measures to increase pay equity among employees, with 69 per cent saying they’ve observed salary discrepancies between new hires and more tenured staff in the past year, according to a new survey by Robert Half Canada Inc. The survey, which polled more than 200 C-suite executive across a wide range of industries, found that, among the companies taking these measures, 57 per cent said they’re increasing salaries for current staff to help close wage gaps.
Source: www.investmentexecutive.com Financial advisors are seeing noticeable changes in clients’ financial and retirement planning priorities when it comes to their careers Since early 2021, millions of workers worldwide have quit their jobs in pursuit of something better.
Source: www.hcamag.com There are several approaches people should take to try to reach a constructive conversation Dealing with, navigating and resolving conflict in the workplace and in life is such a critical topic and important skill set. If everybody were fantastic at resolving conflict, the world would be a better and easier place.
Source: www.thestar.com Employers are struggling to find skilled workers during the pandemic, but they’re missing out on a key recruitment and retention tool: career development The Great Reshuffle has many workers on the move — and it’s creating significant challenges for Canadian businesses of all sizes. According to an Environics survey of 500 Canadian executives for the charitable career development organization CERIC, 81 per cent of employers are having a hard time finding people with the right skills to fill open positions. This was the top challenge identified by employers — ahead of supply chain issues, red tape or technology. Ontario employers were the most likely to report a shortage of skilled workers, followed by Quebec and the Prairies.
Source: www.benefitscanada.com Sally Phuong took a four-week sabbatical from her job as an account executive at Sun Life Financial Inc. last year so she could participate in a professional floral design program at the Canadian Institute of Floral Design in Toronto. Phuong, 37, plans to retire at 55 from Sun Life and open her own floral store. In the meantime, she’s looking to hone her skills on evenings and weekends with a part-time job in the business. “It worked out really nicely that I was able to take a break from work knowing that my job was there and that I could return to it refreshed and bring back any skill set that I learned.”
Source: hcamag.com Over half of Canadians are looking to make a full-blown career change this year – that’s according to new data from Indeed. Released earlier this week, Indeed’s market report found that while 46% of Canadian workers are considering switching jobs this year, 52% want to leave their current field for pastures new. So, why are people looking to jump ship? Well, according to the survey, 75% of employees say the pandemic has forced them to re-evaluate their options, 72% said they fear a lack of career progression in their current role, and 73% want great flexibility. However, the number one driver was found to be money – with 85% of workers craving a higher wage.
Source: midlandtoday.ca ‘Are we going to see a complete shift to remote working opportunities, or is it going to be too much of a hassle?’ asks lawyer The pandemic saw a huge movement of people shifting their work spaces from downtown office buildings to home-based offices, creating great benefits to employees and employers alike.
Source: globalnews.ca Some Canadians say they’ve found two silver linings during a global pandemic that has forced them to wipe activities off their calendars during lockdowns — a pregnant pause and the realization that quitting isn’t all that bad. “Anybody who tells me I’m going to quit something, I will champion them all the way,” says Aqsa Malik, 28, from her home in Toronto. “I quit because I wanted my life to be mine. It’s just an amazing feeling.”