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Ontario passes new rules aimed at work-life balance for employees

Source: cp24.com The Ontario government has passed new laws it says will help employees disconnect from the office and create a better work-life balance. On Tuesday, the government said it passed the “Working for Workers Act,” which requires Ontario businesses with 25 people or more to have a written policy about employees’ rights when it comes to disconnecting from their job at the end of the day.

Feeling burned out? Four workplace predictions for 2022

Source: www.hcamag.com CEO reveals four HR highlights heading into the New Year The Great Resignation is coming for Canada – are you ready? With more and more employees opting to leave their current roles for pastures new, HR leaders are left with a major talent shortage on their hands. The gig economy is more popular than ever before and employers are left plugging the skills gaps with high-cost, low-retention labour – but that’s really just the tip of the iceberg. HRD spoke to Jordan Peace, CEO of Fringe, who revealed four HR predictions for 2022 – and explained how Canadian employers can stay ahead of their competition in the war for talent.

Essential soft skills to become a great leader

Source: www.hcamag.com How can leaders develop qualities like compassion and confidence? Soft skills can distinguish between a good and great leader. This applies to both HR and business leaders. Any individual can hold a title and have a team of staffers, but you’ll only be as effective as your ability to communicate, be compassionate or manage uncertainty. Soft skills are defined by Oxford as personal attributes that enable an individual to interact effectively and harmoniously with others. Hence, it’s arguably tougher to develop than ‘hard’ or technical skills, which can be easily learned through methods like repetitive practice sessions. Being a ‘personal’ attribute, sometimes it may feel like you either have the quality or you don’t. HRD finds out if individuals can find effective ways to practice critical soft skills and improve their leadership capabilities. Skill 1: Ability to navigate uncertainty with confidence First essential soft skill is the ability to manage uncertainty. Today’s working world is ripe with uncertainty – whether it’s caused by things like the accelerated digitalization of workplaces, changing consumer demands, or even pandemics. In any case, leaders typically have the same amount of information as employees but are looked upon to navigate uncertainty. In a…

Right-to-disconnect legislation

Right-to-disconnect legislation welcome, but experts say workers won’t benefit equally

Source: cbc.ca Legislation is ‘nice as a public relations move,’ says employment lawyer With many Canadians still working from home thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, proposed legislation that would offer workers a right-to-disconnect from the office is welcome — but experts warn it could be ineffective without clear rules and incentives.

disability claims

Nearly half of disability claims among younger employees related to mental health: RBC report

Source: www.ctvnews.ca A new report from RBC Insurance has found that nearly half of long-term disability claims among younger employees in 2021 were related to mental health issues. The report, released Wednesday, says the COVID-19 pandemic has “opened the door” to a better understanding of individual mental health needs as many employees prioritize workplace benefits plans amid an increasingly competitive job market and ongoing labour shortages.

survey mental health

Amidst resignation boom, new Sun Life survey finds employers must step up mental health support

Source: www.newswire.ca One in 10 Canadians say they have left or have considered leaving a job over lack of mental health support TORONTO, Oct. 1, 2021 /CNW/ – While Canadian employers consider what the future of work looks like, Sun Life says that a mental health strategy must be part of the plan to help curb Canada’s mental health crisis. A new Sun Life survey revealed that over half of Canadians continue to suffer from mental health challenges, 18 months into the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet despite this, Sun Life’s study shows companies – and leaders – are not stepping up enough with employee mental health support.

Sept 30 holiday

Who actually gets Sept. 30 off this year in Ontario?

Source: toronto.ctvnews.ca With Ontario confirming that Sept. 30 will not be a provincial statutory holiday, many people are wondering if they get the day off work. National Day for Truth and Reconciliation will be observed in Ontario only has a federal holiday, which means provincially regulated businesses are not required to give employees the day off work. The federal government established the new statutory holiday in July to commemorate the tragic legacy of residential schools in Canada.

great resignation

Curbing the Great Resignation: Numbers to Know in Canada’s Tight Labour Market

Source: www.newswire.ca Robert Half Salary Guide Reveals What it Takes to Land and Retain Top Talent TORONTO, Sept. 27, 2021 /CNW/ – Research from the just-released 2022 Salary Guide from Robert Half shows the Great Resignation trend may accelerate across Canada, and robust compensation packages will be critical for recruiting new talent. Following are five key trends for employers to note:

employees disconnected from leaders

One third of employees feel disconnected from their leaders

Source: www.hcamag.com The issue is causing mass resignations One in three employees have reported feeling disconnected from their leadership teams, according to a new study, as interactions between employees and employers plunged amid the pandemic. The latest 2022 Global Culture Report from O.C. Tanner, which sought the responses of over 38,000 employees across 21 nations, revealed that 45% of workers said the number of people they interact with at work plunged over the past year, while 57% reported engaging in fewer activities.

executive leadership refocus

‘Leadership refocus’ needed to tackle challenges in post-pandemic workforce

Source: www.hcamag.com Intentional connections with employees key to strengthening remote work environments Time and time again, research from the O.C. Tanner Institute has found that executive leaders who cultivate genuine connection with their employees create a sense of belonging that bolsters engagement, strengthens workplace culture and ultimately drives business goals.

executive leaders inclusive

How today’s workplace leaders can become more inclusive

Source: www.ohscanada.com Inclusion helps create conditions for diversity — the makeup of your team that encourages members to thrive in all aspects, from job performance to physical and psychological health Successful leaders are inclusive leaders who ensure their teams experience a welcoming, caring, and open workplace. Their approach and style reduce perceived fear and concern, leading to an inclusive culture where fear is removed and all employees believe their voice can be heard and listened to.

young adults work harder

1 in 4 young adults believe they work harder than previous generations

Source: studyfinds.org Many young adults will tell you they’ve had a much harder time securing steady employment, home ownership, and financial stability than their parents. Conversely, it’s become very common for older adults these days to call younger generations lazy and distracted. Wherever your opinion falls in the debate, a recent survey finds young people believe they’re hustling harder and earlier than ever before.

proof of COVID vaccination

Lawyers catch the fever as companies crank up COVID-19 office policies and rules

Source: financialpost.com The back-to-office transition is looking like a boom for the legal profession Let’s start this week by digging deeper into all these workplace vaccine guidelines coming out. Is it just us or are the lawyers getting into this in a big way? The whole work-from-home experiment was awkward, but the back-to-office transition is looking more like a boom for the legal profession.

out of office panic

Feeling anxious? You could have Out of Office panic

Source: www.hcamag.com Almost half of employees suffer the side effects Returning to more work and feeling guilty about taking paid time off (PTO) are the most common reasons behind out-of-office anxiety for employees, a new study has revealed. A study by SkyNova found that 48% of employees said coming back to more work is main cause of their out-of-office anxiety. Forty-two percent said they feel guilty, while 41% said creating more work for their team leave them anxious in taking their time offs.

An effective hybrid workforce demands the right leadership skills to support it

Source: www.obj.ca With the need for a distributed workforce waning, Canadian professionals across industries are showing they expect the same flexibility in terms of when and where they work to continue post-pandemic. And employers that fail to deliver on the promise may push their employees to start looking elsewhere.

With employee wellness top of mind, more companies push fitness programs as the hybrid return to the office begins

Source: digiday.com With the return to the office at hand, more companies are making the wellness of their people a priority — and that includes physical fitness. Now, some employees have a high-profile workout buddy to help keep them on course. Wayfair, Samsung, SAP, Accenture Interactive and Sky are among the companies joining Peloton’s new Corporate Wellness program, which provides employees access to the Peloton app and exclusive benefits on its connected fitness products to support team building and healthy habits.

‘The tide is really turning’ on support for COVID-19 vaccine passports, expert says

Source: cbc.ca Ontario will eventually follow Quebec’s lead, Bryan Thomas predicts Ontario Premier Doug Ford has rejected adding vaccination certificates and mandating immunizations in workplaces, but one legal expert who’s argued in favour of so-called vaccine passports believes they’re inevitable. “I think the tide is really turning,” with more people supporting the idea, said Bryan Thomas, a research associate with the Centre for Law, Policy and Health Ethics at the University of Ottawa.

Here’s what Canada’s business leaders think about heading back to the office

Source: cbc.ca No one-size-fits-all approach will work — and companies that aren’t flexible will suffer It’s been more than 500 days since millions of Canadian employees were forced to suddenly work from home because of COVID-19. While the pandemic is far from over, some workplaces are starting to tackle the tough questions of when and whether to come back into the office again — and what work life will look like for people, no matter where they do it. CBC News reached out to dozens of business leaders across the country for their thoughts on the return to work.

Canadians unsure about return to workplace plans, mental strain increased

Source: kitchenertoday.com New survey suggests many Canadian workers unsure about return to workplace Canadian workers are unsure about a return to the workplace post-pandemic as many companies have started or are in the middle of developing what their return to workplace strategies may look like. LifeWorks conducted an online survey from May 28 to June 4 where 3,000 people responded to the online survey.

Canada looks to women to bolster trades amid post-pandemic labour shortage

Source: ctvnews.ca A shortage of skilled workers is intensifying in Canada, potentially threatening the pace of the economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, and that has policymakers looking at a largely untapped market for new construction workers: Women. But attracting and retaining women in the skilled trades has long proven difficult, with tradeswomen and advocates citing challenges balancing childcare and on-site work, the stubborn sexism still ingrained in some workplaces, and a lack of opportunities for women to get a foot in the door.

StatCan data shows youth unemployment rates have risen during the COVID-19 pandemic

Source: ctvnews.ca New data from Statistics Canada shows that while youth unemployment has risen during the COVID-19 pandemic, finding full-time work has been increasingly precarious since the late 1980s. The federal agency reported on Monday both male and female workers between 15 and 30 were less likely to have a full-time job in 2019 compared with 1989, a period marked by a rise in part-time employment for the age group.

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