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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.”

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.

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.

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…

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.

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.

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.

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.

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:

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.