When my husband got a new job in Pickering, Ont., it became clear that a four-hour return commute from our west-end neighbourhood on public transit wasn’t sustainable for him. We weighed the pros and cons of either moving or buying a car. The car won out, but only if we could both use it as […]
Two-thirds (66 per cent) of working Canadians said they expect to do extra work either before or after their vacation, according to a survey by ADP Canada Co. The survey, which polled more than 1,500 Canadians, found employees who put in extra time said they expect to spend an average of 16 additional hours before vacation and […]
While nearly two-thirds (63 per cent) of Canadian plan sponsors believe their benefits plans meet current workforce diversity needs, 87 per cent noted employee expectations for benefits and the workplace have changed, according to a survey from Aon. Today’s employees expect more flexible working hours (84 per cent), support to achieve work-life balance (79 per […]
Canadian employers are going beyond traditional health benefits to address all the facets of their employees’ well-being, according to a new survey by global staffing firm Robert Half. The survey found employers are offering physical (63 per cent), financial (65 per cent) and mental (73 per cent) wellness programs. As well, organizations are covering at least some of the […]
Since Grace Palombo joined Great-West Lifeco Inc. five years ago, she’s seen a shift at the company. Back then, in her role as executive vice-president and chief human resources officer, she was the only woman in a group of 12 executives who reported to the chief executive officer. Today, the company’s leadership includes eight members […]
Pethealth Inc.’s senior vice-president of HR talks flexible working, mental health and crime fiction. Q. What top challenges do you face in your role? A. A key challenge is balancing between the needs and wants of employees. For example, employees at different life stages value different benefits — some employees want more vacation time, while […]
Working Canadians are negatively impacted by the demands of caring for an elderly relative, according to a new study from Ryerson University. Michael Halinski, assistant professor of organizational behaviour and human resource management at the university’s Ted Rogers School of Management, found the demands of elder care results in less sleep and time to pursue […]
A third (30 per cent) of employees said they’ve left a job because it didn’t offer flexible working options, according to a new survey by FlexJobs. The survey, which polled more than 7,000 workers, found 80 per cent would be more loyal to their employers if they had flexible working options and 52 per cent […]
Employees at Saskatchewan Telecommunications Holding Corp. are giving Unifor’s bargaining team a strong mandate to take strike action, if necessary, in the quest for a fair contract. The provisions of the contract include mental-health days, domestic violence leave and part-time hours, says Dan Bailey, national representative for Unifor. “We’re focusing in on mental health in the workplace, […]
About two-thirds (65 per cent) of U.S. employers are now offering parental leave for employees who’ve worked at their organizations for less than a year, according to a new survey by WorldatWork and PTO Exchange. The survey, which collected responses from more than 500 WorldatWork members, found more than half of organizations said they’re now […]