Middle managers, as the bridge connecting those at the top of an organization with the wider workforce, are an integral part of how a company runs. According to a 2016 study by Harvard Business School, performance tends to be higher among employees who sense their tasks are significant to an organization and are provided with […]
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 […]
Financial stress is preventing employees, employers and the economy from reaching full potential, according to a survey by the Canadian Payroll Association. The survey found 43 per cent of workers are so financially stressed their performance at work is suffering. It noted the costs of increased absenteeism, turnover and benefits claims, as well as decreased job satisfaction and […]
Canada’s largest publicly traded companies could have eliminated their defined benefit pension deficits five times over with the value of their shareholder payouts in 2017 alone, according to a new report by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives. “Despite the decline in DB plans, a third of Canada’s biggest companies actually maintain a DB plan of some […]
Compared to the preceding years, 2019 appears to be the year of steady when it comes to progress on hot topics that resonated in the industry in 2017 and 2018. While no single topic has disappeared from the slate, neither have any new ones risen to become topics of urgency among consultants. “Last year, we […]
On Sept. 1, federally regulated employers will see the impact of several changes to the Canada Labour Code, including the new right for employees to request flexible working arrangements, as well as new leaves and other measures supporting workplace flexibility. “The changes to the code . . . will support employees in achieving better work-life […]
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, […]
A growing body of international evidence indicates education, prevention efforts and early intervention are critical to people’s mental health, according to a new study at the University of British Columbia. Mental-health efforts are taking place “across social systems and within organizational structures, including public health, educational institutions and workplaces,” noted the study, authored by Miranda Massie, a […]
People who work in negative environments have an increased chance of developing cardiovascular disease, according to a new study published in the Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. The study found that employees in “mistrustful environments” had greater risk factors for heart disease, including smoking, poor diet and obesity. It also noted that the prevalence of cardiovascular disease […]
Compared with people who don’t access employer-provided employee assistance programs, Canadians who use the services have increased workplace engagement, as well as reduced presenteeism and distress at work, according to a study published last month in the U.S.-based Journal of Workplace Behavioral Health. The study, which looked at the causal effects of Arete Human Resources Inc.’s EAPs on mental […]