Such a disruption is rarely welcomed by employees and managers during a busy workday, as most of us view meetings as a largely unproductive but necessary evil. But is it possible to actually enjoy meetings? Absolutely.
A 2010 post in the Harvard Business Review went so far as to suggest that some of us secretly love meetings for three main reasons: 1) we enjoy an occasion for social contact; 2) they keep us in the loop; and 3) being invited represents status (“I’m important”) and that our opinion is valued.
Whether you are looking for a new job, a better job or simply any job that will help make ends meet, it’s important to come up with an effective strategy to ensure your hunt goes smoothly.
It may be tempting to throw yourself into a “no rock left unturned” frenzy of sending out resumés, filling out applications and answering online job postings. Yet, it is essential not to panic and instead clarify your career goals, focus your job search and develop a strategy for presenting yourself as the best qualified and most desirable candidate.
No matter the sector, businesses are always seeking ways to retain and motivate their employers. The Canadian Association of Agri-Retailers knows its members are no different. In the April edition of their magazine, the CAAR Communicator, they address some important considerations for businesses to keep in mind. Looking for an expert option, the Association approached our own Colleen Coates, National Practice Leader Total Compensation to provide her insights on the topic.
“To sum up,” says Coates, “organizations need to focus on talent management strategies to ensure that employee engagement thrives.”
High-quality recommendation important in job selection
Have you ever thought you were a sure winner for that new job and then found out you were second choice? Do you know why? It could very well be because of your references.
High quality reference checks are an important part of the selection process when organizations are seeking to hire a candidate according to Jenna Buckley, HR recruiter at People First HR Services. “Reference checks rule out candidates with phoney qualifications and when done right, act as a security measure against hiring mediocre candidates,” explains Buckley.
Perhaps you have heard the tale about getting a pink slip in with your paycheque as a way of finding out about your employment termination. This tale dates back to the early 1900s and I’ve yet to see an organization actually do this. However, a quick media search finds many stories where employees have been victims of deplorable actions by their employer. One such case was the U.S. convenience store chain owner who held a contest for employees to guess who would be fired next in order to win a cash prize. Another high-profile termination was that of Yahoo’s CEO Carol Bartz who was terminated over the telephone. Then there were the RadioShack Corp. employees who found out they were being let go when they received an email explaining that workforce reduction was being carried out and “unfortunately your position is one that has been eliminated.”
The reality is losing your job can be a horrible and even devastating experience, but the good news is most employers are caring and realize terminations don’t have to be a dreadful experience, according to Eileen Kirton, regional vice-president of KWA Partners, leaders in career management services.
Floform continues to grow by knowing its product and its people
Unlike some businesses tempted to diversify as part of their growth strategy, Ted Sherritt’s company has expanded simply by staying true to the one and only product it has made since 1961 — countertops.
“Making post-form, laminate countertops is where Floform started more than 50 years ago. It was an innovative product that the founders truly pioneered and championed and it helped them dominate the industry,” says Sherritt, who took over as company president and CEO in 2000.
A recent study by the Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM) found that even though employees may be satisfied with their jobs, it does not automatically translate into having an engaged workforce.
In fact, while 83 per cent of employees said they were generally satisfied with their current positions, only 68 per cent claimed to feel passion and excitement and just 53 per cent felt tuned in at work.
These gaps are a troubling discovery for managers who want to motivate their people and drive organizational performance. While appearances might lead them to believe they have an engaged workplace, there may be serious cracks forming just below the seemingly smooth surface.
Losing someone close to you is one of the most difficult things a person can go through. As an employer, you may wonder what you can do to help a staff member through this difficult time.
One of the most important things you can do is to give them time — not only time to grieve, but time to manage the often staggering amount of planning, organizing, and paperwork that must be completed to prepare for a funeral if they are entrusted with this incredible responsibility. Having recently lost a close family member, I was shocked at the amount of time needed to complete the arrangements along with necessary legalities. The fortunate ones, like me, have an employer who is not only understanding, but also a leader in better people practices.
Fun is one of the most underrated business tools we own. When you create a fun working environment, it leads to happy, loyal and more productive employees as well as an innovative organization that attracts new opportunities.
It is well documented that laughter releases endorphins, and that leads to a sense of well-being and optimism. Now apply this to the workplace as one California researcher recently did. His study showed that people who enjoy a little fun and humour on the job tend to be more creative, are more effective at decision making and get along better with others. These employees also chalk up fewer absent, late and sick days.
Every year, more than 15 million diagnostic tests are ordered from Manitoba’s public sector — and that’s not including an additional eight to 10 million tests conducted in private facilities.
“Eighty-five per cent of all medical decisions are based on some kind of lab or medical imaging result,” says Jim Slater, CEO of Diagnostic Services of Manitoba (DSM), the non-profit corporation responsible for delivering public laboratory and rural diagnostic imaging services supported by over 1,500 professionals at 79 sites.
