May 3, 2010
- Call them Gen Y or the Millennials – either way "a change is gonna come"
- Work in Progress
- Innovative Workplace Practices – First Quarter 2010
- Contesting the Constitutionality of the Amendments to the Saskatchewan Trade Union Act (Bill 6)
- BCGEU Members Ratify Agreement with Province
- National Day of Mourning
- Advancing Workplace Mental Health
- Bad Faith Firing
- The State of Corporate Citizenship in 2009
- Leadership Competencies for Corporate Citizenship
- Women in Non-traditional Occupations and Fields of Study
- New Perspectives on Access to Postsecondary Education
- Group Benefits Providers Report
- Pension Reform -- Expanding the CPP
- Book of the Week
Call them Gen Y or the Millennials – either way a change is gonna come
Just take a look at the numbers: “American baby boomers born between 1946 and 1964 number 78.5 million. Generation Xers born between 1964 and 1977 number 48 millions. Enter the Generation Y horde numbering 80 million.”
“Generations, like people, have personalities, and Millennials – the American teens and twenty-somethings currently making the passage into adulthood – have begun to forge theirs: confident, self-expressive, liberal, upbeat and receptive to new ideas and ways of living.” Read the most recent research available on the Millennials (generation Y) from PEW Research and the Boston College Center for Corporate Citizenship.
PEW Research Centre, February 2010: MILLENNIALS: A Portrait of Generation Next: Confident, Connected, Open to Change (149 pages, PDF)
Executive Summary, February 24, 2010: Millennials: Confident, Connected, Open to Change
International Corporate Citizenship Conference 2010: Corporate Citizenship: Winning a Seat at the Table, April 11-13, 2010: Blog Posts: 2010 Conference: Generation Y – Who are they, where did they come from and why should you care?
Work in Progress
Don’t miss the series Work in Progress from CBC Radio One: “The Current’s series Work in Progress promises to explore developing trends and changes in how and why we work. We start with a very simple premise: everyone works, paid or not, and everyone has an opinion about work. We will tap into the national work ethos to witness work … in progress.”
Why Work Sucks…
Results Only Work Environment: is the tile of the most recent show broadcast on May 3, 2010
“How's this for workplace freedom? Show up when you like. Do what you want. And leave when you please. For the people behind a new management strategy called the Results Only Work Environment, that's all fine ... as long as the work gets done.” The CIRHR Library also has the book titled, Why Work Sucks and How to Fix It, that describes the ROWE management strategy.
Work in Progress website –scroll down to each program and listen or download the mp3
Innovative Workplace Practices – First Quarter 2010
The Labour Program, Human Resources and Social Development Canada (HRSDC), has published its quarterly overview of workplace innovative practices. This overview is based on a review of 40 collective agreements ratified during the first quarter of 2010. An innovative provision could include trend-setting changes to workplace practices such as how to manage work-life balance in the workplace. This issue includes innovation in compensation, pension plans, job security, foreign worker program and labour management committees.
Innovative Workplace Practices – First Quarter 2010, April 30, 2010 (3 pages, PDF)
Workplace Bulletin, April 30, 2010
Contesting the Constitutionality of the Amendments to the Saskatchewan Trade Union Act (Bill 6)
A recent study from the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives contributes to “the current debate over the extent to which legislatures can limit workers’ rights and freedoms. The study also thoroughly evaluates recent Supreme Court decisions, with emphasis on the Dunmore decisions and Health Services et al v. B.C. to determine if recent guidance by the Supreme Court will uphold Bill 6.”
Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, April 21, 2010: Restoring the Bargain: Contesting the Constitutionality of the Amendments to the Saskatchewan Trade Union Act (Bill 6) by Dr. S. Muthu
BCGEU Members Ratify Agreement with Province
A recent news release from the B.C. Government and Service Employees’ Union (BCGEU) announced the successful passing of a two-year agreement with the British Columbia provincial government. The 29,000 BCGEU members covered by the new agreement provide public services in a variety of areas from health care to education. Under the terms of the agreement, employment security provisions have been renewed and improved as stated by BCGEU president, Darryl Walker.
Other highlights of the two-year agreement expiring March 31, 2012 include:
No general wage increase because of the province's two year wage freeze, but a continuation of current temporary market adjustments (TMAs).
Improved extended health benefits, such as hearing aids and leave for family illness in the case of illness or hospitalization of the employee's spouse or leave for care for adult dependent children.
BCGEU: Public Service Agreement: All you need to know 27 Apr '10: The following is a summary of the information available on the tentative public service agreement. There are links to each document on the BCGEU web site.
MEMORANDUM OF SETTLEMENT 15th Master Agreement between the Government of the Province of British Columbia represented by BC Public Service Agency and the B.C. Government and Service Employees' Union (38 pages, PDF)
National Day of Mourning
April 28, 2010 marked the 26th anniversary of the National Day of Mourning. The day, which was initiated by the Canadian Labour Congress in 1984, was created to honour the millions of lives that have been forever changed by a workplace injury, illness or fatality. The day was officially recognized by the Canadian Federal Government in 1991.
In 2008, 1,036 workplace deaths were recorded in Canada – this represents more than 2 (2.43) deaths every single day. Another 942,478 were injured or become ill.
In the sixteen year period 14,190 people lost their lives due to work-related causes from 1993 to 2008 (an average of 887 deaths per year).
Last year, 73 people were killed by traumatic fatalities at work in Ontario and another 261 from occupational disease. In addition, over 64,000 were injured seriously enough to miss work. To commemorate the occasion, a series of province-wide activities were implemented including the illumination of the CN Tower in yellow. WorkSafeBC’s Day of Mourning webpage is quite poignant in its recognition of lives lost on the job.
News Statement, Canadian Labour Congress, April 15, 2010
News Release, Workplace Safety & Insurance Board, April 28, 2010 (2 pages, PDF)
Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety: National Day of Mourning — April 28, 2010
Workers Health & Safety Centre: Day of Mourning April 28, 2010
Advancing Workplace Mental Health
The Mental Health Commission of Canada’s website, A Leadership Framework for Advancing Workplace Mental Healthtakes one step-by-step through a business case for creating a mentally healthy workplace. The resources page also provides links to other websites dedicated to creating mentally healthy Canadian workplaces.
Benefits Canada website, April 29, 2010: Mental illness: the elephant in the office, by April Scott-Clarke
Bad Faith Firing
“In a decision that establishes important new precedents, Arbitrator Owen Shime has awarded damages totaling more than $500,000 to a long-serving employee who was fired while recuperating from surgery. In a scathing 136-page decision, Arbitrator Shime found that the grievor was "an honest and diligent employee" who "at no time malingered or attempted to wrongfully obtain sick benefits" and that the employer's conduct was "so egregious that I determine it acted in bad faith." “[from Lancaster House website]
Lancaster House, April 22, 2010: Prominent arbitrator awards $500,000 plus for "bad faith" firing [link to full text of the award is available at the end of the posting]
Doorey’s Workplace Law Blog (April 26, 2010 posting) blog post on this precedent setting award
The State of Corporate Citizenship in 2009
The report on the State of Corporate Citizenship in United States, 2009 has earned the Hitachi Foundation an award from the Council on Foundations which recognizes excellence in communication strategies and techniques.The 2009 State of Corporate Citizenship in the United States was the fourth biennial survey of the attitudes and actions of senior executives in small, medium and large businesses regarding corporate citizenship. It also explored the challenges of integrating corporate citizenship into core business practices and how tough economic times have impacted these practices. For the first time it examined how executives view new public policy challenges and their reaction to public expectations for better regulation of business.
Boston College, Carroll School of Management, September 2009: Weathering the storm: The State of Corporate Citizenship in the United States 2009 (48 pages, PDF) click on Availability: PDF on the lower right – you may have to register to access this free publication -- you can obtain a free subscriber account here
Leadership Competencies for Corporate Citizenship
In 2009 the Boston College Center for Corporate Citizenship worked with the Hay Group to develop a framework for helping companies manage and staff the corporate citizenship function to support the integration of corporate citizenship principles and policies across the business. This report looks at the role and responsibilities of those leading the corporate citizenship function and the competencies needed to succeed in this position. While created specifically for the senior leadership role, this competency model can also serve as a useful guide for development of corporate citizenship professionals at all levels as they work to improve performance and advance their careers.
Boston College, Carroll School of Management, January 25, 2010: Leadership Competencies for Corporate Citizenship: Getting to the roots of success(44 pages, PDF) click on Availability: PDF on the lower right – you will have to register to access this free publication -- you can obtain a free subscriber account here
Women in Non-traditional Occupations and Fields of Study
"The situation of women in Canadian society and in the labour market has undergone a massive shift over the past few decades. Women now account for the majority of university graduates; the gender gap in labour market participation in 2009 narrowed to a small fraction of its size in 1976; and increasingly, women are found in non-traditional occupations and fields of study. That being said, there still are many occupations that reflect historical gender roles. That is because fundamental societal shifts like these typically take place over an extended period of time, reflecting changes in behaviours of successive cohorts of young people."
"This article takes stock of changes that have taken place over time in the occupations held by women in the labour market and in the fields of study they are choosing at the postsecondary level. It demonstrates where changes have occurred and suggests where change may happen in future as a result of shifts in the composition of postsecondary education graduates."
“Women in Non-traditional Occupations and Fields of Study,” in Education Matters: Insights on Education, Learning and Training in Canada, Vol. 7 no. 1, April 2010, Statistics Canada. (released on April 29, 2010)
New Perspectives on Access to Postsecondary Education
"Recently, a group of researchers combined their efforts to provide new insights not only into issues pertaining to access to postsecondary education, but also persistence through to completion and other related issues, using data from the Youth in Transition Survey."
“New Perspectives on Access to Postsecondary Education,” in Education Matters: Insights on Education, Learning and Training in Canada, Vol. 7 no. 1, April 2010, Statistics Canada. (released on April 29, 2010)
Globe and Mail, May 3, 2010: Globe editorial: Back to School
Group Benefits Providers Report
Benefits Canada has published a report on what plan sponsors and insurers are doing to keep benefit costs down and still improve customer service.
Benefits Canada, April 2010: Group Benefits Providers Report: Last year, while plan sponsors focused on maintaining costs, they turned to their insurance companies asking for the most for the least. Plan sponsors, in other words, were looking for a deal. And some insurance carriers complied, by Brooke Smith (4 pages, PDF)
Pension Reform -- Expanding the CPP
A report by pension expert and CCPA Research Associate Monica Townson argues that expanding the Canada Pension Plan is the most effective way to address Canada's pension difficulties.
Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, April 14, 2010: Options for Pension Reform: Expanding the Canada Pension Plan
Book of the Week
Beyond Dealmaking: Five Steps to Negotiating Profitable Relationships, by Melanie Billings-Yun. San Francisco : Jossey-Bass, 2010. 279 p. ISBN 9780470471906 (hbk.)
Getting to yes is not the same as getting results. In Beyond Dealmaking, international negotiation expert and mediator Melanie Billings-Yun shows that the key to winning unbeatable, long-term results in today's complex economic landscape is to negotiate solid longterm relationships.
Traditionally, negotiation has been approached as an isolated activity, separate from the business relationship. But those who focus only on getting the deal closed often find their victory doesn't translate into sustainable profits. Any deal is as fragile as the paper it's written on. Countless disputes arise and deals easily collapse when the negotiation process leaves one party unhappy, feeling forced into unfair terms, or even disgruntled at a change in circumstances. In five clear steps, Billings-Yun takes the pain and fear out of negotiation with her proven GRASP method.
Filled with real-life examples of negotiations that have gone right and wrong, this groundbreaking book shows how fairness, honesty, empathy, flexibility, and mutual problem-solving lead to sustainable success. By following the powerful five-step GRASP negotiation process, anyone can learn to negotiate in a way that is positive, exciting, and rewarding. Most importantly, they will learn that the greatest victories come not through fighting battles, but through building alliances.
About the Author:
Melanie Billings-Yun, Ph.D., founded and was senior partner of Global Resolutions, a consulting firm providing negotiation assistance and expertise to businesses, governments, and individuals around the globe. Formerly a research director and lecturer on history at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government, she has spent the past two decades working with leading companies to improve their internal and external relationships through negotiation. She teaches at the Master of International Management program at Portland State University and resides in Washington, D.C.
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