Toxic employees can cause damage to an entire office. Whether it’s because they’re lazy, gossipy, vindictive, negative or some combination of all four, their attitude brings down morale and productivity. And, the behaviour can even increase employee turnover because some just can’t stand working in a poisonous environment.  The problem is that unless the situation […]

Your employees are your front line and the backbone of your company. Without them, where would your company be?  But how often do you say thank you for a job well done? And how often do you recognize employees who go above and beyond to meet a deadline or exceed client expectations?  The best employers […]

One of the biggest names in Canadian news this past year has been Jian Ghomeshi. Now, there’s no need to waste any breath or space writing about what he did or did not do because the courts have already ruled, he has already apologized and everyone already holds their own opinions.   From an HR perspective […]

The workplace has always been a multi-generational affair. But for decades, this affair followed a familiar pattern – the older generation lead, managed and mentored the younger generation of employees.  These days the story often follows a different script. More bright, young entrepreneurs than ever before are starting their own businesses and these new owners […]

Three years ago, Yahoo! CEO Marissa Mayer dropped a bombshell on her employees – no more working from home.  “To become the absolute best place to work, communication and collaboration will be important, so we need to be working side-by side,” read the leaked internal memo from the company. “Speed and quality are often sacrificed […]

There’s a high cost to employee turnover. Some studies estimate that the cost of replacing a salaried employee is six to nine months worth of salary in recruiting and training expenses. Other studies have found that cost to be even higher – up to two times an employee’s annual salary, particularly if it’s an executive […]

January 1 has long since come and gone. And with that date firmly in mind, did you meet the deadline for the next set of requirements under Ontario’s Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA)?  Not sure? Let’s start from the beginning.  The AODA has been in place for a number of years. It’s […]

Mentoring is an important business development tool that is too often seen as an ad hoc exercise. Training sessions, career development courses and workshops are thoroughly researched, organized and executed, but mentoring is often viewed as simply informal meetings between a manager and his or her team members.  While managers should provide feedback to employees […]

Offering benefits as part of an overall compensation package has almost become a no brainer. Employees practically expect to be offered benefits that cover – either completely or partially – their prescription drug costs, their dental visits, their paramedical services and their prescription glasses. So although salary is a key factor in attracting and retaining […]

With a little over a month left until Christmas, we have officially entered ‘holiday season.’ And, that means company holiday-party time.  And while the idea behind holiday parties is to celebrate the festive season and reward employees with an opportunity to kick back and enjoy themselves, such events can be a breeding ground for problems […]

Last year, the Ontario Government passed the Stronger Workplace for a Stronger Economy Act 2014. Every initiative within the act improves the protections afforded to employees in Ontario. As an employer, it’s important to be aware of how these changes affect your business and what you need to do to meet your obligations.   Here’s a […]

Last month, the New York Times wrote a rather brutal exposé about Amazon. The article examined the company’s workplace practices and painted it as an absolutely horrible place to work. The Internet then proceeded to light up with everyone trying to tell both sides of the story. Regardless of whether you love or hate Amazon, […]