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Aug 08
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Survey: “Canadian CEOs expect challenges in recruiting and integrating younger workers”

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According to Canadian HR Reporter, “75 per cent of Canadian CEOs expect challenges in recruiting and integrating younger workers, compared to just 54 per cent of their global counterparts.”

A survey of 1,201 CEOs worldwide, conducted by PwC (and recently feature in a Canadian HR Reporter article) found that Canadian CEOs are also more focused on recruiting and retaining older workers than their global counterparts.

The explanation for this is twofold: as most employers are well aware, Canada’s population is aging. The article points out that Career Edge Organization Host Employer BMO Bank of Montreal has over 46,000 employees who are “experienced workers,” and the bank continues to invest in programs to ensure continued retention. Examples include mentoring programs and flexible work arrangements as well as ongoing training and professional development.

BMO is not alone. 83 per cent of the Canadian CEOs surveyed expect that a key concern in coming years will be the limited supply of skilled candidates – compared to 66 per cent globally.

Many of Career Edge Organization’s host employers are thinking “outside-the-box” to address the issue of retirement and looming skills shortages that have been on the horizon for several years now. While strategies include programs to retain older workers, employers are also building new talent pipeline, and considering untapped talent pools.

Canada is very fortunate to be a destination of choice for internationally qualified professionals – immigrants who bring experience, education and skills to the table, as well as the added benefit of unique and diverse perspectives.

Looking at our Career Bridge paid internship program’s talent pool, it’s hard to imagine any shortage of skills. Consider the stats:

  • Over 60 per cent of our registrants have a Masters degree or higher
  • 80% have at least five years of relevant work experience
  • 51% have been in the workforce for at least 10 years
  • The majority are bilingual – with strong English business communication skills as well as other languages that can help companies compete globally as well as better serve diverse customers locally

Employers looking to develop the skills of younger or less experienced workers turn to our Career Edge and Ability Edge paid internship programs, for recent graduates and grads with disabilities, respectively. This employers are long-term thinkers with sustainability in mind. And it works! Some of our original Career Edge interns from 1996 are now still with their Host organizations, in leadership roles.

The PwC survey is a positive sign that organizational leaders are recognizing the potential talent management challenges that lie ahead, and we’re happy to share solutions and best practices.

Jul 28
Love3

The many monikers of Canada’s August long weekend

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Most Canadians are well versed in the stories of Christmas and Easter, and we all know that Canada Day recognizes the birthday of our nation. But for many, the first-Monday-of-August long weekend (often referred to on calendars as “Civic Holiday”) is shrouded in mystery and, at times, confusion.

Let us clear the air on this one.

A long time ago there was a lengthy and dreary gap between Canada Day and Labour Day where no holiday occurred. The first Monday of August, occurring right in the middle between the two, seemed like the perfect place for a summer holiday.

But there is more to it than that. Few know that what is most widely known as “Civic Holiday” actually has ties to the abolition of slavery which officially took place on August 1, 1834. Some communities across Canada call this “Emancipation Day.”

Many Ontarians would be surprised to learn that “Civic Holiday” is not the official name of our optional Monday off, and that it is only a statutory holiday in Nunavut and Northwest Territories.

Across Canada, the day is known as “British Columbia Day,” “New Brunswick Day” or “Saskatchewan Day,” depending on where you are. Alberta calls it “Heritage Day,” and in Nova Scotia and PEI, they celebrate “Natal Day.”

In Ontario, the holiday has many aliases. It began in 1869 when Toronto City Council marked it as a “day of recreation.” Later on, Burlington recognized the Monday as “Joseph Brant Day,” while Brantford, Oshawa, Ottawa and Sarnia all followed suit with names of their own (Founders’ Day, McLaughlin Day, Colonel By Day, and Alexander Mackenzie Day, respectively). Municipalities across Ontario have a range of local names for the holiday honouring different historical figures, yet most Ontario workplaces simply go with “Civic Holiday”.

Today, Toronto’s official name for the first-Monday-of-August long weekend is “Simcoe Day,” and it coincides with Toronto’s annual Caribana festival. And although many organizations give employees the day off (Career Edge Organization included), this Monday is not a “statutory holiday” nor is it recognized or mentioned in Ontario’s Employment Standards Act.

So this Monday, as you enjoy your “freedom” from the office, take a moment to reflect on what it means to have freedom in Canada. Remember that, contrary to popular belief, this holiday is more than just an extra day in cottage country.

Jul 08
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Compliance Manual: Accessibility Standards for Customer Service in Ontario

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Career Edge Organization prides itself on being informed and up-to-date on important issues pertaining to Human Resources, employment, diversity and inclusion. The more we know, the better we can help the hundreds of host employers we work with create meaningful work opportunities for recent grads, grads with disabilities and internationally qualified professionals.

This is why our Market Development and Client Relations Specialist, Jessica Kudlats, recently attended a session on AODA (an acronym for Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act)  legislation held at the Toronto Board of Trade.

The purpose of the session was to explain the Act, specifically Customer service standard and compliance obligations. Most employers are already up to speed, but still there are many who are surprised to learn that as of January 1, 2012, all businesses in Ontario will be required to comply.

While this piece of legislation focuses on customers, employers are finding that by making their businesses more accessible and accommodating, they are able to attract more top talent than ever before.

Through our blog and online resources, we will do our part to ensure that employers are informed of what is required, but we will also share stories of success from both employers and persons with disabilities. In the mean time, here is a link to the Government of Ontario’s Compliance Manual on Accessibility Standards for Customer Service.

Jun 24
Love4

Interactive map: Youth Unemployment in Canada

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At the height of the recession, youth in Canada faced nearly double the unemployment rate as the general population. We reported this in October 2009, in our blog post, “Vital Signs Weak for Youth Employment.”

Today, as Canada continues to rebound from its economic woes, it seems that Canadian youth have been left behind.

Craig Alexander, chief economist at Toronto-Dominion Bank, told the Globe that the youth job market is running about one to 1½ years behind the adult job market. “The hope would be that they would actually stay in the educational system and develop greater skills that would then later help them when the labour market improves, but the evidence is not strong that that is happening,” he said.Interactive Map: Youth Unemployment

The Canadian employment market is improving – there were 22,300 new jobs created last month alone, according to a Statistics Canada report released earlier this week.  But while overall unemployment fell to 7.4 % last month, unemployment for Canadians between the ages of 15 and 24 was still as high as nearly 14%.

Click the map image to go directly to the Globe and Mail’s interactive online map, displaying youth unemployment rates across Canada.

Why hire recent grads?

Career Edge Organization host employers who work with our Career Edge and Ability Edge paid internship programs know first-hand the value of hiring youth. Career Edge Organization attracts career-minded, recent graduates from Canadian universities and colleges who are seeking real-world work experience through meaningful, entry-level paid internships with reputable companies that recognize the benefits of their energy, fresh perspectives and newly acquired skills.

To learn more about how you can help put Canadian grads to work, visit our website, www.careeredge.ca.

Jun 09
Love4

Career Edge Organization presents Gen Y study at the CACEE National Conference

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From August 30 to September 30, 2010 Career Edge Organization conducted an anonymous online survey among 1,118 young Canadians ages 18-29. The idea was to build on insights from our Gen Y: Part I Survey but this time offer employers a closer look at the career aspirations and expectations of “Generation Y” (ages 18-29), particularly with respect to workplace culture and work environment.

Like its predecessor, our second Gen Y Survey was a hit. The surprising results were published in over a dozen major publications across Canada including the Toronto Star, the Ottawa Citizen, the Montreal Gazette, the Calgary Herald, the Vancouver Sun, the Edmonton Journal and the Canadian HR Reporter, to name a few. Companies such as TD Waterhouse also added this information to their HR sites as reference. Here are some of the articles:

TheStar.com
Study: What twentysomethings want from their job
http://www.thestar.com/business/article/884676–study-what-twentysomethings-want-from-their-jobs

CanadianHRReporter.com
Gen-Y employees want traditional environment, compensation: Survey
http://www.hrreporter.com/ArticleView.aspx?l=1&articleid=8387

VancouverSun.com
Gen Y, more traditional than previously thought
http://www.vancouversun.com/business/more+traditional+than+previously+thought/3787907/story.html

Recently, our VP Donna Smith and our Director of Marketing & Communications, Janice Rudkowski, presented the findings to an engaged and enthusiastic audience of employers and career educators at  this year’s CACEE  National Conference.

The annual event brings together between 250-350 human resources and career services professionals representing academic institutions and employers across Canada.

Next week we will be posting some tidbits from our survey, starting with a coveted list of the Top 10 Employers as selected by Gen Y respondents. So, stay tuned!

May 27
Love4

Study reveals “the role and future of HR” from the perspective of Canadian CEOs

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Some have said that HR professionals are not fully appreciated or valued in Canadian organizations, but the results of a recent study show just the opposite.

The Human Resources Professionals Association (HRPA), in partnership with Knightsbridge Human Capital Solutions, conducted in-person and telephone interviews with twenty CEOs from a cross-section of Canadian organizations. Questions centered on the value HR brings to the business, major human capital challenges as well as what they look for in a Chief Human Resource Officer.

CEOs believe that senior HR executives have done a good job working as a partner during the last few years, but going forward they expect them to couple their HR skills with a much deeper understanding of the business.

Excerpt from “The Role and Future of HR: The CEO’s Perspective”

But while CEOs called HR executives “trusted confidants who add value,” there was also the sense that HR strategies needed to have a stronger link to the overall business strategies of the organization.

The study also revealed that CEOs feel HR leaders need to show more assertion in the boardroom. One stated ,”HR issues get ignored in the heat of the battle.”

Do you think HR leaders are assertive enough in having their voices heard? Let us know what you think!

Click here to read the full report.

May 19
Love4

Career Bridge Program Alumna featured in Canadian Immigrant

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000 tetAt Career Edge Organization, one of our greatest measures of success is the success of our former interns. This is why we are continuously working to improve our connectivity and communication with those who have participated in our Career Edge, Ability Edge or Career Bridge paid internship programs – folks we now fondly refer to as “Alumni.”

Many of our former interns have moved on (and up) in their careers to achieve enormous success in their chosen fields, and like proud parents, all of us here get a warm, fuzzy feeling when we hear about the impact our host employers have helped us make.

One of these amazing former interns is Teresita “Tet” Lopez-Rabson. You may recall, we featured Tet in our special edition newsletter from September 2010 when we celebrated our 10,000th intern.

Tet, who got her start at Seneca College as a Career Bridge intern in 2004, has since climbed the ranks to Director and now coaches and hires Career Bridge interns herself! Tet has also remained engaged with us here at Career Edge Organization, participating in events like our recent 2010/11 Achievement Awards where she took part in a special ceremony to commemorate our 15th anniversary.

Now Tet is making headlines again, this time in Canadian Immigrant magazine. Click here to read her story on canadianimmigrant.ca!

Due to her can-do attitude and lovely personality, it is no surprise to us that Tet’s story has captured the attention of so many – she is an excellent example of the thousands of incredible people who faced barriers to employment and tore those barriers down. Kudos to Tet, and to Seneca College for seeing her great potential!

May 13
Love4

City of Toronto recognized for “Immigrant Success”

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When the opportunity came to us to nominate an employer for TRIEC’s annual Immigrant Success Awards, we had a difficult decision to make. Career Edge Organization works with so many incredible organizations (both big and small, private and public and not-for-profit too) in Ontario who use the Career Bridge paid internship program for hiring internationally qualified professionals.

In 2009, we nominated St. Michael’s Hospital for the Toronto Star Award for Excellence in Workplace Integration, and they won!

In 2009, Career Edge Organization nominated St. Michael's hospital - and they won!

John King, Senior VP & CAO, St. Michael’s (top right) – Photo credit: MANSA Photography

After some deliberation, this year we decided to nominate the City of Toronto. It was definitely the right choice. 2010 was a fantastic year for the city in terms of creating meaningful paid internship opportunities for immigrants. As one of the most diverse cities in North America, the City of Toronto is expected to lead by example, and they truly have embraced this challenge.

Although the City of Toronto was not selected by TRIEC as one of this year’s winners, they were shortlisted as a finalist and received recognition on their website and at their event.

Here is what TRIEC had to say about the City of Toronto:

When half of the population are immigrants, it is critical that city government reflects its community. The City of Toronto has been involved in many programs that give opportunities to skilled immigrants, but it is only recently that it has began to link initiatives together, developing action plans and embedding strategies – to ensure that best practices are organization-wide.

The City of Toronto has developed and publicized a long-term human resource strategy — the Public Service People Plan. Says the City’s Barbara Shulman, Director, Strategic Recruitment, Compensation & Employment Services: “The City is a leader in service delivery because of its positive and productive work environment that is inclusive and reflective of the diverse community it serves.”

Programs that fall under the strategy include working with a specialized engineering co-op program through the Toronto District School Board; making HR more accessible with a walk-in employment office at Metro Hall; improved onboarding systems; and long-time partnership involvement in mentoring and internship for skilled immigrants.

Since 2003, the City has provided more than 75 paid internships through Career Bridge, with more than one third of participants hired full-time. Originally in just two divisions, Career Bridge is now active in 14 divisions.

The City is also one of the original corporate partners of TRIEC’s Mentoring Partnership, with 238 City employees mentoring 554 skilled immigrants to date. Initially the program began with 29 mentors representing accounting, engineering and IT. Today the program has spread to include 16 professions across the organization.

Career Edge Organization worked with some of our key contacts at the City of Toronto to put together this award submission. When the time came around for our own Achievement Awards, we were happy to present them with one of our coveted “Career Bridge Program Awards.” Congratulations to everyone at the City of Toronto!

Apr 29
Love4

It’s easy being green: 5 Tips to green your workplace

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By guest contributor, Sydney Helland, Marketing & Communications Coordinator at Career Edge Organization

Bud

Last Friday, April 22nd Canadians across the country mobilized to celebrate Earth Day 2011 by raising awareness about the importance of going green.

Since 1970, this environmental movement has been inspiring individuals and organizations to show their commitment to environmental protection and sustainability, and Canadian employers have been no exception.

In recognition of Earth Day 2011, Canada’s Top 100 Employers released the results of its 2011 Canada’s Greenest Employers competition. The Canadian employers that received this special designation have demonstrated exceptional leadership in creating a workplace culture of environmental awareness while developing earth-friendly initiatives. Career Edge Organization would like to congratulate all those who made the cut!

If you’re wondering what you and/or your organization can do to lessen your footprint on the earth and to join this professional group of environmental stewards, check out the following Top 5 Ways to Green Your Workplace!

  1. Green your commute: Using personal motor vehicles to get to work puts an incredible strain on the environment through the consumption of billions of gallons of gas each year. We can alleviate this strain by carpooling, taking public transit, cycling or walking.
    Tip: The Shadow eBike – the world’s first wireless, electric bicycle – is certainly on the cutting edge of green commuting, plus it’s designed, developed and assembled in Canada!
  2. Go paperless: Reducing the amount of paper used in the typical office can be difficult, but any attempt to reduce, reuse, and recycle paper can have an impact. 
    Tip:     You can help save paper quite simply by printing double-sided, purchasing paper made with post-consumer content, and reusing scrap paper from the blue bin for notes. If you use a vendor for paper shredding, contact them to find out about their recycling programs.
  3. Digitize: Although hard copies are required in particular situations, consider going digital whenever possible. 
    Tip:     A filing cabinet full of paper archives can often be replaced by a 350GB digital hard drive.
  4. Conserve energy: There are hundreds of small energy suckers hidden around offices, and it’s easy to address them once you know where to look. The clock on the break room microwave, computer monitors, printers, photocopiers, television screens and media players all use energy even when they aren’t actively being used. 
    Tip:     By plugging most office electronics into power bars, you can cut the power and save energy with the push of a button at the end of the day.
  5. Green your lunch: Coffee cups, plastic water bottles, Styrofoam take-away containers, and food packaging of all kinds are polluting our world constantly. 
    Tip:     Switch to reusable or compostable food and beverage containers as much as possible. By using a personal water bottle, coffee tumbler and food containers for your daily lunches and snacks you will significantly reduce the amount of waste that ends up in landfills.

Do you have eco-friendly ideas of your own? Please share them with us so we can all pitch in toward a greener Canadian work culture!

Apr 01
Love3

Driving your business strategy: Adapting to changes in Canadian demographics

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This past week, our President and CEO, Anne Lamont was invited by the Toronto Board of Trade to participate in a Webinar aimed at employers in the GTA. The complimentary webinar, entitled Driving Your Business Strategy: Adapting to Changes in Canadian Demographics addressed the need for businesses to adapt and change with the times, identifying “new opportunities” in the form of diverse talent pools.

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