Our widely aged workforce
What have workers heard during the last 20 years?
In the 1990s we told Boomers (currently around 60 years old), working hard enough to destroy healthy hearts and marriages, “So you lost a job at middle age. The world is a different place than when your parents worked. Pick up your bootstraps and get another job. Become confident and empowered.” They did.
To Gen Xers (now in their 40s), graduating during the mid-90s recession we said, “Take whatever you can get. Prepare to change fields several times through your career. You work in a global economy and can’t expect help. Don’t count on pensions or benefits. Accept the paradigm shift.” We did.
To Gen Yers/Millenials (in their 20s today) we say “Established employees retain the highest management jobs and salaries. They want, have the right to, and some need, to keep working. Be entrepreneurial. Train yourself. This isn’t your parents’ workplace. Expect nothing from anyone.” They don’t.
I say that’s a good thing because we don’t worry about them. They’re young and technically savvy. They possess high levels of education and confidence. Some perceive them as “lazy workers” not willing to pay their dues. Do you blame them? The Millenials’ next job will last a maximum of 3-5 years. Previous workers retained hope of eventually getting “full-time permanent” employment with pensions and benefits. Millenials can’t plan to buy cars, condos, or start families within the foreseeable future. Approximately 1/3 of them, diplomas and degrees in hand, move back home seeking food, shelter, and comfort from Mom and Dad.
Until we, as workers, leaders and citizens force employers and government to give young workers a chance, they are better off at home. In between short term positions they aren’t forced to “take any job in their region for which they are qualified after seven weeks of benefits, even if…the job means taking a 30 percent pay cut.” as planned by the Federal government. They can eat nutritiously instead of surviving on the $227 basic needs dollars provided monthly by social assistance**. If we don’t offer the Millenials hope, we can’t expect them to expand their boundaries. We must give them a reason to move and build their own lives or else we all lose.
How workers with Autism boost Innovation
This is an interesting article on how individuals with differing abilities, particularly those with Autism, have developed skills at using information in alternative ways. Phil McKinney, founder of Hacking Autism, a group helping match people with autism with employment say, “high functioning Autistic people are ‘hard wired’ to look at things in an unconventional way. Employees working in the tech world can help their companies generate new ideas for products and services, which is greatly in demand in the highly competitive field.
Canadian Pension Updates – as of April 16, ’12
The age to receive OAS, old age security, has been increased from 65-67. You can also choose to defer taking your OAS until much later thereby increasing it. If the legislation passes, you can start deferring as soon as July 2012. The Star gives the example “Rita who turns 65 in December 2013, plans to work for as long as she can. She ops to work until 70. Here pension will then be $8,814, rather that $6,481 (in 2012 dollars).
For all recent updates go to:
New website helps new English speakers Enunciate Better
Brock University linguistics professor Ron Thomson created a free site to help new Canadians with pronouncing English. “The focus of these tools is to help non-English speakers better hear differences between different English sounds”, he says. Job candidates who are able to be understood very clearly in English with a softer accent, can find the job search easier than others. Thomson’s English Accent Coach is a free website, or mobilphiles can pay $1.99 for the app.
From The Toronto Star, March 12, 2012 GT3
Employers requiring candidate Facebook passwords? Where’s the logic folks?
Can Minister Kenney manage Transformational Change ?
Toronto Star posts “Her turn for job losses”
An article in The Star points to upcoming losses in jobs creating a “she-cession”. Armine Yalnizyan, a senior economist with the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives explains:
What happens in every recession is the first wave is a ‘he-cession’. The first thing that gets hit is the stuff we trade and buy, which are predominantly male jobs. Any prolonged recession hits women, because we reduce discretionary spending on services. The third wave is if governments decide on austerity and public-sector cuts, and the public sector is a female-dominated sector.
Some of the losses are expected in federal jobs (up to 160,000 one union states), health care and education (6,000 jobs expected by the Ontario English Catholic Teachers’ Association) and administrative support across all industries.
From The Toronto Star, Feb. 25 2012, B1, B4 by Dana Flavelle
Free Virtual Conference on HR Stategy and Execution
Register today for Feb. 23-24th.
Is it possible to restrict employees from Internet at work ? In a word, no.
How does Canadian Immigration affect Employment ?
Government announced changes for December 2011.
Tests now required for language points under Quebec Skilled Worker program
As of December 5th, new candidates to the Quebec Skilled Worker program who want to receive points for language for French and/or English, will have to submit test results along with their application. >>Read more…
• Live-in caregivers can now get work permits significantly sooner
Foreigners in Canada under the Live-in Caregiver Program (LCP) can now receive open work permits immediately after completing their caregiver commitments, and submitting an application for permanent residence (PR). >> Read more…
• Some no longer must submit passports once granted permanent residence
A final step during the application for Canadian Permanent Resident status, submitting your passport to the visa office so it can be stamped, is no longer necessary for citizens from Visitor Visa exempt countries. >> Read more…
HR and You 