Topic HR
What happened after a broker quit without proper notice
February 5, 2024 by David GambrillA B.C. broker who quit without giving proper notice under his employment contract doesn’t owe his former brokerage any money for damages, because the brokerage couldn’t prove any lost income due to the resignation, the B.C. Civil Resolution Tribunal has…
How to be a successful manager
January 31, 2024 by David GambrillMany thorny issues arising out of managing small teams can be handled professionally by remembering the core role of a manager, which is to help team members succeed, a Facebook leader told the HBR on Leadership podcast recently. Julie Zhou,…
P&C insurance industry launches collective recruitment effort
January 25, 2024 by David GambrillCanada’s property and casualty insurance industry has launched a collaborative, industry-wide recruitment effort dubbed Project Reframe. Announced by the Insurance Institute of Canada (IIC) Monday, the public education campaign aims to portray the insurance industry as an engaging, dynamic, and…
How smaller brokerages can level the playing field
January 23, 2024 by Jason ContantSmaller brokerages in the Canadian P&C insurance space can benefit from sharing best practices and platforms with other brokerages while still remaining independent, said the president of a family-owned brokerage in Nova Scotia. Earlier this month, Halifax-based Keyes Insurance became…
5 steps to negotiate a hybrid work schedule
January 19, 2024 by Jason ContantGiven the uptick in return-to-office mandates since the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s important for you to advocate for yourself as an employee who wants hybrid work, but also understand the needs of your employer if you face resistance,…
Why this national consolidator made layoffs
January 19, 2024 by Alyssa DiSabatinoWestland Insurance issued an internal email dated Jan. 15, announcing the layoff of about 30 employees, citing the inability to meet its 2023 financial targets, as well as salaries and expenses that exceeded plan. “Today, I’m sharing some very difficult…
What younger job candidates want from P&C insurance jobs
January 18, 2024 by Steve Whitelaw, Applied Systems CanadaCanada’s P&C insurance industry needs to adapt in three key areas to better recruit and retain prospects among Millennials and Gen Z. First, it should teach recruits tech skills specific to the P&C industry. Second, it should use digital technology…
Two brokerages, one MGU involved in recent deals
January 15, 2024 by Jason ContantEditor’s Note: This story has been corrected to clarify that Keyes Insurance was not acquired by the Canadian Broker Network but rather joined its membership. Keyes Insurance remains a fully independent brokerage solely owned by Shaun Keyes. Canadian Underwriter apologizes…
Return-to-office and flexibility: can they coexist?
January 11, 2024 by Alyssa DiSabatinoP&C leaders may be able to bring staff back into the office without sacrificing the flexibility their employees want. In fact, the key to getting ‘return to office’ right is an organization’s ability to draw workers back to their desks,…
WTW names head of personal lines for Canada, U.S.
January 10, 2024 by Jason ContantLarge brokerage WTW has appointed Despina Buganski as head of personal lines for its Corporate Risk & Broking division for North America (CRB NA). Effective immediately, both WTW’s Canadian and U.S. personal lines teams will report directly to Buganski, the…
How firms are training tomorrow’s talent
January 8, 2024 by Alyssa Di SabatinoIntermediate and senior underwriting positions are opening up across the industry. That has firms looking for ways to cultivate junior underwriters into successive roles. The issue, though, is that learning curves can be steep for new hires. Up-and-coming underwriters are…
How can you be a better leader? Forget about work after quitting time
January 5, 2024 by David GambrillEmployees deem leaders who psychologically detach from work when they aren’t in the workplace as more powerful and engaged in the office, new research shows. “We found that when leaders psychologically detached from work when at home – they did…