Topic HR
The 2 ‘power skills’ needed for the new world of work
March 10, 2021 by Jason ContantLearning and development (L&D) leaders across Canada have cited resilience and digital fluency as the two most important “power skills” for the new world of work in 2021, one year after the COVID-19 was declared a global pandemic. “There are…
What it’s like being hired in a pandemic
March 10, 2021 by Adam MalikThe process of getting hired might be shorter in terms of start to finish these days during a pandemic when everything is virtual, but much more is happening along the way, according to a brokerage leader who recently went through…
Health Canada says vaccine boosters will be approved more easily
March 4, 2021 by Mia Rabson, The Canadian PressOTTAWA — Health Canada says it won’t require new clinical trial data from vaccine makers on booster shots being developed to target new variants of COVID-19. Instead, the regulator will rely more heavily on lab tests on blood samples, which…
6 principles for P&C leaders on return to office work
March 4, 2021 by Jason ContantLeaders in the Canadian property and casualty insurance industry should resist the following two urges: 1) making a hasty decision to return to work; and 2) mimicking high-profile companies that quickly announce plans to embrace remote work permanently. These are…
Is it time to ease up on the video calls?
March 4, 2021 by Adam MalikNew research shows the influx of video calls brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic is tiring people out. “Zoom” has become a verb to describe videoconference meetings, said professor Jeremy Bailenson, founding director of the Stanford Virtual Human Interaction Lab.…
How a shrinking office footprint can grow your company
February 26, 2021 by Adam MalikYou can grow your business by shrinking the office footprint, as long as you do it correctly, the CEO of Travelers Canada says. Several P&C insurance company executives are openly discussing how much office space they might actually need once…
Workplace Vaccination: Should you force your staff to vaccinate?
February 25, 2021 by Adam MalikEnforcing a vaccination policy on staff is fraught with challenges, a brokerage expert warned. It’s a hot-button issue in the industry, according to the results of a recent online survey of more than 1,150 P&C insurance professionals conducted by Canadian…
Workplace Vaccination: A gateway to workplace wellness discussions
February 24, 2021 by Adam MalikDiscussions about workers’ well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic have opened the door to broader discussions about workplace health and benefits, one brokerage executive has noticed. If employers want their staff healthy and working productively, they need to make sure staff…
Workplace Vaccination: Follow the leader
February 23, 2021 by Adam MalikIf senior leadership wants employees to follow their guidance on getting vaccinated, they need to set the right example, experts advise. Leaders need to be seen promoting their vaccination programs, says Gigi Acevedo-Parker, a registered nurse and Hub International’s clinical…
Workplace Vaccination: Choosing your message
February 22, 2021 by Adam MalikYour office culture will likely determine whether or not you must receive a COVID-19 vaccination before returning back to office. Whatever your business decides, the tone and style of your messaging around vaccinations needs to match the approach, a senior…
Workplace Vaccination: A four-part series coming this week
February 19, 2021 by Adam MalikGetting vaccinated for COVID-19 is a common talking point around the virtual water cooler these days. Many questions remain up in the air while the industry longs for something resembling normal social interaction. Starting Tuesday, Canadian Underwriter‘s online coverage will…
Nearly two-thirds of small businesses would use rapid testing of employees: survey
February 19, 2021 by The Canadian PressOTTAWA – Nearly two-thirds of Canadian small businesses would consider using rapid testing to screen employees if it would help their business to stay open, says a recent survey. The Canadian Federation of Independent Business says 63 per cent would…