Topic HR
Fairfax takes a stand against using COVID as a reason to fire staff
May 3, 2021 by Greg MeckbachThe parent company of Northbridge Insurance took a stand against cutting staff due to the pandemic. “One of the things we did last year is we said [to the president of each Fairfax-owned insurer], ‘You cannot use COVID-19 as a…
6 tips for growing your sales team
May 3, 2021 by Jason ContantGrowing your sales team involves a variety of tactics — including protecting your strengths (strong salespeople and existing customers) — and avoiding the “first-year turnover problem,” says a new blog from Harvard Business Review. Organizations need to be purposeful about…
What P&C may find when it goes beyond its four walls
April 30, 2021 by Adam MalikIgnoring the successes, failures and lessons learned by other industries and not applying them within the world of property and casualty insurance is a big mistake some in the industry may be making, according to a panel of experts during…
Change of plans for executive lineup at Heartland following Kings merger
April 27, 2021 by Greg MeckbachKings Mutual CEO Cara Cameron is not staying on after the Nova Scotia-based insurer merges with Heartland Farm Mutual Inc. If approved by regulators, the Kings-Heartland deal, initially announced on Jan. 18, will take effect June 30. The merger was…
Focus has been on staff health, but what about the leaders?
April 22, 2021 by Adam MalikLeaders at property and casualty insurance organizations need to make sure they are taking care of themselves during the ongoing pandemic crisis, because if they’re not, they won’t be of much help to their staff, panellists said during a recent…
Will the need for social interaction make the hybrid office a passing fad?
April 21, 2021 by David GambrillWhile many Canadian employees wish to return to a hybrid office — some adamantly so, according to a recent survey by human resources firm Robert Half — some believe the “fear of missing out” on the opportunity to socialize with…
How to build empathetic managers for the hybrid workplace
April 16, 2021 by David GambrillCanadian property and casualty insurance industry leaders have often talked about the importance of managing with empathy during the pandemic, but empathic managers will become even more valuable in the hybrid workplaces that are expected to emerge after the pandemic…
What’s missing in a purely remote work environment
April 13, 2021 by Adam MalikThe insurance industry has shown that it can operate successfully in a work-from-home environment, but for any company that wants to see growth, being in the office on a regular basis is essential, P&C insurance executives said during the virtual…
Etiquette for asking if your employees are vaccinated
April 9, 2021 by Greg MeckbachAsking your workers whether or not they got their COVID-19 vaccine shot is not necessarily a good idea. “If you are going to require employees to disclose their vaccination status, you need to consider the nature of the workplace,” said…
Canadian Museum of History CEO resigns after probe into alleged workplace harassment
April 9, 2021 by Teresa Wright - THE CANADIAN PRESSOTTAWA – The head of the Canadian Museum of History has resigned following reported allegations of workplace harassment at the national institution. Museum CEO Mark O’Neill has been on a medical leave since last summer, when an independent investigation was…
What would a hybrid workplace even look like?
March 26, 2021 by David GambrillCanadian property and casualty insurance professionals would like a more flexible, hybrid workplace, a recent survey shows, but the question for employers now is what such an arrangement might look like. About 87% of the more than 1,150 P&C insurance…
The demographic suffering most during remote work
March 23, 2021 by Jason ContantVery young workers at your brokerage or insurance company are the “overlooked demographic” that may be suffering the most as we pass the one-year anniversary of working from home during the pandemic, according to a recent survey from Microsoft Corp.…