RSI on the rise • Canadian firms acting to improve wellness • E-sizing • Pension funds rebounding • Highest paid U.S. HR exec • Evacuation policies lacking for work in hot spots • D.I.Y. work-life balance
RSI on the rise
Ottawa — Ten per cent of Canadian adults had a repetitive strain injury serious enough to limit their normal activities in 2000-2001, according to Statistics Canada. In 1996-1997, just eight per cent of adults reported the problem. Work-related activities were the number one cause of repetitive strain injuries, according to the report, which supports the association between work stress and repetitive strain injuries.
Canadian firms acting to improve wellness
Toronto — Citing improved retention as an important motivating factor, more companies in Canada are adopting health and wellness programs, according to a new study from Mercer Human Resource Consulting. When 206 Canadian employers were asked what type of retention strategies they used, 56.8 per cent said flex time and 42.6 per cent said employee wellness programs. Two years ago, 34 per cent of companies surveyed offered HR plans such as employee wellness programs and 16.3 per cent offered physical fitness programs. This year, 40.3 per cent of participating organizations offers employee wellness programs while 30.6 per cent offers a physical fitness program. The survey also showed that nearly 40 per cent of respondents subsidize fitness memberships for employees.
E-sizing
Quebec — Premier Jean Charest says greater use of the Internet will help the province downsize its public service. “We are going to implement in Quebec the first tangible, real e-government in North America,” he said in a speech to lawyers.
Pension funds rebounding
Toronto — After two years of decline, Canadian pension plans found some relief in the second quarter of 2003, according to RBC Global Services reports. All of Canada’s institutional fund managers posted positive returns, with even the weakest up about 4.4 per cent. Still, funds aren’t out of the woods yet with the average equity return showing a 0.9 per cent decrease in value for the 12 months ending June 30. From April 2002 to March this year, funds shrank by 16.6 per cent.
Highest paid U.S. HR exec
San Mateo, Calif. — Dennis Donovan, executive VP HR with The Home Depot, is the highest paid American HR executive, earning $6 million US in total compensation. Donovan took home $580,000 in base pay, a $420,000 bonus plus stock options, according to Human Resource Executive magazine.
Evacuation policies lacking for work in hot spots
Washington, D.C. — Many multinational organizations with employees working in global hot spots lack a formal policy to evacuate employees in case of security threats or health-related issues, according to a survey by HR consulting firm Watson Wyatt. However, slightly more than half of the respondents either provide or plan to provide a financial incentive for employees in high-risk areas. About 40 per cent either provide or plan to provide employees with supplemental insurance to reimburse them for losses not covered by private insurance. Roughly 70 per cent of respondents have employees in locations they consider dangerous, with Asia and the Middle East having the highest degrees of risk exposure. Only 40 per cent of those employers have adopted a formal evacuation policy.
D.I.Y. work-life balance
Toronto — Don’t count on your employer to help you strike a work-life balance; do it yourself, says a survey of more than 2,000 Canadians by Environics Research Group. Among those who say they have struck a work-life balance, 70 per cent cited factors like taking charge of one’s life through attitude or action, better time management, limiting time at work and so on. Just 15 per cent mention work-related factors such as flexible work arrangements.
Ottawa — Ten per cent of Canadian adults had a repetitive strain injury serious enough to limit their normal activities in 2000-2001, according to Statistics Canada. In 1996-1997, just eight per cent of adults reported the problem. Work-related activities were the number one cause of repetitive strain injuries, according to the report, which supports the association between work stress and repetitive strain injuries.
Canadian firms acting to improve wellness
Toronto — Citing improved retention as an important motivating factor, more companies in Canada are adopting health and wellness programs, according to a new study from Mercer Human Resource Consulting. When 206 Canadian employers were asked what type of retention strategies they used, 56.8 per cent said flex time and 42.6 per cent said employee wellness programs. Two years ago, 34 per cent of companies surveyed offered HR plans such as employee wellness programs and 16.3 per cent offered physical fitness programs. This year, 40.3 per cent of participating organizations offers employee wellness programs while 30.6 per cent offers a physical fitness program. The survey also showed that nearly 40 per cent of respondents subsidize fitness memberships for employees.
E-sizing
Quebec — Premier Jean Charest says greater use of the Internet will help the province downsize its public service. “We are going to implement in Quebec the first tangible, real e-government in North America,” he said in a speech to lawyers.
Pension funds rebounding
Toronto — After two years of decline, Canadian pension plans found some relief in the second quarter of 2003, according to RBC Global Services reports. All of Canada’s institutional fund managers posted positive returns, with even the weakest up about 4.4 per cent. Still, funds aren’t out of the woods yet with the average equity return showing a 0.9 per cent decrease in value for the 12 months ending June 30. From April 2002 to March this year, funds shrank by 16.6 per cent.
Highest paid U.S. HR exec
San Mateo, Calif. — Dennis Donovan, executive VP HR with The Home Depot, is the highest paid American HR executive, earning $6 million US in total compensation. Donovan took home $580,000 in base pay, a $420,000 bonus plus stock options, according to Human Resource Executive magazine.
Evacuation policies lacking for work in hot spots
Washington, D.C. — Many multinational organizations with employees working in global hot spots lack a formal policy to evacuate employees in case of security threats or health-related issues, according to a survey by HR consulting firm Watson Wyatt. However, slightly more than half of the respondents either provide or plan to provide a financial incentive for employees in high-risk areas. About 40 per cent either provide or plan to provide employees with supplemental insurance to reimburse them for losses not covered by private insurance. Roughly 70 per cent of respondents have employees in locations they consider dangerous, with Asia and the Middle East having the highest degrees of risk exposure. Only 40 per cent of those employers have adopted a formal evacuation policy.
D.I.Y. work-life balance
Toronto — Don’t count on your employer to help you strike a work-life balance; do it yourself, says a survey of more than 2,000 Canadians by Environics Research Group. Among those who say they have struck a work-life balance, 70 per cent cited factors like taking charge of one’s life through attitude or action, better time management, limiting time at work and so on. Just 15 per cent mention work-related factors such as flexible work arrangements.
