TAKING THE LONG VIEW
Ottawa — Canadian high-tech employers are carefully managing human resources during tough times to ensure they still have a highly skilled workforce when things pick up again. A survey of technology companies, by consulting firm Personnel Systems, reveals 40 per cent are going ahead with salary increases in the six- to seven-per-cent range. There have been a lot of layoffs, said Janice Schellenberger of Personnel Systems, but there are also significant parts of the sector hiring, going ahead with salary increases and delivering training. The study reveals 64 per cent are in a hiring freeze, and 50 per cent said they will be reducing staff but mostly in the non-critical business areas. Nearly half said they are maintaining training budgets while those spending less indicated they are looking to continue training but through less costly means.
CANADIANS LESS INTERESTED IN U.S. JOBS
Toronto — The Sept. 11 terrorist attacks may explain a significant drop in the number of Canadians who say they would move to the United States if offered more money and lower taxes. Last February, 37 per cent of surveyed Canadians said they would make the move, but in October only 21 per cent said relocation to the U.S. would interest them, a poll by Goldfarb Consultants states.
ANTHRAX SCARE PROMPTS WORK REFUSAL
Sydney, N.S. — Workers in the offices of Citizenship and Immigration Canada in Sydney, N.S. refused to return to work last month following the death of a mailroom supervisor. The supervisor died a few hours after opening a package that contained a brown, sandy substance. Employees feared anthrax contamination, even though an autopsy revealed that he died of natural causes. The workers exercised their right to refuse dangerous work under the Canada Labour Code and called for complete testing of the substance but police refused, saying it was “just plain dirt.”
CAN’T WE JUST DRAFT THEM?
Ottawa — After a disappointing summer recruitment campaign, the Canadian Armed Forces is offering hefty signing bonuses to attract desperately needed people in key fields. College grads with diplomas in electronics or law and security could receive $10,000 bonuses while those with related work experience are being wooed with $20,000 incentives. The Canadian Forces need to recruit about 7,000 regular forces and 3,000 reserves.
MANITOBA LABOUR SHORTAGE HURTS GROWTH
Winnipeg — Manitoba needs to find ways to attract workers and keep those it has if the economy is to flourish, delegates to the Manitoba Association of Business Economists’ annual conference heard. Low population growth is part of the problem, and businesses already having difficulty attracting workers will soon face shortages that will have a serious impact on operations. Solutions include reducing the province’s income tax levels to compete with jurisdictions like Alberta, post-secondary educational improvements to meet business needs and creating opportunities for aboriginal youth.
Ottawa — Canadian high-tech employers are carefully managing human resources during tough times to ensure they still have a highly skilled workforce when things pick up again. A survey of technology companies, by consulting firm Personnel Systems, reveals 40 per cent are going ahead with salary increases in the six- to seven-per-cent range. There have been a lot of layoffs, said Janice Schellenberger of Personnel Systems, but there are also significant parts of the sector hiring, going ahead with salary increases and delivering training. The study reveals 64 per cent are in a hiring freeze, and 50 per cent said they will be reducing staff but mostly in the non-critical business areas. Nearly half said they are maintaining training budgets while those spending less indicated they are looking to continue training but through less costly means.
CANADIANS LESS INTERESTED IN U.S. JOBS
Toronto — The Sept. 11 terrorist attacks may explain a significant drop in the number of Canadians who say they would move to the United States if offered more money and lower taxes. Last February, 37 per cent of surveyed Canadians said they would make the move, but in October only 21 per cent said relocation to the U.S. would interest them, a poll by Goldfarb Consultants states.
ANTHRAX SCARE PROMPTS WORK REFUSAL
Sydney, N.S. — Workers in the offices of Citizenship and Immigration Canada in Sydney, N.S. refused to return to work last month following the death of a mailroom supervisor. The supervisor died a few hours after opening a package that contained a brown, sandy substance. Employees feared anthrax contamination, even though an autopsy revealed that he died of natural causes. The workers exercised their right to refuse dangerous work under the Canada Labour Code and called for complete testing of the substance but police refused, saying it was “just plain dirt.”
CAN’T WE JUST DRAFT THEM?
Ottawa — After a disappointing summer recruitment campaign, the Canadian Armed Forces is offering hefty signing bonuses to attract desperately needed people in key fields. College grads with diplomas in electronics or law and security could receive $10,000 bonuses while those with related work experience are being wooed with $20,000 incentives. The Canadian Forces need to recruit about 7,000 regular forces and 3,000 reserves.
MANITOBA LABOUR SHORTAGE HURTS GROWTH
Winnipeg — Manitoba needs to find ways to attract workers and keep those it has if the economy is to flourish, delegates to the Manitoba Association of Business Economists’ annual conference heard. Low population growth is part of the problem, and businesses already having difficulty attracting workers will soon face shortages that will have a serious impact on operations. Solutions include reducing the province’s income tax levels to compete with jurisdictions like Alberta, post-secondary educational improvements to meet business needs and creating opportunities for aboriginal youth.
