Organizations in Canada seeking to retain their top talent by offering better work-life balance now have the chance to join a prestigious club of like-minded employers. IFREI Club Canada is to be the newest member of the IFREI Club, a global association open to public and private organizations, charities and non-profits. Admission is based on…
During her two maternity leaves, Tara Piurko maintained a lifeline to her hard-earned career as a lawyer in Toronto through an innovative buddy program run by her firm, McCarthy Tétrault LLP. Through the program, she and a selected work buddy regularly met for lunch, with her baby in tow. In weekly calls, Ms. Piurko received…
The irony of modern life is that despite all of our modern conveniences, we are somehow busier than ever. This is partly because we’re living out the effects of a massive social shift in which the vast majority of women have entered the workforce. In Canada, women now outnumber men at work and in universities….
Following Stephen’s story about “Go Home On Time Day” in Australia, it was refreshing to hear Liberal MP Mike Savage promote a National Work From Home Day in our country. Here is some of what he said in the House of Commons on November 24, 2010 as he championed the idea: “As a nation we…
In an attempt to bring attention to the excessive amount of overtime Australian employees work, the Australia Institute (AI) has come up with a unique initiative: “Go Home On Time Day.” This national event encourages employees to sign up and leave work “on time” to promote the importance of maintaining a work/life balance and alleviate,…
What’s the best way for Canada to help more women reach positions of power? This was the question in last week’s Globe and Mail poll. The result? Over half responded that “more flexible work arrangements” were needed. I agree! This is certainly more important than setting political targets, creating mentorship or management development programs (which…
Two new studies are revealing what’s happening to mothers in the workforce. First, a global study on the gender gap found that workers who exit and re-enter the workforce suffer wage losses of 3% per year of absence. This would indicate that mothers are being penalized for taking maternity leave. (Surprise!) The report recommended that…
When does work time end and personal time begin? Technology is making this question harder to answer. As workers are becoming increasingly plugged in to smartphones, more employers are expecting them to be available after-hours to respond to emails, put out fires or simply to be on call. Which works out well for your boss….