Air Canada searches employee rooms
Montreal — Air Canada upset employees after sending corporate security investigators to France to search the rooms of flight crews for beer and soft drinks after the employees checked out. The investigators reportedly sifted through wastebaskets and took pictures. The airline, which has posted four losses in the last five years, launched a program last fall to focus on employee theft. Air Canada estimated it’s losing as much as nine per cent of cabin stock each year as a result of employee theft, or roughly $9 per day for every employee.
Nova Scotia wants teachers to stay put
Halifax — Nova Scotia has launched a program to recruit teachers graduating from the province’s universities before they’re lured to other provinces. Mount Saint Vincent University in Halifax is hosting a job fair designed to help the province’s school boards recruit new teachers before other provinces do. “We’ve take a pro-active step to recruit these talented new teachers straight from university for Nova Scotia classrooms,” said Education Minister Angus MacIsaac. He also encouraged all qualified Nova Scotians who want to teach in the province to send resumes directly to school boards.
Immigrants boost labour pool by 1.1 million
Ottawa — Between 1991 and 2001, 1.1 million working age immigrants came to Canada, accounting for 66 per cent of the growth in the labour pool. Overall, the country accepted 1.7 million immigrants during those years. The vast majority (73 per cent) moved to Toronto, Vancouver or Montreal. Only six per cent of the new immigrants in the 1990s settled outside major cities, something that is increasing the shortage of skilled labour and trained professionals in less populated areas. The federal government is considering a number of incentives to encourage immigrants to settle into these regions, including temporary work permits for qualified immigrants willing to spend three to five years in a smaller community.
What the CEO expects for 2003
Toronto — More than half of the Canadian CEOs surveyed by KPMG said they expect their organizations to be hiring more people in the next two years. Just 14 per cent said they will be downsizing and the remaining 35 per cent expect expected staffing levels to remain constant through 2004. When they do go looking for new recruits, it’s difficult to find people with the skills needed, 68 per cent of the 314 CEOs surveyed said. However, more chief executives said they didn’t have any difficulty finding people in 2002 (32 per cent), compared to 2001 (29 per cent).
Alcoholism as a disability
Regina — Alcoholism is a disability protected by the Saskatchewan Human Rights Code, according to province’s Court of Queen’s Bench. It’s believed the decision could set a precedent whereby employers will have to treat addictions as disabilities and not discriminate against any person with that disability. The case involved a government worker who received disability benefits from 1986 until he was cut off in 1994. The government argued he was cut off because his disability was in part caused by alcohol and he was not taking active treatment for rehabilitation.
Waiting to retire
Winnipeg — Good news for employers concerned about imminent staff shortages as baby boomers retire: many Canadians want to keep working in some capacity after retirement. A recent survey found 72 per cent of working Canadians are “strongly considering” working after they retire. The survey, conducted for financial planning firm Investors Group, asked respondents about expectations for retirement. Many felt they would need to earn extra income after retiring, though the survey also found 41 per cent of Canadians hope to retire before age 60.
Montreal — Air Canada upset employees after sending corporate security investigators to France to search the rooms of flight crews for beer and soft drinks after the employees checked out. The investigators reportedly sifted through wastebaskets and took pictures. The airline, which has posted four losses in the last five years, launched a program last fall to focus on employee theft. Air Canada estimated it’s losing as much as nine per cent of cabin stock each year as a result of employee theft, or roughly $9 per day for every employee.
Nova Scotia wants teachers to stay put
Halifax — Nova Scotia has launched a program to recruit teachers graduating from the province’s universities before they’re lured to other provinces. Mount Saint Vincent University in Halifax is hosting a job fair designed to help the province’s school boards recruit new teachers before other provinces do. “We’ve take a pro-active step to recruit these talented new teachers straight from university for Nova Scotia classrooms,” said Education Minister Angus MacIsaac. He also encouraged all qualified Nova Scotians who want to teach in the province to send resumes directly to school boards.
Immigrants boost labour pool by 1.1 million
Ottawa — Between 1991 and 2001, 1.1 million working age immigrants came to Canada, accounting for 66 per cent of the growth in the labour pool. Overall, the country accepted 1.7 million immigrants during those years. The vast majority (73 per cent) moved to Toronto, Vancouver or Montreal. Only six per cent of the new immigrants in the 1990s settled outside major cities, something that is increasing the shortage of skilled labour and trained professionals in less populated areas. The federal government is considering a number of incentives to encourage immigrants to settle into these regions, including temporary work permits for qualified immigrants willing to spend three to five years in a smaller community.
What the CEO expects for 2003
Toronto — More than half of the Canadian CEOs surveyed by KPMG said they expect their organizations to be hiring more people in the next two years. Just 14 per cent said they will be downsizing and the remaining 35 per cent expect expected staffing levels to remain constant through 2004. When they do go looking for new recruits, it’s difficult to find people with the skills needed, 68 per cent of the 314 CEOs surveyed said. However, more chief executives said they didn’t have any difficulty finding people in 2002 (32 per cent), compared to 2001 (29 per cent).
Alcoholism as a disability
Regina — Alcoholism is a disability protected by the Saskatchewan Human Rights Code, according to province’s Court of Queen’s Bench. It’s believed the decision could set a precedent whereby employers will have to treat addictions as disabilities and not discriminate against any person with that disability. The case involved a government worker who received disability benefits from 1986 until he was cut off in 1994. The government argued he was cut off because his disability was in part caused by alcohol and he was not taking active treatment for rehabilitation.
Waiting to retire
Winnipeg — Good news for employers concerned about imminent staff shortages as baby boomers retire: many Canadians want to keep working in some capacity after retirement. A recent survey found 72 per cent of working Canadians are “strongly considering” working after they retire. The survey, conducted for financial planning firm Investors Group, asked respondents about expectations for retirement. Many felt they would need to earn extra income after retiring, though the survey also found 41 per cent of Canadians hope to retire before age 60.
