Job security falters

Workers rush back from vacation and mat leave to protect jobs

Despite a year of job growth and low unemployment, many Canadians feel insecure about their jobs, according to the Canadian Labour Congress’ (CLC) yearly report card.

The Is Your Work Working for You? report card 2005 found that 30 per cent of working Canadians expect to lose their jobs over the next couple of years.

While the report found that more jobs were created last year and that unemployment was at its lowest level in years, two-thirds of all jobs created in 2005 came in the form of temporary contracts, part-time work or self-employment — categories that offer little job security and low pay.

Consequently, 18 per cent of workers said their income doesn’t meet their basic needs.

“It’s a national tragedy when almost a third of workers live in fear of losing their jobs. Families need employment and financial security to plan and build a future,” said Ken Georgetti, president of the CLC. “In the current economy that kind of security is slipping away.”

Statistics show that workers’ insecurity about their jobs has also affected whether or not they take all their vacation days with 25 per cent of working Canadians not taking all the vacation time they’re entitled to.

A survey by Ipsos-Reid found that on average, workers give up three vacation days a year.

Stefane Kabene, a professor of human resources and organizational behaviour at the University of Western Ontario, told Canadian Press that many employees worry that taking time off will negatively affect them at work.

As a result many workers avoid taking big blocks of time off, instead opting for two or three-day breaks. He added that many women also return early from maternity leave for the same reasons.

Georgetti said Canada needs to create jobs that working people need —good, secure, quality jobs with family supporting wages and benefits — in order to make workers feel more secure in their jobs.

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