A look at news, facts and figures shaping the world of payroll professionals
CRA consulting with businesses on reducing red tape
› OTTAWA — The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) is carrying out consultations with small and medium-size businesses across the country on actions it can take to reduce business efforts to comply with federal government regulations.
The CRA will use the meetings to get feedback on its initiatives to date to reduce red tape and to ask for new ideas that specifically address the issues of small and mid-size businesses.
Based on consultations that the federal government’s Red Tape Reduction Commission held in 2011 and the CRA’s own consultations in 2012, the agency has developed an action plan to address what it calls the 12 "overarching issues" for business:
• availability and clarity of timely information;
• effective communication to satisfy taxpayer requirements;
• improvement to online services: information accessibility and written
enquiries, improved online registration process, information accessibility and clarity and enhanced identity authentication;
• accountability for written information;
• auditors’ knowledge, training and professionalism;
• "Tell us once" approach to eliminate the collection of redundant information;
• timeliness for decisions related to appeals;
• timeliness for decisions related to rulings;
• reporting requirements;
• filing frequency requirements;
• ensuring that business perspectives are fully understood and appreciated in the policy development stage; and
• co-ordination and collaboration among regulators.
More information on the consultations and the CRA’s action plan are
available on the agency’s website at www.cra-arc.gc.ca/redtapereduction/.
Little change in average earnings in July: StatsCan
› OTTAWA — Average weekly earnings of non-farm payroll employees were $940.43 in July, up slightly from $937.06 in June, Statistics Canada reports. It revised the June numbers from the previously reported $940.48. On a year-over-year basis, weekly earnings increased 3.3 per cent in July.
The increase in weekly earnings during the 12 months to July reflected a number of factors, including wage growth, changes in the composition of employment by industry, occupation and level of job experience, as well as average hours worked per week. Non-farm payroll employees worked an average of 33 hours a week in July, unchanged from 12 months earlier.
Year-over-year earnings of non-farm payroll employees increased, with the biggest growth in Newfoundland and Labrador, Quebec, Alberta and New Brunswick. The smallest growth occurred in Ontario and Prince Edward Island.
Unemployment rate dropped in September: StatsCan
› OTTAWA — Canada’s economy gained 74,000 jobs in September, lowering the unemployment rate to 6.8 per cent, Statistics Canada reports. It is the country’s lowest rate since December 2008.
Industries where employment increased in September included accommodation and food services; health care and social assistance; construction; natural resources; and finance, insurance, real estate and leasing. Employment was down in sectors such as educational services and professional, scientific and technical services.
On a provincial basis, unemployment rates were down. Newfoundland and Labrador have the highest rate at 12.7 per cent, down from 13.5 per cent the previous month. Saskatchewan had the lowest rate at 3.5 per cent, down from 4.2 per cent in August. In Ontario, the unemployment rate fell to 7.1 per cent from 7.4 per cent the previous month.
In the United States, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the economy added 248,000 jobs in September, lowering the unemployment rate to 5.9 per cent from 6.1 per cent.
Lack of sleep a workplace issue: Survey
› LAS VEGAS — Almost one-third of human resources leaders say they have seen or heard about co-workers falling asleep at work in the past six months, says a new survey by Ceridian looking at the impact lack of sleep has on the workplace.
The survey, called Workplace Wake-Up Call: Pulling Back the Covers on Sleep Deficiency, is based on responses from close to 700 HR leaders across North America. It found more than 35 per cent of respondents believe sleep deficiency had a negative effect on productivity.
The survey says one-third of adults sleep no more than six hours a night even though the average adult needs seven to eight hours.
It notes lack of sleep makes it difficult to pay attention, complete assignments and solve problems.
The survey reports Harvard University researchers have found lack of sleep costs businesses $63.2 billion a year in lost productivity.
In organizations with shift-work, the survey found one-third of respondents said their schedules support healthy sleep habits for shift workers, while 21 per cent said they go against natural human circadian rhythms for sleeping.
Of the 60 per cent of organizations that did not offer tools and services to promote healthy sleep habits, 35 per cent reported employees sleeping on the job.
Organizations that offer sleep health resources saw that number decline to 28 per cent.
"A good night of sleep is vital for engaged, productive and healthy employees," says Estelle Morrison, vice-president of Ceridian LifeWorks. The LifeWorks service is Ceridian’s employee assistance, work-life and wellness program.
"While businesses make expensive investments in programs and technology to boost productivity, this survey reinforces the needs for companies to take seriously the issue of sleep deprivation and promote healthy sleep habits in the workplace.»
The survey highlighted some sleep-friendly policies respondents use, including guidelines for managing after-hours workload, implementing rules for checking electronic devices after work hours and installing "nap rooms" in offices.
Expected salary increases, employer priorities for 2015
› TORONTO — Employers expect salaries to rise 2.8 per cent in 2015, says Morneau Shepell.
The company recently released its 32nd annual Compensation and Trends in Human Resources survey. It found some industries will likely see higher than average increases, including the mining and oil and gas sectors, where average increases are expected to be 3.4 per cent. In the professional, scientific and tech services sector, increases are expected to be about 3.0 per cent.
Lower than average increases are expected in sectors such as wholesale and retail trade, with salary increases of 2.4 per cent. With tight budgets for salary increases, employers plan to invest in programs improving employee engagement and productivity. Top priorities include improvements to workplace health and well-being (57 per cent), training and development (54 per cent), communication of rewards (46 per cent), reducing short-term disability costs (39 per cent) and improving mental health in the workplace (38 per cent).
The survey found employers are paying closer attention to mental health issues and are making greater use of existing programs. It also found employers plan to more than double mental health training for managers in the next 12 to 18 months.
More information about the findings is available at www.morneaushepell.com/ca-en/insights/survey-compensation-trends-human-resources.
Starting salaries expected to rise in 2015: Survey
› TORONTO — Starting salaries for professional occupations in Canada are expected to go up an average of 3.7 per cent, says new research by staffing firm Robert Half.
The company recently released its 2015 Salary Guides. According to the data, the biggest gains are expected in the tech sector, with an increase of 5.2 per cent expected. The guides also found starting salaries for professionals in accounting and finance are expected to go up by 3.4 per cent.
