Three cutting-edge events for HR

Tall Poppy Syndrome, mental health, HR awards in spotlight at Thomson Reuters

 

HR professionals and journalists have one thing in common — we’re both wearing a lot more hats.

In 1998, when I clocked in for my first day of work with Canadian HR Reporter, we didn’t even have a website. It was still a world where print ruled the roost.

Two decades ago, HR didn’t have much of a seat at the table, and was primarily seen as the administrators of benefits and the folks in the personnel department you turned to when hiring or firing someone.

Oh, how the landscapes have changed. Legislative changes have put more onus on employers when it comes to workers, and that has landed squarely on the shoulders of HR. From mental health to cannabis, from psychological safety to the #MeToo movement, there is no shortage of issues showing up (and being placed at) the feet of the CHRO.

At Canadian HR Reporter, we adopted the mantra a few years ago — with the frenetic pace of technological change — that we would “give HR professionals the news and information they need in whatever format they desire.”

That has translated into digital editions, videos, roundtables and webinars. We’re even working on our very first podcast as we speak. And it also means we’re getting more active in putting on events to give you professional development opportunities and the ability to network with your peers.

With that in mind, here’s a look at three key events Canadian HR Reporter and Thomson Reuters are hosting in the fall.

The Tallest Poppy

This is going to be a really cool, game-changing event. Tall Poppy Syndrome is a term that was popularized in Australia. It occurs when people are attacked, resented, disliked, criticized or cut down because of their achievements and/or success. Thomson Reuters teamed up with Viewpoint Leadership and Women of Influence to conduct a survey on this issue — and it was completed by more than 1,500 respondents.

I’ve had a chance to go through the results, and it is astounding. Clearly, this is a major issue — many believe their workplace achievements were undermined.

Rumeet Billan, president and CEO of Viewpoint Leadership, and Stephania Varalli, co-CEO and head of media for women of influence, will be joining me as we unveil the full survey results.

But that’s just the first step — we’re assembling a panel to talk about where we go from here and how to stop this phenomenon. There are some compelling, powerful and troubling results for employers in this data.

Date: Oct. 9.

Location: Thomson Reuters Customer Centre, 333 Bay St., Toronto + Live Webcast across Canada.

Time: 2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m., with cocktail reception to follow.

Register: HRReporter.com/tallest-poppy-event

Sponsorship opportunities: Email [email protected]


Mental Health in the Workplace Forum

Mental health is one of the biggest challenges facing employers — as the stigma fades, and workers feel more comfortable discussing issues and seeking help, costs are rising. Many employers and front-line managers feel ill-equipped to respond properly and effectively.

We’re bringing together leading experts from across Canada to discuss practical strategies to address and mitigate mental health issues in the workplace in a compact half-day forum.

Speakers include Lorenzo Lisi, a partner at Aird & Berlis, who will walk you through critical legal issues related to mental health for workers. Also on the lineup is Bill Howatt, chief research and development officer for workforce productivity at Morneau Shepell. He will take a deep dive on prevention and mitigating issues. And we’re bringing together a special panel to look at best practices in returning to work after a mental health leave.

Date: Oct. 9.

Location: Thomson Reuters Customer Centre, 333 Bay St., Toronto + Live Webcast across Canada.

Time: 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Register: HRReporter.com/mental-health-forum

Sponsorship opportunities: Email [email protected]


National HR Awards

Join us as we celebrate the winners of the 2018 National HR Awards with a full gala dinner and cocktail reception. Presented with the support of our sponsors — Venngo, Queen’s University Industrial Relations Centre, HumanaCare, Benchmark Benefit Solutions, Fragomen Worldwide and Canadian Lawyer — the fourth annual awards honour individuals and teams from across the country.

We are handing out a total of 16 awards this year, and we’ve moved it to a phenomenal venue.

Date: Sept. 27.

Location: The Ritz-Carlton, 181 Wellington St., Toronto.

Time: Cocktails at 5:30 p.m.; dinner at 6:30 p.m.

Register: Email [email protected] or visit NationalHRAwards.com for more information.

Sponsorship opportunities: Email [email protected].

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