Employers asked to address domestic violence • Film sector jobs threatened • CEOS bullish on HR at Royal Bank • Certifying compensation experts • HR aces • The high cost of Internet viruses
Employers asked to address domestic violence
Winnipeg — Manitoba is launching a workplace campaign to combat domestic violence. Labour Minister Nancy Allan said domestic violence affects employee health and safety, productivity and absenteeism and an employer’s bottom line. It also creates a greater risk of violence in the workplace, she said, adding the amount of time people spend at work makes it an ideal place for assistance. Information is being sent to employers and is available at www.gov.mb.ca/wd.
Film sector jobs threatened
Vancouver — Manufacturers and exporters aren’t the only ones worried about the high Canadian dollar. The B.C. Council of Film Unions says it’s considering wage concessions because the exchange rate is making it less attractive for American movie and television productions to film in Canada. With 50,000 B.C. jobs at stake, the council says the province should do its part by dropping the provincial sales tax on movie productions, a cost not added in other provinces.
CEOS bullish on HR at Royal Bank
Toronto — Canadian CEOs picked Royal Bank Financial Group as the most respected firm for HR management. Royal was voted number one for the second year in a row in the annual survey by Ipsos-Reid and consulting firm KPMG. To see who else made the list, visit www.hrreporter.com, select “Advanced Search” and enter article #2954.
Certifying compensation experts
Scottsdale, Ariz. — Compensation and benefits association WorldatWork has created an affiliate organization, the WorldatWork Society of Certified Professionals, to administer certification exams for compensation, benefits and global remuneration professional designations.
HR aces
Toronto — More than 300 people wrote the first national knowledge exam for the Certified Human Resources Professional designation last fall. With results now in, the top score in Canada goes to Denise Buchanan, director of HR at White Spot Limited in Vancouver. The highest scorers provincially were: Christine Davern, office manager, McPherson Leslie & Tyerman, Saskatoon; Nikolene Day, HR co-ordinator, Simplot, Brandon, Man; Kathryn Hodgson, HR advisor, Imperial Oil, Toronto, tied with Jessica Storchan, office administrator, JMO Business Systems, Concord, Ont.; Sandra Belliveau, HR consultant, Fort Jolly, N.B.; Andrew Walker, HR director, M.R. Schurman, Summerside, P.E.I.; and Sandi Chase, HR manager, Atlantic Building Cleaning, Halifax.
The high cost of Internet viruses
Tokyo — Computer viruses cost businesses $71 billion globally in 2003, estimates anti-virus software maker Trend Micro. That’s up from about $17 billion in 2001, and the sum is expected to rise again this year.
