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Criticism may not be agreeable, but it is necessary -- Winston Churchill. This is as true in law as it is in life. Here is a sampling of some of the questions I received this week and the cautionary advice I provided to those employees.

Making sure that your new employees are comfortable in their new workplace is a great opportunity to make sure that they start off on the right foot with you. However, many employers turn off new employees by making some simple, easy-to-fix, mistakes on the employee's first day(s) on the job.

For Canada to have an adequate supply of talented workers, The Conference Board of Canada estimates that at least 300,000 individuals will have to immigrate into Canada annually after 2011. There is no doubt that many immigrants into Canada have good credentials: In 2006 66.3% had a post-secondary qualification, according to The Conference Board of Canada. Nevertheless, Canadian employers to date are not equipped to give proper value to international academic credentials and recognize them. An ongoing survey in 2008 by the Council for Access to the Profession of Engineering, for instance, indicates that 60% of their members are unemployed.

Staffing often tops the list of challenges facing businesses, regardless of the industry. Having the right number of staff at the right time is a common issue facing all businesses, particularly those whose operations are subject to seasonal or project related ups and downs.

The downsizing of the 90’s has resulted in too few people doing too much work. Now in 2006, retention is a key concern to busy workplaces. If you want to keep your staff, and make them feel appreciated, you may want to follow some of these guidelines.

It has become commonplace in many industries for employers to conduct reference checks, background checks, and security checks on new employees. Depending on the industry, these checks can be rather extensive. In some cases, the application for employment contains a provision whereby the applicant consents to the employer conducting such checks and reviewing the results. However, on higher level positions where there is no “application” there is a question as to whether such checks violate the employee’s right to privacy.

We all know and can see the significant impact the current state of the economy is having on productivity, morale and teamwork in the workplace. Companies are desperately looking for ways to do “a lot more with a lot less” while trying to keep the remaining employees engaged and motivated.

Conflict resolution is all about treating people with dignity and respect. Conflict resolution is a strategy to resolve any form of conflict. If this strategy is used at work it is referred to as workplace conflict resolution.
 

Did you know the primary reason for employees either leaving or staying at their job is due to their boss? Would you consider yourself to be a good leader? Ask yourself the following questions and see how you rate:

Rapport as defined in the dictionary is “a relationship marked by harmony, conformity, accord, or affinity,” Increased Rapport – Increased Sales!