Canadian HR Reporter

CREATE MOMENTUM Ron Tite Marketing, branding and creativity expert Ron Tite was named one of the "Top 10 Creative Canadians" by Marketing Magazine. His presentation touches on branding, corporate strategy, creativity, content and social media. Hayley Wickenheiser Seven World Championships, five Olympic Medals — Hayley Wickenheiser is a titan of sport and a leader both on and off the ice. She is considered by many to be the best woman to ever play hockey. Steve Gilliland A member of the Speaker Hall of Fame, Steve Gilliland is one of the most in-demand and top-rated speakers in the world. In his eye-opening session, he shows how to avoid being robbed of the opportunity to perform at peak performance because of negativity. Mel Robbins In her globally acclaimed TEDx talk with over 12 million views, award- winning and bestselling author Mel Robbins has wowed the world with the science backed secret to change: The 5 Second Rule. Duncan Wardle Leaning on 25 years with Disney, Duncan Wardle is now on a mission to prove that everyone is creative. He will demonstrate a series of creative behaviours and innovation tools that deliver revolutionary thinking and substantial business results. Keynote Speakers The 57 th Annual HR Conference + Tradeshow, Western Canada's largest HR event, offers knowledge to lead, catalyze and inspire teams to move forward together. Early bird deadline is February 1 st CPHRBC.CA/CONFERENCE WE AS KE D, YO U AN SWE R E D. . . "What is the keystone to mental health in the workplace?" Marli Penner, cphr HR Advisor, Northwest Community College Terrace, BC Awareness of the signs and symptoms of mental health conditions are critical for all members of a workplace: for managers to recognize these in their direct reports, for peers to recog- nize signs in their colleagues, and for employees as individuals to recognize the signs within themselves. Being able to recognize these indicators enables employees to address mental health needs and seek out the support required, whether it be through an employee assistance program, an appointment with their physician or a meeting with their manager to address work- related issues that may be causing them stress. Going hand-in-hand with awareness is the responsibility we all hold to support each other. As an HR profes- sional, it is critical to be approachable and offer your employees someone to talk to confidentially when they need an outlet or advice — 15 minutes of your time can go a long way. Sharlaina Bain, cphr candidate HR Consultant, Yukon Government – Community Services Whitehorse, YK Peter Drucker famously declared, "Culture eats strategy for break- fast," and the same holds true when addressing mental health in the work- place. Fostering an environment where employees feel safe to discuss or disclose mental health struggles creates a culture where inclusion, engagement, and employee retention reign supreme. Focusing efforts and communication on the development of an atmosphere that de-stigmatizes mental health struggles will help foster a supportive and posi- tive work space, enabling employees to function in a positive and productive way. Further, celebrating employee contribu- tions, rather than fixating on societally- prescribed stigmas, will also encourage staff to seek help and promote recovery from mental health issues. With increased attention to wellness and reports that one in three Canadians will experience some problem with mental health in their lifetime (Mental Health Commission of Canada), responsible organizations can no longer ignore the necessity of creating a culture of trust and support for their employees. Gregg Taylor, cphr President, Family Services Employee Assistance Programs (FSEAP) Vancouver, BC The keystone is developing and imple- menting a clearly communicated, posi- tive workplace strategy that addresses three key dimensions of workplace mental health: 1. Psychological health & safety iden- tifying and addressing mental health risks and stressors in the workplace and proactively supporting employees who are facing personal challenges; 2. Mental fitness and resiliency prac- tices providing support, resources and training for employees that embeds positive, proactive behaviours that shift workplace culture; and 3. Positive leadership practices whereby senior leadership not only supports, but champions workplace mental health as a key company priority, and managers and supervisors are given the tools, time and training to learn and practice skills that empower employees and promote engagement, performance and wellness. These efforts must be accompanied by genuine care and concern shown by leaders, practiced by managers and experienced by employees. Denise Lloyd, fcphr Founder and CEO, Engaged HR Victoria, BC There is no silver bullet that ensures our mental health in the workplace. While many factors have been attributed to good mental health such as open communication with your boss, flexible time off policies or having friends at work, our mental health, just like our physical health, is something that requires daily care and attention and looks different for each of us. For some, it may be about having the ability to work from home for some quiet, focused time, while for others it may be about having a lot of variety in their work assignments and work relationships. Each of us has our own way of taking care of ourselves and the keystone may just be for the workplace to make sure that we are empowered and encouraged to take an individual- ized approach and do what works for us.

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