Canadian HR Reporter

CANADIAN HR REPORTER June 15, 2015 4 HR BY THE NUMBERS $ 17.93 2 % Compiled by Liz Bernier - Source: Statistics Canada $954 Average weekly earnings of non-farm payroll employees in March 2015, little changed from the previous month. 2.8% Increase in average weekly earnings compared with 12 months earlier. 33 Average number of hours worked per week in March. $1,188 Average weekly earnings in wholesale trade, the sector with the greatest year-over-year increase. 9.8% Year-over-year increase in earnings in wholesale trade. $855 Average weekly earnings in New Brunswick, the province with the greatest year-over-year increase. 4.4% Year-over-year increase in earnings in New Brunswick. $905 Average weekly earnings in British Columbia, the province with the lowest year-over-year increase. 1.2% Year-over-year increase in earnings in British Columbia. 19,500 Decrease in the number of non-farm payroll jobs between February and March 2015. Credit: Supertrooper/Shutterstock Parlez-vous francais? Source: Canadian Labour Reporter/www.labour-reporter.com June 15, 2015 Credit: Supertrooper/Shutterstock Credit: Supertrooper/Shutterstock Credit: Supertrooper/Shutterstock Credit: Supertrooper/Shutterstock Credit: Supertrooper/Shutterstock Credit: Supertrooper/Shutterstock Credit: Supertrooper/Shutterstock Credit: Supertrooper/Shutterstock Credit: Supertrooper/Shutterstock Credit: Supertrooper/Shutterstock Credit: Supertrooper/Shutterstock Credit: Supertrooper/Shutterstock Credit: Supertrooper/Shutterstock Credit: Supertrooper/Shutterstock Credit: Supertrooper/Shutterstock Credit: Supertrooper/Shutterstock Credit: Supertrooper/Shutterstock Credit: Supertrooper/Shutterstock Credit: Supertrooper/Shutterstock Credit: Supertrooper/Shutterstock Credit: Supertrooper/Shutterstock Credit: Supertrooper/Shutterstock Credit: Supertrooper/Shutterstock They earn what? 17.93 17.93 17.93 17.93 17.93 17.93 17.93 17.93 17.93 17.93 17.93 17.93 17.93 17.93 17.93 2.8% Increase in average weekly earnings compared with 12 months earlier. 33 Average number of hours worked per week in March. $1,188 Parlez-vous Parlez-vous Parlez-vous Parlez-vous Parlez-vous Parlez-vous Parlez-vous Parlez-vous Parlez-vous Parlez-vous Parlez-vous Parlez-vous Parlez-vous Parlez-vous Parlez-vous Parlez-vous Parlez-vous Parlez-vous Parlez-vous Parlez-vous Parlez-vous Parlez-vous Parlez-vous Parlez-vous Parlez-vous Parlez-vous Parlez-vous Parlez-vous Parlez-vous Parlez-vous Parlez-vous Parlez-vous Parlez-vous Parlez-vous Parlez-vous Parlez-vous francais? francais? francais? francais? francais? francais? francais? francais? francais? francais? francais? francais? francais? francais? francais? francais? francais? francais? "Bilingualism is an asset" — that phrase appears in many job ads across the country. But just how signifi cant of an asset is it in the job market? Forty- two per cent of Canadians feel bilingualism is no longer critical and that business in Canada primarily functions in English. Just 8.8 per cent of Canadian job postings require fl uency in both English and French, according to an analysis of resumés and a poll of 23,465 people. Not surprisingly, Quebec appears to be the notable exception: ree-quarters of French-speaking respondents stated the language is still critical for career success in the province. Credit: Yuyula/Shutterstock 10 TOP jobs for bilingual candidates 1. Billing administrator 2. Collections clerk 3. Financial administrator 4. Technical support/customer service 5. Human resources advisor 6. Marketing co-ordinator 7. Systems administrator 8. Recruitment consultant 9. Administrative assistant 10. Sales representative Source: Workopolis/Thinkopolis Office party penny-pinching Most employees don't mind chipping in for offi ce parties or celebrations — once in a while. More than one-half — 58 per cent — of employees say they are OK with contributing money to offi ce celebrations occasionally, while A minority of respondents — nine per cent — have no problem contributing, as they feel it's for a good cause, according to a Canadian survey of more than 300 workers and more than 300 senior managers. consider it an annoyance. 33 per cent Once a week: 2% Once a month: 11% Once a quarter: 16% Once or twice a year: 26% Never: 40% Source: Office Team Credit: Andreja Donko/Shutterstock Telecommuting is on the rise and it's no longer limited to jobs traditionally associated with working from home. Professional-level telecommuting jobs are becoming an increasingly viable option, especially for working parents who want fl exibility. e surprising work-from-home jobs in the United States for 2014 were: 1. Public aff airs — communication specialist 2. Senior director, fundraising 3. Staff attorney 4. Online associate faculty 5. Nurse care manager 6. Human resource business partner 7. College football writers 8. Vice-president — business development 9. American sign language adjunct teacher 10. Associate creative director How often are employees asked to contribute? Source: FlexJobs Skyrocketing drug spending? Specialty drugs represent only of claims, but 26.5% of spending. Specialty drug spending represented 24.2% in 2013. Specialty drug spending is expected to reach 35% in the next fi ve years. e top 1% of all claimants comprised 28% of total spending in 2014. Source: Express Scripts Canada Credit: Oko Laa/Shutterstock Prescription drug benefi ts may not stay aff ordable for long — annual spending on specialty drugs saw double-digit growth in 2014, at 12.1 per cent, according to drug claims from more than seven million Canadians. at represents an unprecedented challenge for plans and puts the aff ordability of drug coverage at risk, according to a provider of health benefi ts management services. Hourly wage of an airport patrol- person with the Canadian Corps of Commissionaires, Nova Scotia Division, in Halifax. at works out to $37,294 annually, assuming a 40-hour work week. ere is also a meal allowance of $15 when employees work more than three hours beyond scheduled shifts, and the employer will make a one-time donation of $1,000 to the PSAC Social Justice Fund. Top jobs for working parents Credit: SunKids/Shutterstock

• Cover