Canadian HR Reporter

PM40065782 RO9496 February 22, 2016 INSIDE MOVING FORWARD Despite an uneven economy, Canada's HR associations are focused on self-regulation, collaboration and membership Seeking the C-suite Women are pessimistic about taking the top job: Poll page 6 Change is good Roundtable of HR execs talks about transformation page 10 Pint-sized power Steam Whistle Brewing savours successful culture page 21 page 15 Syrian refugee Mihran Kachichian works at Montreal-based plywood company Seatply. Businesses need to be prepared to train these employees on aspects of the workplace many Canadians take for granted, says owner Levon Afeyan. DIFFERENCES > pg. 3 UNION > pg. 9 +1,200 Discounts There's always something for everyone www.venngo.com/perks 1.866.383.6646 ext.227 20160128_hrReporter_earLug_002.indd 1 2016-01-29 4:38 PM Syrian refugees welcomed by employers Cultural competency training key to successful integration BY LIZ FOSTER WITH tens of thousands of refu- gees expected to arrive in Canada from Syria, businesses are pre- paring for an infl ux of potential employees. As many as 3,000 new arriv- als are anticipated in Winnipeg alone. While skilled tradespeople and construction workers are in particular demand, the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce is working to connect any and all employers with the resources they need to create job opportunities. " e number one issue facing businesses in these tough eco- nomic times is the skills-gap issue," said David Angus, president and CEO of the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce. "Our employers need to look at every available talent pool they can fi nd and develop strategies around them." ere is a lot of mystery sur- rounding the skill-set, language levels and credentials of these in- dividuals, said Angus. As a result, it's crucial employers do their re- search before attempting to bring on any new workers. "It's important for businesses to know what resources are on the ground that they can access that 'Shock, disbelief' over Goodwill store closures Filing for bankruptcy provides some protection for workers BY SABRINA NANJI ON JAN. 17, many Goodwill workers showed up for work only to fi nd the doors locked and the company shuttered. Goodwill Industries of Toronto, Eastern, Central and Northern Ontario (TECNO) had suddenly closed 16 stores and 10 donation centres, citing an unsustainable fiscal crisis. The move left 430 workers across Ontario — includ- ing ones in Toronto, Barrie, Orillia and Brockville — out of a job. The non-profit's 12-member board of directors also resigned, but Keiko Nakamura, CEO of the Ontario operation, stayed on. en, on Feb. 9, Goodwill fi led for bankruptcy, saying the purpose was to preserve the assets of the corporation for the benefi t of its principal creditors — collectively meaning ex-employees. Goodwill said it is also considering a propos- al which, if approved, would annul the bankruptcy and allow the re- opening of some stores. And the Canadian Airport Ontario reveals details of new pension plan But critics concerned about impact on employers BY LIZ BERNIER ONTARIO released some long- awaited details about its impend- ing provincial pension plan last month, as the implementation timeline creeps closer. e Ontario Retirement Pen- sion Plan (ORPP) is scheduled to be implemented Jan. 1, 2017, but many employers have been anx- ious to have for more information about the plan's new requirements. e ORPP will be indexed to inflation and should eventually cover more than three million people who do not already have a workplace plan, said Ontario Pre- mier Kathleen Wynne at a Toronto news conference. "I won't be premier when the young people who work here to- day retire so it would've been easy to kick this decision down the road," said Wynne. "But that would be irresponsible." Ontario fi nance minister Charles Sousa said the benefi t and focus of the ORPP is long-term, both for in- dividuals and the economy. "After a lifetime of contributing to the economy, every Ontarian de- serves a secure retirement," he said. "In the long-term, the economy will also benefi t from the increase of in- vestments and savings. Ontarians deserve a secure retirement and a strong economy, and the ORPP will help us achieve that goal." Plan details Under the plan, workers and em- ployers will contribute an equal amount capped at 1.9 per cent each — or 3.8 per cent total — of the employee's annual salary. e plan is designed to give members a 15 per cent income replacement rate after they contribute to the plan over 40 years. An individual's pension benefi t will be calculated using his aver- age earnings over the years he contributed to the plan. e plan is projected to begin paying ben- efi ts in 2022. ere will also be a survivor benefi t paid to a plan member's spouse, even if the member passes away before retirement. is is a measure not currently included in the Canada Pension Plan (CPP). The first employers to PENSION > pg. 14 Credit: Seatply

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