Small Business in Niagara

In 2008, my demographic studies put small businesses (under 50 employees) in Niagara at 75%.  The Labour Market Plan 2009 - 2013 by our provincially mandated local board - Niagara Workforce Planning Board - put that number at 99% - with 50% of those as owner/operator - zero employees.

The hot new job in Niagara seems to be entrepreneurial!

Many in the Niagara Region are screaming for Leadership...from grassroots to Regional Integrated Economic Development Commission.  There are businesses that want to invest in Niagara.  They want to build their business in Niagara and they want to raise their family in Niagara.

We can have the best of both worlds; living and working together; collaboratively instead of competing against each other.  Partners in (your industry here), Competitors in the Field (borrowed from the Niagara Industrial Association.)

It raises my eyebrows each March when the Sunshine List is delivered to us via the local media.  We have also been called the "Call Centre Capital of Ontario".  There is a huge gap between minimum wage at $10.25 an hour and over $100,000 per year.

How many jobs are left in Niagara that cover that gap?  The gap between 40 hours of work at minimum wage which earns $21,320 and over $100,00?  If you don't work for a government, government funded or non-profit funded organization; what are your chances for more than minimum wage?

These are my opinions and observations.  I learned a long time ago that we can make numbers into what ever story we want told.

I would love to hear some feedback from you.  I know you have an opinion.  You might not have been looking for a rant on the HRNC Blog - but employment IS our business.

www.hrnc.ca

Balancing Act: Internet and Social Media Use At Work

                      With social media outlets such as Facebook and Google+ being so popular and things like fantasy football leagues becoming a staple for many during the winter months personal computer use and even online shopping and banking are inherently going to creep into your employees minds, especially with the ease of receiving email updates on smartphones and wireless internet available nearly everywhere now. So this brings up the question of how employers should address this issue. Is it something that’s been constantly eating away at productivity, is it merely a minor distraction or is it even an issue at all. As the employer you have to ask yourself is it a problem worth addressing? what will the reaction be? And what is the best case scenario or improvement that could come of banning these distractions all together? In doing some online reading reports have suggested ideas on both sides of the spectrum; employees personal internet use is taking up hours of time each day and others saying that yes internet use is common in the workplace but productivity is almost no lower on account of that. My take is distractions are going to creep into the workplace in most cases, internet use is just one of these. Extended lunch breaks, chatter amongst employees and at times foolish games or pranks invented to add a bit of flavour to a sometimes mundane day are common at work. Taking away personal computer use, the one contact they may have outside of work in an 8-10 hour day could cause some unrest with your employees, especially the younger generations who are seemingly tapped into their network of friends, online social groups and hobbies at all times. My opinion is don’t impose a policy eliminating this practice altogether because internet use for personal interests is going to happen. I would encourage employees to do this on their breaks, lunches and at home as much as possible and suggest if it becomes a problem then some disciplinary or internet limiting policies may find their way into the workplace as a result of low productivity. What are your thought on the topic?

Do you need more productivity in your business?

Tips to grow your business

Small business HR

Here is a new social media idea that you can use in your business - The Hive.
Download the whitepaper, by filling in your contact information.  Used by permission of Lawrence Pilch at Pollstream!  Thanks, Lawrence!


1.  I love to be appreciated ... and so do YOUR employees....
      Joy Vas, CHRP - HRNC

2.  Tell your employees what they did right - and be specific....
      1001 Ways to Reward Employees - Money isn't Everything by Bob Nelson

3.  Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power....
     Abraham Lincoln

Let us know what you need.  Contact.

Fatal accidents in the workplace.

Small Business HR

Fatal accidents - does anyone have the actual numbers with ages available?

My experience in the Niagara Region has been young workers and lack of training when working with machinery or around machinery. ex: Boom truck operator hits overhead power line and 18 year old killed by touching electrified truck; or Take Your Kid to Work Day at (John Deere-now closed) 14 year olds driving gator in yard (no training) hit the transport bed backing up to dock. Examples of deaths in the workplace - not injuries. They are still happening. I do not know the age of the electrician who was recently killed at the GM plant when crushed by a crane against pipes - probably still under investigation. What is happening? Workers are still dying on the job - not just loosing fingers in a saw! Am I the only one aware of this? Have the safety procedures been taught? They were not taught to the dead 18 year old and neither were they taught to the 14 year old. There have been many changes in safety procedures since two of these deaths. But an electrician still died - May he rest in peace and God be with his family.

Comment from LinkedIn Poll on Canadian HR Law