Human Resources Q&A: Improving customer service

Our customer satisfaction surveys have been rating low for some time now. When we first noticed this, the organization introduced customer service training for all of our staff. Our staff express that they are more friendly and patient with clients...

Promoting diversity in the office: Tips for bias-free hiring

With Canada’s increasing diversity, employers are becoming more conscious about their hiring practices and the need to reflect the population served. They are also aware of their obligations under the Human Rights Code to have non-discriminatory hiring practices. However, women,...

Results from 2012 Nonprofit Compensation & Benefits Study now available

It’s all about the money. Or is it? If you work for a nonprofit in Toronto or Ottawa, you’re earning, on average, a higher salary than people working in the rest of Canada. If your organization is affiliated, like a...

Human Resources Q&A: Why is diversity important?

In your last article you listed several areas of HR where managers should receive training. Included in the list was diversity. Why is it important that managers receive diversity training? As organizations are serving more diverse populations and are hiring...

D is for Disenchantment: How nonprofits are losing out

When 27-year-old Julie (*name has been changed) began working at the national organization that still employs her today, she had big dreams and an even bigger heart. “I was gung ho about it,” she says of jumping headfirst into nonprofit...

Moving forward on nonprofit labour force issues

“Cracking the nut from different angles.” Those are the words Michelle Gauthier, vice-president, public policy and community engagement with Imagine Canada, used when asked what actions have taken place as a result of the HR priority area discussions at the...

Why DiverseCity Counts

It should come as no surprise that the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) is often classified as one of the most ethnically diverse urban centres in the world. Consisting of the central city of Toronto, along with four surrounding regional municipalities...

Harnessing the potential of cross-sector partnerships

Against the current backdrop of sector challenges, nonprofits have a tremendous opportunity to use cross-sector partnerships to support their mission by accessing highly skilled and engaged volunteers. Unlike previous times when partnerships with corporations were mainly philanthropic in nature and...

Human Resources Q&A: What managers and supervisors need to know about HR

We are planning to train our managers in HR, what are some of the key areas you recommend we cover? Most supervisors and managers have some human resources responsibilities built into their job. While it is true that each organization...

Practical advice for student practicums

For many nonprofits, taking on a university practicum student is a regular occurrence. And while having an extra pair of hands can be, for a commonly understaffed and resource-strapped sector, a boon to an organization, the experience of supervising can...