Ten scientifically proven ways to make you happy that don’t cost a dime

Throughout the ages people have been asking the same question: What makes us happy? You’ll be pleased to know there is a whole science dedicated to the study of happiness and human flourishing known as Positive Psychology. In 1998, Martin...

Aligning employees’ development goals with business needs

As a new year begins and we return to a more “normal” schedule, thoughts of new beginnings may give employees renewed motivation and focus on achieving personal or professional goals. To accomplish this, they may consider taking night school classes,...

Governance Q&A: Are staff layoffs an ethical option?

Given the economic downturn, it looks as if our fundraising will fall short. My board wants me to be proactive and start letting staff go. Our services are important to the community, so we want to survive. Are staff layoffs...

Human Resources Q&A: Understanding bad bosses

Last week in the newspaper there was a feature on another book about bad bosses. It seems that there’s an inexhaustible supply of these people. We know that bad bosses are poisonous, but we just can’t seem to escape them....

Finding happiness at work is worth the effort

“Why do you stay in a job you hate?” This is the title of one of the surveys we posted on our website, to which more than 500 people across Canada have responded. I am curious about the responses because...

Immunizing against depression

Over the past two months, we looked at the warning signs and risk factors, of depression. This month we look at how you can prevent becoming depressed. Regardless of your risk, depression is not inevitable. As is the case with...

Governance Q&A: Removing board members

Is it appropriate for the board of directors to get rid of the president without coming to the members first? We held an annual general meeting to dissolve that board, and as a result the bank will not recognize the...

Inclusiveness audits: A measure of diversity

In 2003, an innovative cross-country initiative was launched, bringing with it an important mission. Inclusive Cities Canada was a partnership of community leaders and elected municipal politicians working together to strengthen the capacity of cities, sustain inclusive communities, and ensure...

A new HR perspective: Well-being for Canadian workers

Employers have different perspectives on the development and deployment of human capital within their organizations. Some employers place the demands of the organization as top priority. Other employers focus on employee skills development, primarily for the purpose of maximizing employee...

Learning communities: The best investment we can make

Economic and political uncertainty top global news headlines these days. Yet, in the midst of the turbulence, David Holtzman, senior knowledge exchange specialist at the Canadian Council on Learning (CCL), reminds us that “learning is the most important investment we...