An Inquiry into the State of Labour Relations in Canada in 2020
We invite everyone who works in a labour relations role (both union and management) to participate in our survey on the State of Labour Relations in Canada. THIS SURVEY IS NOW CLOSED.
Stephanie Noel
Introduction of Virtual Seats
The current COVID-19 pandemic has interrupted our ability to offer training the way we normally do, with participants travelling from across the country to meet face-to-face and work together to build new skills. We know that you still have training needs, and we have been working hard to find ways to meet these needs in a way that keeps everyone safe, continues to deliver the premium training you expect from Queen’s IRC, and has options that work with provincial and organizational restrictions.
An Inquiry into the State of HR in Canada in 2020
We invite all HR professionals to participate in our survey on the State of Human Resources in Canada. This survey is now closed – please watch for the executive summary of the results.
Preparing for the Future with Scenarios
Our lives, personal and professional, have been disrupted in a way that many of us may have never imagined. As schools and businesses close, people find themselves isolated from colleagues, friends and family, and sometimes facing this challenge alone. Everything that we took for granted seems to be upside down and inside out. And there is no definitive end in sight.
Trending Topics on the IRC Website
A new and exciting year has begun, and I hope that you are off to a good start. As the Director, it is a good time for me to review what we did in 2018 and where we are going in 2019. One of the ways I do this is to take a look at the popular articles on our website, and review which topics people are engaging with the most to ensure that these trends are representative of the programming that we are offering. Last year we introduced a Workplace Restoration program, and I am pleased to see that three of the top four articles we released last year were about workplace restoration. This is clearly a hot topic that many organizations are dealing with right now.
Director’s Note – January 2019
What Does Employee Engagement Mean to You? At the IRC, we believe that employee engagement begins with the commitment of strong leaders who believe in creating an organizational culture that fosters healthy relationships, encourages diversity of thought and maximizes opportunities for collaboration and multidisciplinary solutions. That vision flows through the many programs that you’ll find in our Spring 2019-Spring 2020 Program Planner. Leaders build great teams by combining the talents of many to achieve shared goals.
Director’s Note – Fall 2018
It’s a real pleasure, as the new director of Queen’s IRC, to introduce you to our fall 2018 – fall 2019 programming. I’ve been with the IRC for over fifteen years, and during that time, I’ve had exceptional opportunities to learn from and with colleagues, program participants and organizations across a broad range of industries. These relationships have been integral to the success of the Centre, and to my own professional growth. They are also the foundation of a progressive culture of community and wellbeing in our workplaces.
Celebrating 80 Years of Transformative Professional Programs at Queen’s IRC
This fall, Queen’s IRC is celebrating its 80th anniversary, and to celebrate this milestone we’re offering you the chance to win $1,000 off your next IRC professional development program! Over the past 80 years, Queen’s IRC has supported thousands of Human Resources, Labour Relations and Organizational Development professionals through countless changes and transitions in the workplace.
Looking Back on Spring 2017…
Summer is here and many of us are already taking vacations and spending some quality time with our family and friends. I am currently attending our summer Negotiation Skills program, being offered in beautiful downtown Halifax. At the IRC, we are reflecting on the spring program season and preparing for the fall. I would like to take a minute to thank all the people who attend our programs and the organizations who sponsor them. Congratulations to those who have earned their certificates.
Looking Back on 2016…
As the year draws to a close, I would like to take a minute to reflect on the past few months, and to thank the people who have attended our programs and the organizations who have sponsored them. I am so proud of the work we are doing at Queen’s IRC. I encourage you to review the following papers and articles we have released this fall.
Introducing a Complimentary Change Management E-Book: The Easy, Hard & Tough Work of Managing Change by Dr. Carol A. Beatty
When I first started as an MBA student, I attended the Managing Change MBA course taught by Dr. Carol A. Beatty at Queen’s. During that time Dr. Beatty’s research was focused on collecting data from organizations about successful and unsuccessful change management projects. I am pleased to introduce Carol’s e-book The Easy, Hard & Tough Work of Managing Change.
Looking Back on Spring 2016…
As we prepare to enjoy the summer with our family and friends, I would like to take a minute to thank all the people who attend our programs and the organizations who sponsor them. Congratulations to those who have earned their certificates. This spring, we introduced our HR Metrics and Analytics program, which teaches you how to transform HR data into business insight. This program has filled a need in our community, and has also been very popular as a custom offering.
Queen’s IRC 2016 Professional Development Survey Results and Winners
With over 950 responses to our Queen's IRC Professional Development Awareness Survey, I am pleased to announce the winners of the $50 coffee cards, and share some of the results with you. We received responses from across Canada, and a few outside Canada, with 53% from Ontario, and 18% from Alberta. The majority of our respondents (64%) are in the 40 to 59 age group. About 22% of the respondents are unionized, and 41% identified HR as their primary role within their organization.
Looking Back on 2015…
As the year draws to a close, I would like to reflect on some of the highlights for Queen’s IRC and recap the articles we released this year. This year, we introduced an advanced change management course called Designing Change, which provides the tools and skills needed to map out and lead a transformational culture shift in an organization.
Looking Back on Spring 2015…
This spring, we have released a number of articles, including several papers by past Queen’s IRC Director, Dr. Carol Beatty. These papers are part of a book that Carol is writing on change management. Please take a few minutes to check out the following articles: Workplace Bullying and Harassment: Costly Conduct – Deborah Hudson Talking Trust in Trinidad: 34 Behaviours That Affect Levels of Trust in Business Environments – Paul Juniper
Financial Assistance for Training Available Through Canada Job Grant
Need financial help to pay for Queen’s IRC training programs? The Canada Job Grant, administered by each province, covers two-thirds of the cost of approved training, with the employer paying one-third. It is available to businesses across Canada to provide employees with training to upgrade skills or develop new skills. The Canada Job Grant provides up to $10,000 in government support per person for training costs.
2015 Workplace in Motion Summit a Success
The inaugural Workplace in Motion Summit was held last week in Toronto, with over 100 people in attendance. The one-day Summit brought together Human Resources, Organizational Development and Labour Relations professionals from across the country to learn about the future of work, and examine the trends creating the new world of work. Summit Chair Brenda Barker Scott shared the characteristics of the new employee, the new work and the new workplace.
Labour Relations and the Rise of the Millennial
Your union membership is getting younger. It's no secret that millennials are increasingly becoming a major demographic in the workforce. But the way they work, the tools they use and how they engage with others is completely different from earlier generations. Are you ready for them? Anne Grant, an expert in labour relations and mediation, will be exploring the evolution of the workforce and the impact on union-management relations at the Queen's IRC 2015 Workplace in Motion Summit on April 16 in Toronto.
Are You Ready for the New World of Work?
We have reached an important turning point in the world of work – a time when organizational success is no longer defined by economies of scale and efficiency, but by the ability to learn and innovate. Technology is transforming how we work and what we do. Global competition is the new normal. By 2020, millennials will make up half of our workforce. How do we prepare for this shift?
Looking Back on 2014…
As the year draws to a close, I would like to reflect on some of the highlights for Queen's IRC. This fall we introduced two new programs based on feedback from our participants. Building Trust in the Workplace and Coaching Skills were both well received and we look forward to offering them again next year. In March 2015, we will launch a new advanced change management course called Designing Change, which will provide the tools and skills needed to map out and lead a transformational culture shift in an organization.
Spring 2014 Article Recap
As we prepare to enjoy the long-awaited summer with our family and friends, I would like to take a minute to thank all the sponsors, and the participants who attended programs this spring. Congratulations to those who have earned their certificates. This year, we began offering programs in Ottawa, in our continued effort to meet the professional development needs of human resources, organizational development, and labour relations practitioners.
Young Workers and the Union Movement in Canada
Many young workers don't feel connected to the labour movement. They see it as a relic from previous generations, something that may have helped their parents but isn't helping them, and something that might even be preventing them from obtaining good jobs. So what can unions do to win over young workers? This question was discussed at a recent roundtable discussion on the future of unions in the private sector hosted by the Canadian HR Reporter, and sponsored by Queen's IRC.
The Future of Unions in Canada’s Private Sector: How Can Unions Overcome their PR Problem?
Unions face many negative perceptions, such as the notion that union workers are lazy, under worked, have job security for life, and enjoy gold-plated benefits and pension packages that others can only dream about. In light of this, how can unions overcome their PR problem? This question was one of many that was put to a panel of labour relations practitioners and experts recently, at a roundtable discussion sponsored by Queen's IRC, and hosted by the Canadian HR Reporter.
Looking Back on 2013…
As the year draws to a close, I would like to reflect on some of the highlights for Queen's IRC. This year we launched a new easier-to-navigate website and began using social media. We have produced a number of short videos about our programs, along with a Tip of the Week series and Q&A clips from our interviews with facilitators and experts. Our Archive Revitalization Project was launched, and has added many terrific resources to the Research and Resources section of our website.
Give Your Organization the Edge in 2014
We're listening to you. Our recent Sales and Marketing Survey results revealed that over 70% of respondents like early bird/ promotional discounts. While we normally offer an early-bird discount if you register more than 60 days ahead of the program, we decided for a limited time only, to double your early bird discount when you register for a 2014 program. You will save $750 on 4-5 day programs and $350 on 2-3 day programs if your register before December 31, 2013.