Are You Proactive or Reactive in Your Career? (Part I)

Posted by Trish on Oct 30, 2009 in Career Growth

What is the difference between these two characteristics? The main difference of course is ‘results’, and the precious, and expensive commodity involved is ‘time’. A proactive person goes out and ‘makes things happen’, whereas a reactive person ‘waits for things to happen to’ them.
I am sure you have heard the expression ‘timing is everything’. In [...]

Canada – Preventing Layoffs – The ‘Work- Share’ Program

Posted by Trish on Oct 29, 2009 in Economy - Job Market

In the USA, the popularity of furlough programs has increased during the recessionary period, and given the slowdown in business activity, many employees are taking ‘unpaid leave’.
Canada offers its employers the ‘Work-Share’ Program, which at first glance, is an excellent program designed to avoid layoffs, offering instead, a reduced workweek to assist our struggling firms through [...]

Tags: 2010, applications submitted to April 1, canada, EI, employee benefits, employer, employment insurance, Federal Gov't, reductions in sales, Service Canada, supporting documentation, unpaid leave, Work-share program

Upward Feedback – Essential to ‘Performance Improvement’ (Part II)

Posted by Trish on Oct 27, 2009 in Performance Improvement

Providing your organization supports the concept of ‘upward’ feedback, it may serve you well to consider the following points prior to approaching your Team Leader and Managers:

How long have your leaders been in their current positions?;
Are they ‘new’ to the firm or division?;
Do you receive support from these individuals?;
Do you agree that upward feedback plays [...]

Upward Feedback – Essential to ‘Performance Improvement’ (Part I)

Posted by Trish on Oct 24, 2009 in Performance Improvement

Upward feedback is certainly not a new concept, but I believe it is one that is bypassed where possible, and not really given the credence it so rightfully deserves.
While all administrative staff at various levels within an organization, has to undergo the process of self-evaluation with respect to the bi-annual performance review process, this inward [...]

Are You Embracing the Opportunities that Restructuring and M&A Offer?

Posted by Trish on Oct 22, 2009 in Career Growth

Over the past couple of years, severely marked by our global recessionary state, many organizations have had to face very difficult decisions in terms of their overall structure, long-term goals, and future vision for the organization overall. While these decisions and quiet introspection takes place, firms endeavour to maintain client service excellence, and their positions [...]

Temporary Assignments – Please Do Not Adjust the “Set”

Posted by Trish on Oct 19, 2009 in General

When employees are away on vacation, or off on sick leave for an extended period, that is to say more than three consecutive days, a Temporary worker (‘Temp’) will usually be called in to cover the workload. After all, just because you are off enjoying yourself on a beach in Hawaii, or home sick with [...]

Is Someone At Work Taking Credit for ‘Your’ Ideas?

Posted by Trish on Oct 16, 2009 in General

We all are aware that occasionally, a few office products or perhaps a food container may go mysteriously missing from the office supply cupboard or staff fridge. Some go as far as taking your entire lunch, and even the cutlery!
Unfortunately, it is not all that uncommon to have a co-worker take credit for your ideas, [...]