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to productive and safe employment while they recover. Eighty-seven
per cent of Canadian employers have these programs
in place.
On a whole, absence and disability management appears well
integrated in Canadian organizations. In fact, 68 per cent of
employers surveyed have a formal strategy and 86 per cent have
a written policy outlining the steps employees and supervisors
should take if an employee requires time off work for a health issue.
While employers are clearly dedicated to creating comprehen-sive
disability and absence management programs, there is room
for improvement. Currently, less than one-third of employers sur-veyed
require their disability management staff to have degrees or
certification in a related field. There is a growing understanding
that having trained practitioners can make significant contribu-tions
to success within these programs.
OVERWHELMED WITH JOB SEARCH TOOLS,
CANADIANS PREFER THE HUMAN TOUCH WHEN
IT COMES TO FINDING THE PERFECT JOB
Canadians have more digital tools for finding a job at their finger-tips
than ever before, but many still prefer the human touch when
it comes to seeking out new employment, according to the results
of Randstad Canada’s survey, which gathered data from thousands
of Canadian employers and employees to gauge how technology
has changed the search for jobs and talent in the past 20 years.
The survey, which was conducted by Ipsos Reid to mark the
20th anniversary of Randstad Canada, found that 63 per cent
of employees think that the sometimes-overwhelming plethora
of digital options has made searching for a job more difficult. At
the same time, 64 per cent of Canadians prefer more face-to-face
interactions with people during the hiring process.
While the survey showed that Canadians want options when it
comes to searching for a job, they are also overwhelmed by them,
with 41 per cent saying they feel lost with all the methods and
tools available and where to start their search. In fact, one in three
job seekers are not confident they can quickly find a new job with-out
any outside help. There is a general consensus that a more
personalized approach to job searching is of value and a major-ity
say they could use some help from someone who knows their
industry well.
“Technology has drastically changed how companies and job
seekers connect, and it can be overwhelming for both employers
and prospective hires,” said Marc-Étienne Julien, CEO of Randstad
Canada. “With technology comes convenience, but hiring is still a
human-centric endeavour and companies must be cautious not to
lose sight of this. Technology and a human-forward approach do
not need to be mutually exclusive, but can complement each other
with the right balance of efficiency through technology and the
warmth of face-to-face interaction.”
georgerudy / 123RF Stock Photo
Stay-at-work programs include a variety of options such as
flexible work hours or modified duties, offer of a different job
and telework
12 ❚ MAY 2018 ❚ HR PROFESSIONAL