https://johnstongroup.ca/the-advisor-journal Advice and information to help you support your business, your people and you. Mon, 30 Sep 2019 15:59:02 +0000 en-CA hourly 1 https://johnstongroup.ca/the-advisor-journal/business/to-raise-workplace-productivity-turn-the-thermostat-up-study/ Fri, 31 May 2019 16:25:45 +0000 https://johnstongroup.ca/the-advisor-journal/?p=6546 It may be time to turn up the heat on workplace productivity. To raise workplace productivity, turn the thermostat up:...]]> https://johnstongroup.ca/the-advisor-journal/business/canadians-prioritizing-salary-benefits-in-job-search-survey/ https://johnstongroup.ca/the-advisor-journal/business/canadians-prioritizing-salary-benefits-in-job-search-survey/#respond Thu, 09 May 2019 16:42:40 +0000 https://johnstongroup.ca/the-advisor-journal/?p=6564 Salary is important to job seekers, but benefit plans are increasingly becoming a draw.]]> https://johnstongroup.ca/the-advisor-journal/business/canadians-prioritizing-salary-benefits-in-job-search-survey/feed/ 0 https://johnstongroup.ca/the-advisor-journal/hr/7-essential-tips-for-recruiting-millennials-in-2019/ Tue, 29 Jan 2019 21:49:31 +0000 https://johnstongroup.ca/the-advisor-journal/?p=6655 Millennials are the future of the workforce so fine-tune your recruiting skills to make sure your company is getting (and retaining) the best and brightest of the millennial generation.]]> https://johnstongroup.ca/the-advisor-journal/wellness/planning-for-retirement-rrsps-and-tfsas/ Wed, 23 Jan 2019 21:53:53 +0000 https://johnstongroup.ca/the-advisor-journal/?p=6661 There is no template for planning for your retirement income. So many conditions affect your personal situation – how much you save, what assets you accumulate, what inheritances you receive, how much of a pension you have in place, whether you own a house.]]> https://johnstongroup.ca/the-advisor-journal/hr/many-canadians-working-extra-hours-to-offset-vacation-time-survey/ https://johnstongroup.ca/the-advisor-journal/hr/many-canadians-working-extra-hours-to-offset-vacation-time-survey/#respond Fri, 28 Dec 2018 06:00:00 +0000 https://johnstongroup.ca/the-advisor-journal/business/many-canadians-working-extra-hours-to-offset-vacation-time-survey/ Do you feel like taking a vacation means having to do a week's worth of work in advance? You're not alone.]]> https://johnstongroup.ca/the-advisor-journal/hr/many-canadians-working-extra-hours-to-offset-vacation-time-survey/feed/ 0 https://johnstongroup.ca/the-advisor-journal/business/2019-marks-beginning-of-cpp-enhancements-to-be-rolled-out-over-seven-years/ https://johnstongroup.ca/the-advisor-journal/business/2019-marks-beginning-of-cpp-enhancements-to-be-rolled-out-over-seven-years/#respond Tue, 11 Dec 2018 06:00:00 +0000 https://johnstongroup.ca/the-advisor-journal/business/2019-marks-beginning-of-cpp-enhancements-to-be-rolled-out-over-seven-years/ Beginning in early 2019, the Canada Pension Plan and Quebec Pension Plan will phase in enhanced benefits over the next seven years. How does this affect your generation?]]> https://johnstongroup.ca/the-advisor-journal/business/2019-marks-beginning-of-cpp-enhancements-to-be-rolled-out-over-seven-years/feed/ 0 https://johnstongroup.ca/the-advisor-journal/hr/how-would-you-characterize-your-past-employers-hr-departments/ https://johnstongroup.ca/the-advisor-journal/hr/how-would-you-characterize-your-past-employers-hr-departments/#respond Mon, 05 Nov 2018 06:00:00 +0000 https://johnstongroup.ca/the-advisor-journal/business/how-would-you-characterize-your-past-employers%c2%92-hr-departments-chances-are-terms-like-%c2%93administrative%c2%94-%c2%93reactive%c2%94-%c2%93transactional%c2%94-or-less-flattering-terms-come-t/ Human Resources is no longer just about recruitment and keeping track of employees. It's a more dynamic player in the company brand and character, and that requires a new way of approaching this vital function of business.]]> https://johnstongroup.ca/the-advisor-journal/hr/how-would-you-characterize-your-past-employers-hr-departments/feed/ 0 https://johnstongroup.ca/the-advisor-journal/business/to-get-employees-to-empathize-with-customers-make-them-think-like-customers/ https://johnstongroup.ca/the-advisor-journal/business/to-get-employees-to-empathize-with-customers-make-them-think-like-customers/#respond Mon, 01 Oct 2018 05:00:00 +0000 https://johnstongroup.ca/the-advisor-journal/business/to-get-employees-to-empathize-with-customers-make-them-think-like-customers/ We all know how important it is for an organization's leaders and employees to empathize with its customers. Evidence shows that when people understand and care about those they serve, they solve problems more creatively and provide better service.]]> https://johnstongroup.ca/the-advisor-journal/business/to-get-employees-to-empathize-with-customers-make-them-think-like-customers/feed/ 0 https://johnstongroup.ca/the-advisor-journal/wellness/7-things-you-must-do-for-a-successful-wellness-program/ https://johnstongroup.ca/the-advisor-journal/wellness/7-things-you-must-do-for-a-successful-wellness-program/#respond Tue, 11 Sep 2018 05:00:00 +0000 https://johnstongroup.ca/the-advisor-journal/business/7-things-you-must-do-for-a-successful-wellness-program/ Planning to introduce a wellness program to your company? Maybe you have a plan, but you’re considering dropping it because it doesn’t seem to be helping anybody? Go through this checklist first and make sure you’ve done everything you can to make your wellness program a success! 1. Find out what your employees need Do the employees sit to do their work all day? Can their work hours interfere with their family time? Do they have trouble upgrading their skills because of time constraints? Find out what challenges employees are facing and take care of as many of them as you can through policies, initiatives, equipment, employee assistance programs, etc. 2. Find out what employees want Just straight out ask them. Some people like recognition programs, some people like participating in fun office activities, some want to get additional training. Employees are more likely to participate in a program if it fits with their goals, so ask them what it is they want. 3. Engage your employees Set up a committee or small team to research opportunities. Give them the tools to create and implement their plan. If it’s driven by the employees, it’s more likely to be adopted by employees. 4. Approach wellness holistically It’s not just healthy eating and smoking cessation. Stressors come from many areas of life. Give employees the tools to deal with the stresses of the mind, body and spirit. And needs change – continue to re-evaluate your program regularly. 5. Reward, don’t punish Numerous studies have shown that incentives drive adoption of wellness programs much more effectively than mandating participation. In particular, weight loss and smoking cessation programs are virtually ineffective when mandated. Remember, change comes from within! Encourage positive behaviours. 6. Commit to it for the right reasons Yes, a good wellness program can have positive effects on your bottom line. But when a company commits to a long term culture of wellness, it shows employees and prospects that they’re valued. By tracking the less-tangible “Value of Investment” (VOI) you’ll see how important employee wellbeing is to the wellbeing of the business. 7. Communicate, communicate, communicate Study after study has shown that the most common reason employees don’t participate in wellness initiatives is that they didn’t know about them. Talk about your program; make employees comfortable talking about it. Bring it up in interviews, meetings, employee reviews, and casual conversation.]]> https://johnstongroup.ca/the-advisor-journal/wellness/7-things-you-must-do-for-a-successful-wellness-program/feed/ 0 https://johnstongroup.ca/the-advisor-journal/wellness/23-and-1-2-hours-what-is-the-single-best-thing-we-can-do-for-our-health/ https://johnstongroup.ca/the-advisor-journal/wellness/23-and-1-2-hours-what-is-the-single-best-thing-we-can-do-for-our-health/#respond Mon, 13 Aug 2018 05:00:00 +0000 https://johnstongroup.ca/the-advisor-journal/business/23-and-1-2-hours-what-is-the-single-best-thing-we-can-do-for-our-health/ An interesting view on the obesity crisis. Can you commit to only sitting or sleeping for 23.5 hours a day, and spend the rest being active?]]> https://johnstongroup.ca/the-advisor-journal/wellness/23-and-1-2-hours-what-is-the-single-best-thing-we-can-do-for-our-health/feed/ 0