According to a recent study, companies with a positive corporate culture make more money than their counterparts.  The results of Canada’s 10 Most Admired Corporate Cultures for 2008 were discussed in a recent article in the Vancouver Sun.  The three year average revenue growth, as well as the three year average asset growth of this year’s top 10 companies was 63 per cent higher than than that of the 60 largest public companies in Canada listed on the S&P/TSX 60.   

What are the benefits of a strong corporate culture?  According to the results, they include lower turnover, giving employees a sense of belonging and improved corporate performance.  Many of the top 10 companies, like Westjet, have created business models around their corporate culture.

Given today’s uncertain economic times, companies cannot afford to ignore corporate culture and risk worsening economic performance if they fail to build a strong corporate culture.  For assistance on improving your company’s corporate culture, please contact Clear HR Consulting for an initial consultation.

The Vancouver Olympic Committee (Vanoc) has released its 10 suggestions about how local businesses can help out during the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver. Many involve setting human resources policies, including businesses altering their work days, mandating vacation or allowing telecommuting.

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The latest episode of CBC Radio One’s popular show “Definitely Not the Opera” focused on leadership, with a discourse on office politics, including the “office fox”.  Cissy Pau, Principal Consultant for Clear HR Consulting, was interviewed for a segment on the role of the “office fox”, the well-connected power broker who is in the know, sought after by all for their advice and their willingness to share what needs to improve in the workplace.

Cissy explained how the ” office fox” is usually not the boss, but rather a person whose influence is drawn from their ability to have the ear of both employees and management.  When entering a new workplace, it is important to figure out who the fox is, and get on their good side.

To listen to this episode of CBC Radio One’s “Definitely Not the Opera” and hear Cissy Pau’s take on the “office fox”, then be sure to listen the podcast of the show; the segment can be found around 19 minutes into the episode.

Clear HR Consulting’s Principal Consultant Cissy Pau was profiled in this week’s edition of Business in Vancouver (Edition 992, October 28 - November 3, 2008) on page 37.  

Want to know what sets Clear HR Consulting apart?  Or more importantly, want to learn which five people of all time Cissy would invite to her dinner gathering?  Then be sure to pick up a copy of Business in Vancouver newspaper to see Cissy Pau’s smiling face and read her profile.

Much is written about the skilled labour shortage, but little is said about how to integrate new Canadian workers into the workplace.  The Canadian Council of Human Resources Associations (CCHRA) recently released a report examining the use of immigrants as a source for talent, and provides an action plan for businesses to fully use the potential of these new Canadian workers.

Some of the recommendations for businesses include:

• building hiring plans based on skills;
• designing policies and training programs on fostering diversity;
• developing policies on recognizing foreign credentials and experience; and
• creating programs to integrate new Canadian workers, existing employees and their families.

For more information or assistance on how to integrate new Canadian workers into your workplace, please contact Clear HR Consulting.

October is small business month in B.C., and with it comes the release of the provincial government’s annual “B.C. Small Business Profile“. Small business is defined as a business with fewer than 50 employees, or a business operated by a self-employed person with no paid help.

In 2007, small business made up 98 per cent of businesses in B.C. and employed over one million people. Between 2002 and 2007, the number of small businesses in B.C. grew by 8.8 per cent, and 56 per cent of B.C.’s private sector jobs are with small business, which is the highest rate in Canada.

In an article in the Vancouver Sun about this report, the Canadian Federation of Independent Business notes that with B.C.’s low unemployment rate and rising wages, small businesses need to offer more to attract employees as it becomes more difficult to find employees.  

This reinforces the point that B.C. small business needs to continue to develop their attraction and retention practices in order to find and keep top talent.

Canada’s Top 100 Employers and B.C.’s Top 50 Employers for 2009 were recently announced.  Winning an award in these annual competitions is critical in the battle for top talent. Being known as a top employer a is a critical component of these companies’ employer brand.

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