Business Guide

How-To Guide for Business offers step-by-step instruction for preparing your workplace for a prosperous and sustainable future.

Download your free copy of the Tomorrow’s Workplace Guide for Business

TOMORROW’S WORKPLACE BUSINESS GUIDE

Community Guide

Enjoy a Community Guide of the project scope and context for your Community/Business project.

Learn how community services and business can collaborate to enhance the workplace and integrate diversity in a variety of contexts.

Download your Free copy of the Community Guide For Tomorrow’s Workplace.

Facilitators Guide

Chambers and HR Consultants: Enjoy a Power Point Presentation of the project scope and context for your Business/Community project.

Tomorrow’s Workplace projcet was driven by the needs of business owners and revealed:

• * the importance of addressing priorities identified by the business
• * levaraging workforce diversity

* the importance of partnership with community and employment service providers to improve the competitive edge

Diversity is the new competitive advangtage for sustainable business.  Rethink, reshape and renew your business community.

Download your free Tomorrow’s Workplace Overview Presentation.  Learn the scope of the project and what is needed to initiate your community/workplace/business collaborative model.

Research Guide

Enjoy an extensive Literature Review of the project scope and context for your Business/Community project.

Download your free copy of Tomorrow’s Workplace Literature Review

PRESS RELEASE – BUSINESS GUIDE TO BE LAUNCHED

AWARD WINNING BUSINESSES MODEL FOR TOMORROW’S WORKPLACE
A Party to Celebrate Collaboration, Community and Business Success

Following 18 months of research, consultation with business leaders, workshops, seminars, conferences and surveys, and in collaboration with leaders in HR, Best Business Practices, Diversity and Community Development, the Tomorrow’s Workplace team unveils the GUIDE FOR BUSINESS LEADERS: Business – People – Community – Diversity, at a launch event on May 20, 2010 at the Sheraton Hotel, Surrey, BC (Guildford). Festivities begin at 4:30 pm and conclude by 7:30 pm.

The Canadian workforce is changing significantly, with the gradual retirement of the Boomer generation. Baby Boomers represent 40% of the workforce in North America, and business leaders are now looking at a new workforce model that includes diversity of age, ethnicity, physical disability, and gender.

New expectations in the workplace will have a profound effect on the longevity and sustainability of Canadian small and medium sized business. Factors include:
• Workers in their forties are caring for aging parents,
• Adult children often still live at home,
• Boomers are increasingly caring for grandchildren.
• Cultural distinctions require flexibility in family care, benefit selections, meal provisions and holiday extensions.
• Educated and highly trained young adults are seeking employment that fits around individuality and personal goals.

Tomorrow’s Workplace has worked with businesses in the Surrey area to learn, educate and collaborate in an effort to identify changes that are needed to create a high performing workplace, and develop effective methods for managing change in our business culture.

The event includes: an early evening of networking, short educational presentations, brief informative stories from local business leaders, live music, complimentary appetizers (cash bar), exhibits from Community Employment Service Providers, door prizes and a gift copy of the Tomorrow’s Workplace Guide for Business for each guest.

Admission is complimentary, but pre-registration is required. Please call
Heather at the Surrey Board of Trade at 604.581.7130 – or register online

Learn more about the Tomorrow’s Workplace Project

CONTACT: Bill Beatty                                      FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Telephone: 604.866.2203
Email: Bill Beatty [bill.seni2@telus.net]

Background Information:

Tomorrow’s Workplace; funded by the Canada – BC Labor Market Agreement, Western Economic Diversification Canada, and Coast Capital Savings, is the brainchild of S.U.C.C.E.S.S, a Vancouver based multicultural training and service organization. S.U.C.C.E.S.S. partnered with the Surrey Board of Trade, Simon Fraser University , and Kwantlen Polytechnic University to research, and document the face of employment in BC and its relationship to privately owned small enterprise in the next decade and beyond.

The project assists Greater Vancouver area businesses through a series of business analysis and constructive consultation exercises, including: a 360-degree view of operations, financial plans and marketing/sales structures, clarity of mission, vision and values, employee workplace design and human resources strategy, and community service connections and effectiveness. Finally, the process is video documented for future study by Simon Fraser University and Kwantlen Polytechnic University.

Canadian Business Faces Workforce Challenge

Challenges to the Emerging Canadian Workforce

A recent article in the Toronto Star sketched an outline of the face(s) in Tomorrow’s Workplace.  The labor force in this country is evolving, and with the changes come inherent challenges.

What happens when the boomers retire?

Baby boomers although working much longer than they had anticipated, will eventually retire.  When the boomers go, who will replace the largest demographic in the labor market?

Don Drummond, chief economist for the TD Bank Financial and author of the latest Star article, lists several contributing factors and their implications for next decade.  He suggests that although Canadian women, aboriginals and youth could assist this country’s labor transition, there remain significant obstacles.

Women outnumber the men

Recent statistics indicate that women, under and over 25, outnumber men in the Canadian workforce: 7.1 million compared to men at 6.9 million.  Women remain under- compensated for their efforts and occupy the lowest wage paying jobs in the country.

Businesses will be forced to address the growing and insistent demand from the female demographic for their needs: for childcare considerations, elder care obligations, and pay equity and opportunity.

Aboriginal Opportunities

Aboriginal peoples continue to increase in the Canadian population, with over 50% living in the urban centers. Overall, they are younger than the non-aboriginal population, yet remain underutilized in the Canadian workforce. According to Drummond, it makes sense to empower the Aboriginal people to meet the employment demands, but again, there are challenges.

The cost of education for even entry-level employment has become out of reach for many Aboriginals.  The same problem affects young high school graduates as they prepare to enter the Canadian workforce.

Tax benefits and subsidies for education- used by the wealthy

A striking level of grants, subsidies, scholarships and various forms of financial assistance and tax credits, eludes students in the most challenging situations and is typically awarded to the students taking advantage of the programs from wealthier families.

Aging Workforce Opportunities

The aging factor is not a Canadian phenomenon alone.  The US faces the boomer retirement as does Europe.  Currently there are 8 million in the EU from 60-65 preparing to retire.  Given the decreasing birth rate over the past generation, nations face a shortage of younger applicants to fill positions in almost every industry sector.

Forward thinking businesses might consider how to help their aging workforce continue in the labor market through inventive transition strategies that respect their physical and circumstantial requirements..

Canada’s Top Diversity Employers

Looking for Employment in Canada where Diversity is Valued and Practiced?

The BMO sponsored “Canada’s Best Diversity Employers” 2009 lists produced by Mediacorp may be a good place to start looking for your next job.  These businesses were selected as “diversity friendly” based on “exceptional workplace diversity and inclusiveness programs” for the following employee groups:

• Women
• Members of visible minorities
• Disabled persons
• Aboriginal peoples
• LGBT peoples ( sexual orientation)

Is Your Business Eligible?

 The size of the company or the sector, whether private or public was not limited. Applicants were chosen on their merits for ingenious  and effective approaches to diversity practices in any one or more of the aforementioned groups.

 2009 marked the third year for the competition and is fully sponsored by BMO, who withdrew their name from the competition.

 Your business can apply if you meet the criteria.  Learn more about the application process here.

 You can find the list of business winners in 2009 here, with details of what they are doing to incorporate successfully the diversity principles and practices into their workplace.

Community Service Providers Invited

Employment Service Providers Free Networking and Development Workshop

The workplace of tomorrow will be very diverse, comprising individual differences in generations, education levels, cultural, and ability/disability. As an employment service provider, you’re aware of these realities, and are focused on connecting your clients with satisfying work situations.

Through the Tomorrow’s Workplace project, we are supporting the connection of businesses with community groups in order to source and recruit job-ready individuals in Surrey. We are helping organizations explore their “Business Case for Diversity” to help them sustain and grow into the future.

During the workshops and discussions we’ve had with employment service providers, one common theme expressed is their challenge in building relationships with businesses.

Please join us for exploration and discussion

We invite you to join with peers in your community as Dr. Neault and Ms. Pickerell share tips and techniques for building collaborative relationships with the business community. This is about moving forward, taking some risks, and recognizing how employment service providers are uniquely positioned to meet the immediate needs of our business community.

More About the Speakers

Dr. Roberta Neault is president of Life Strategies Ltd., an Aldergrove-based firm specializing in diversity, international/global careers, and career management as a recruitment, retention, and engagement solution.  She is a counsellor-educator at Athabasca, Yorkville, and Trinity Western Universities, and an award-winning keynote speaker, trainer, presenter, and facilitator.

In 2009, working with SUCCESS, she was instrumental in developing a toolkit: SEED: Supporting Employers Embracing Diversity. This comprehensive toolkit guides employers in recruitment, retention, and training a culturally diverse workforce.

Deirdre Pickerell, Life Strategies’ senior consultant, received the BC HRMA Award of Excellence for her innovative work in career management within organizations. Ms. Pickerell is a sought after speaker and an international expert on using career management as an employee engagement strategy.

Meeting Details

YOU MUST CONFIRM YOUR ATTENDENCE – RSVP to Heather Scragg at the Surrey Board of Trade   Email: heather@businessinsurrey.com   Call: 604.581.7130

Wednesday, March 3, 3:00-5:00pm

(network/register 2:30-3:00)

Sheraton Guildford, Surrey BC

Hosted by the Tomorrow’s Workplace project:

Gayle Hadfield, Project Manager,  Lynn Corrigan, Workplace Design Consultant

15th Annual Cultural DIVERSEcity Awards for Business

Gala Event for Diversity – Business to Win Award

Tomorrow’s Workplace is happy to promote the upcoming Annual Cultural DIVERSEcity Awards for Business: April 13, 2010 at the Sheraton Vancouver Guildford Hotel in Surrey, BC.

Businesses from the lower mainland who exhibit leadership qualities in the application of diversity values and practices are eligible for nomination.  There are a variety of business size categories; small business, non-profit, youth-owned, government funded, etc. to insure inclusive opportunities.

Judges will be looking for:

• Cultural Expertise
• Community Involvement
• Employee Initiatives
• Marketing Strategies

For More information, visit their website at DIVERSEcity.

Click here for a quick  FAQ on the event.CDA FAQ

Business and Community

Communities Offer Help for the Business Sector

Many small and medium size businesses follow their business plans, mainly concentrating on their products, customers and their vision for success. However, businesses often overlook or underestimate the importance of the community they operate in. Organizations seem to operate in a silo, missing the important resources communities have to offer.

Communities form around geographic locations and they usually have shared values, culture and trends

There are some easy ways to get to know and understand your community better. You can start by connecting with your local Board of Trade and the Chamber of Commerce. Ensure you interact and network with other businesses to find out the trends, opportunities and challenges. This shared interest networking will help your business.

Connect with the local educational institutions

Schools can provide qualified potential employees, which are already members of your community and have a good understanding of its trends and characteristics. By being informed and understanding the specific environment your business operates in, you will be able to be more proactive, better serve your customers and consequently have more opportunity for business growth into the future.

 Nicoleta Ratiu, SFU Business Graduate and Tomorrow’s Workplace contributor

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