The Birkman Method
One of the primary assets of a Human Resources Manager is to be objective. This means being non-judgmental, and able to understand another’s point of view. I was fortunate enough to be introduced to the Birkman Method® early in my career, and I believe it contributed to my growth in Emotional Intelligence.¹ The Birkman Method is a powerful tool that identifies a person’s passions, behaviors, motivation and interests. I have used Birkman for Teambuilding, Conflict Management, and most recently in Career Counselling, but there are many more ways it can be used:...
Read MorePrivacy
Privacy in Canada is protected by the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) and is under the jurisdiction of the Federal Department of Justice. Provinces that have essentially similar legislation are exempt from the federal legislation, as employers in those provinces are covered by their provincial legislation. At the time of this writing, Ontario does not have similar legislation. The Act applies to “every organization in respect of personal information that the organization collects, uses or discloses in the course of commercial activities” or...
Read MoreOther Benefits
Flexible Benefits were introduced in recognition of the fact that employees’ needs differ depending on their situation, and in response to requests for additional coverages such as day care, fitness club memberships etc. Certain core benefits may be required (e.g. life insurance, disability) and then there is a set dollar amount per employee to select other options. If employees do not use the full dollar amount to purchase benefits, some companies pay the balance to a cash account for the employee. Other Benefits The perceived value of benefits depends on employees’ needs. Some things...
Read MoreLife Insurance
Employee Group Life Insurance Group Life Insurance provides insurance coverage at affordable group rates. Coverage is typically a multiple of the employee’s base pay, or total direct compensation (salary plus bonus/commission). Dependents’ Life Insurance Basic dependents’ life insurance is typically a set amount such as $10,000 for the spouse and $5,000 for each child. Optional Life Insurance Some insurance companies provide optional life insurance plans for the employee and/or spouse. Premiums are at group rates, and depend on variables such as the insured’s age...
Read MoreHealth and Dental Insurance
Health and dental insurance, while popular with employees, is becoming increasingly expensive, and employers are looking for ways to control costs. Many employers ask employees to share in the cost of premiums (e.g. 50/50; 60/40; 80/20) and some plans pay after the employee has reached a set deductible amount. Goup Insurance covers many of the medical expenses not covered by the provincial health plan (OHIP). The company pays a premium to an insurance company to cover the cost of benefits paid out, plus administrative services. Examples of Group Health Insurance: prescription...
Read MoreDisability Insurance
Short Term Disability Insurance pays a portion of the employee’s salary if (s)he is disabled for a defined length of time (e.g. sixteen weeks). Coverage may be provided through an insurance company, or covered directly by the company. Long Term Disability Insurance pays a portion of the employee’s salary if (s)he is disabled for a long time, or permanently. A typical plan would come into effect after the expiration of a waiting period, which may be covered by the company’s short term disability coverage. If the employee pays the premium, any benefit received is tax-free. If the...
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