We're back to Daylight (Saving) Time, and with the change come fiscal year endings, beginnings, and the inevitable examination of achievements, goals, (un)realistic expectations, strategic planning, and KPIs. Annual reports, meaningful work, tangible impact, making a difference, and all the good words a PR team can think of to demonstrate brand delivery. One of my top-of-mind questions, though, goes beyond being on-brand — since most companies try to make that a priority: how are we doing with on-purpose efforts?

Our newest member organization, Canada's largest independent benefit consulting firm, Sterling Capital Brokers, examines company rewards programs with a firm's top talent in mind in "What are Total Rewards?". As companies compete for employees in an environment where expectations on where and how we work and how to strike a work-life balance continue to evolve, SCB shares some of the top priorities and key considerations for engaging your employees as you define and communicate a Total Rewards strategy in your firm.

Hiring local talent in international locations is one of the best ways for Canadian companies to accelerate global expansion, especially in a time of restricted international travel. After all, locals know best how to engage clients in their specific markets. Still, hiring in other countries comes with a lot of red tape, unforeseen complications and potential risks. Enter Communitech Outposts.

Glenn Yonemitsu, Managing Director, and Rob LaJoie, Executive Advisor, High-Impact Firms at BDC Advisory Services, share perspectives on what resilient leadership in these uncertain times requires. In their article, Glenn and Rob discuss the importance of triaging issues, as a leader determines where to spend his/her time, and then applying a decision making framework to how they respond to issues and pursue opportunities. Resiliency in leadership is about being both fast and good which are both results of being prepared.

Is your home network safe? Are you putting your corporate assets at risk while working from home? At 10 months into the ‘new way to work’ with many more such months on the horizon, QA Consultants shares simple guidelines to secure your work from home environment.

The daily routines of millions of workers changed swiftly and profoundly in 2020 as many workplaces closed or restricted access due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. For many people who could work remotely, home became the workplace. While not everyone’s experience of working from home has been the same, some commonalities emerged. Many people embraced new-found flexibility through technology-enabled connectivity. The notion that time spent in the traditional office environment is some

We are living in a time of incredible uncertainty. Few business leaders have ever faced a future with “rules of the game” that are so unclear. In the past, the rules of the game have always been known.

How do you set corporate strategy when you don’t know if you can do business in the same manner that you have been doing for the past 20 or 30 years. How do you allocate scarce resources when you don’t know the possible returns from each of your business growth strategy options? What if the rules of the game change tomorrow?

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to proliferate in Canada and around the world since its initial outbreak in late 2019. Its impact on economies and societies has been tremendous and unprecedented. While employers face serious legal challenges in managing their workforces during these disruptive times, such challenges are not necessarily insurmountable. With careful planning and execution, employers can navigate the legal risks posed by the pandemic and maintain a stable workforce to ensure the continuity of their business operations.

We are also sharing some reflections on living and working through the pandemic from one of our friends in San Diego, DeLinda Forsythe, founder and CEO of Innovative Commercial Environments, who recently shared a thoughtful commentary on what we are all going through together. Thank you DeLinda, for the opportunity to share your thoughts with our network.

Canada and the United States have separate and increasingly divergent immigration systems. Each country’s immigration policies and platforms have strengths and weaknesses. I will compare and contrast their immigration systems for two distinct purposes: (1) to highlight how a North American business integrated immigration approach can provide a competitive advantage; and (2) to provide a context and useful insight into potential comprehensive U.S. immigration reform. I will first review the U.S. immigration system and then contrast Canada’s immigration system.

Transformational leaders are not born nor are they merely lucky. They are leaders who have developed themselves and their skills to innovate, disrupt, and ultimately mobilize others to realize an inspired future for their organization.