Anne Howard Human Resource Consulting

06/21/2024

The trouble with baby boomers is we are hesitant about leaving the workforce. I’m a typical boomer and have been talking about retiring in the next year or so. And, it’s been more than a year or so that I’ve been doing that.

My talk has turned to action, and I am retiring at the end of July.
I have (almost) always enjoyed working. Sometimes I wasn’t thrilled with a job I had but I always looked for ways to learn something while doing it and to move on as soon as I could practically do so. I am grateful for having met far more great people than not so great ones. I’m especially grateful for those I’ve met who became friends. I am grateful for having had the opportunity to do some interesting, challenging work and to have learned something from all the work I have done.

This is a major life change and while I’ve undertaken a few of those – moved across the country twice, got married, had a kid, returned to school (also twice), became self-employed – this one feels different. It acknowledges the reality of a shorter life expectancy that comes with age, the importance of finding different ways to create meaning in my life, to continue to contribute something of value to society and, to indulge in some dreams.

The next couple of months will be spent completing projects and dealing with all the details of shutting down my business. And then a vacation and figuring out which of those things that “I’ll do that when I have the time” are important enough to do.

What I know I will still be doing is walking everywhere my wanderlust and feet take me.

07/24/2023

The need for pay transparency is old news. It has been long known that when people have a clear understanding of the procedures that determine what their pay is, and that the decisions about pay changes are being made fairly, they are more likely to be satisfied with their pay and to remain with their employer.

Pay transparency is coming. Sixteen US States have pay transparency laws with another six in the process. Read more in my latest blog:
https://annehoward.com/?p=638

06/21/2023

Over the last many months, I’ve had conversations with several people about their need to act as caregivers. The stories have been about recent diagnoses as well as longer-term ongoing care needs and have included physical and cognitive health.

I know many of these conversations occur because of my sharing my own experience in supporting dad when Mom’s Alzheimer’s progressed to the point where he could no longer manage the care on his own, his own cancer diagnosis, and then caring for Mom after Dad’s death.

The conversations also occur because of my human resource consulting work. Employees tell me about their worries about the implications of their caregiving responsibilities - losing their job, the financial implications of a switch to part-time work and/or taking unpaid time off work, the irritation of their co-workers about their absences, and their own emotional and physical exhaustion.

Read more in my latest article:
https://annehoward.com/?p=628

12/01/2022

Breaking: Summer jobs applications open for employers.
Minorities, environmental employers, and Indigenous youth are among government priorities.

For organizations looking to add summer staff, the time is now to apply for government assistance.

Not-for-profit organizations, public sector employees and private sector companies, with 50 or fewer full-time employees, can now apply for funding to hire young Canadians next summer.

Lint to full article:

Minorities, environmental employers, Indigenous youth among government priorities

11/29/2022

In my latest newsletter, I share some of the challenges faced by employees who are long-term caregivers and their employers, as well as some recent stats regarding CPI (Consumer Price Index) and why the projected 2023 base pay increases could leave employees less than happy.

In September and October, along with a number of my siblings, I walked from St. Peter’s Mission (southwest of Cascade, Montana) to Skull Creek (southeast of Maple Creek, Saskatchewan in the Cypress Hills). It was a six-week adventure - more on that in the newsletter! Link below:

http://ow.ly/jV1Z50LQj6E

11/16/2022

I visited Inspire Centre for Massage & Wellness for the first time last week. Welcoming staff and atmosphere. My first hot-stone massage. It was perfect: a great massage that lived up to its “Grounding Treatment for Body and Soul” name. It merits a top-choice Christmas gift rating!

inspirecentre.ca

08/30/2022

COVID-19 has functioned as an inflection point in accelerating workplace transformation and perspectives on institutional care. Its impact will be long-lasting.

Significance: Home-based caregiving service providers, historically a low-paid service role, will be increasingly difficult to obtain, and costs for that service will increase significantly making it difficult for many families to afford.

08/25/2022

The talent shortages resulting from the digital transformation are already establishing a much more human centric standard for workplace culture and work experience. Workers will also expect benefits beyond legislated unpaid time off to support and care for their parents and grandparents.

Significance: Employers will need to include caregiving support in their benefit programs.

08/23/2022

The talent shortages resulting from the digital transformation are already establishing a much more human centric standard for workplace culture and work experience. Workers will also expect benefits beyond legislated unpaid time off to support and care for their parents and grandparents.

Significance: Employers will need to include caregiving support in their benefit programs.

08/16/2022

Occupational Health and Safety requirements for protection of both physical and psychological health in the workplace, combined with Human Rights requirements for equity, have supported employee expectations that workplaces will provide services across a broad range of health and wellbeing needs.

Significance: Increased expectations for supports provided by employers.