How NOT to use PowerPoint...

How are your sales presentations looking? Are you getting your pitch across? Is your audience engaged or finding the cure for insomnia? Take a look:

Find the Hidden Talents in Your Employees - Must Watch!

A Father's Day Question: Do Workplaces Need to Be More Father-Friendly?

This was a question that was posed in yesterday's BLR Newsletter (The link is below for you to get access to the full article).

So guys, what's the answer to the question above? Do our workplaces need to be more "Father-Friendly". Whether they are or not the article says we don't really take advantage of the time off programs our companies already have for us.

I am a Father of two teen-age boys (15, and 13). Over the years, I have tried to spend as much time as possible with them; coaching getting involved with school work etc. The BLR article states that the more time we spend with them the better off they'll be. This idea almost seems to be a "no-brainer". In fact, the article goes on to claim that, when asked, 7 out of 10 Fathers say they would take a cut in pay to spend more time with our kids. So why don't we do it?

Learn more about the programs your company offers you and take some time off with the kids-it will be great for all.

Happy Father's Day
Full BLR Article

Canada's 30 Best Benefit Plans Offer Flexibility to Meet Employee Needs, According to Hewitt

TORONTO, June 7 /CNW/ - When it comes to selecting the best benefits
plans, the true judges are the employees who use them. For that reason,
employee feedback was used by Hewitt Associates, a global human resources
services company, to determine Benefits Canada magazine's list of "Canada's 30
Best Pension and Benefits Plans," announced today in the June issue. via CNW

Labour mobility pushed

Ottawa is to tell the provinces to move on dropping barriers.

OTTAWA -- The federal government is poised to tell the provinces they must drop barriers to labour mobility and allow Canadians to work anywhere in the country with their qualifications recognized, CP has learned.

The federal proposal will be presented by Industry Minister Maxime Bernier at a meeting of ministers in St. John's, Nfld., today. via London Free Press

Canada job market set for modest rebound in May

By Louise Egan

OTTAWA, June 6 (Reuters) - Canada likely created more jobs in May, rebounding modestly from a decline in April, analysts said, and they predicted a further rise in the Canadian dollar if the numbers surprise on the strong side.

In a Reuters survey, analysts' average forecast is for the economy to add 19,000 jobs in May after it lost 5,200 jobs in April. However, the expected gains are still far from the average monthly job gain of 52,600 in the first quarter.

The unemployment rate should stay unchanged at 6.1 percent, a 30-year low, according to the survey.via Reuters-Read More

Ontario Minimum Wage Increases

March 31 2007 - Labour Minister Steve Peters has announced that Ontario's general minimum wage will increase by 75 cents per hour annually to reach $10.25 on March 31, 2010.

Beginning March 31, 2008, the current minimum wage of $8.00 per hour will rise to $8.75, followed by rises to:

$9.50 as of March 31, 2009
$10.25 as of March 31, 2010
Steve Peters said:

"We are committed to ensuring fair, balanced and progressive policies for Ontario workers. We must ensure that our most vulnerable workers are able to share in Ontario’s strong economy."

"It is in the best interest of Ontario to help low-income working people," said Peters. "Since 2003, we have increased the minimum wage by 17 per cent. These increases would add an additional 28 per cent. Our economic strength is built by working families who must be allowed to share the benefits of a growing economy."via HRM Guide