Category: Social Responsibility

What would/could you do?

Paul Wagenaar

I am worried for my children and our family, I am worried for my community, and I am worried for everyone. One has doesn’t have to read what the experts are saying, you just have to go outside and see for yourself. Our collective actions are threatening our planet and our survival.

I am not a reactionary, but I am an environmentalist. I am also a businessperson and someone trained as an economist, I appreciate the costs of what, as one person I am suggesting; however we have to change and we have to change now.

School/work/and stress – a guide for one person that might help someone you know too.

Paul Wagenaar

We are not born with the tools to handle the stress and anxiety we encounter. As a high school, college, or university student it is difficult to juggle the pressures that accompany living on your own for the first time along with what is in essence a very demanding job.

Today’s post was inspired by a conversation I had with a 2nd year Georgian College student, it was designed to help them and may help other people you know in similar situations.

30 Small Steps

Paul Wagenaar

Finding a new job is not something many of us do well or fortunately isn’t something we get a lot of practice doing. However, when we do find ourselves having to look for a new job, there is help available and it is a learned skill. Consider this post to be a short introductory guide to thirty small steps that can help you or someone you know.

MORE TEACHABLE MOMENTS

Paul Wagenaar

I work assisting people who are experiencing barriers to employment overcome them and find jobs that either accomplish their goals or take them to the next step on their individual journeys.

My role as a coach and mentor constantly reminds me of the lessons shared with me during my career, this post is the next chapter on “lessons learned” from my November 24th post.

“Yes” and so do many other hiring “practices.”

Paul Wagenaar

Have you ever considered how biased our hiring practices are toward people who do not experience barriers to employment. How difficult it is for people who are from outside the “colonial bubble” most of us never even notice?

When you start to see and think about those barriers you can see the intrinsic discrimination that happens every day.

Why would anyone work for free …

Paul Wagenaar

I am writing this on a Saturday.  I did two hours of work today and two hours last night. I have already worked many hours over my allotted workdays this week. It is unlikely I […]

Seeing all the people, seeing all the possibilities

Paul Wagenaar

When you or your organization goes looking for new people, what do you see? Do you see everyone who could meet or exceed your requirements? Do you include people from different backgrounds, ethnicity, cultures, people who experience barriers to employment. Hiring people is about seeing people without bias, misconceptions; it is about seeing the humanity behind the cover letter or resume.

I was involved in Human Resources for most of may career, I made mistakes; but with help I learned some lessons that might help you and your team.

An Insider’s guide to being a good Career Advisor

Paul Wagenaar

There is a special group of people who are making a difference to help people help themselves. I would like to dedicate this post to them, what they have taught me, to the people they help, and to the employers who work with them.

A far too common reality …

Paul Wagenaar

In Canada this weekend was for Thanksgiving and I thought reposting this story would be appropriate. The person in this post may be fictional; however, her story is one that is playing out daily in every community in Canada. People who are struggling need our understanding, our help to survive, and for us to provide a framework so they can have their lives back.

Each of us can help, we have a responsibility to make a difference.

Simple Truths – Nobody is born with a good work ethic.

Paul Wagenaar

This past week I attended a meeting where some people were lamenting that their new hires didn’t have a good work ethic and they seemed not to know how to function. Their comments inspired this post because “work ethic” is a learned skill and knowing what and how “to work” is also something that organizations should teach rather than assume.