Legacy Bowes Group Articles

I’ll be honest, I am very much enjoying the beautiful summer we are experiencing. Long, sunny days that stretch right out to relaxing evenings without too many of our typical Manitoba mosquitoes. As well, I see much less traffic on my drive to work, because so many people are on vacation. Aaaah, summer is so much more relaxing.

Yet, the word "relaxing" can also be a problem in a summer workplace. There are often issues that can arise from employees who take the summer dress code a bit too far — in other words, they are simply too "relaxed" and that is negatively impacting their colleagues as well as the corporate professional image.

Frankly, I could scream with anger whenever I hear United States President Donald Trump appearing to defend racism. I am also quite shocked at how quickly he has been able to dismantle civil rights initiatives, legislation, policies and procedures that support diversity in the general society as well as in the workplace. In addition, Trump's suggestion that diversity is simply reverse discrimination and that it's time to stop so-called "political correctness" sends shudders through my heart. I give thanks for living in Canada, yet I am already seeing some fallout in our great country and I expect this ripple effect will continue.

While I am enjoying the lovely summer weather and have read a book or two, I am shocked to the core about the number of ethical issues arising in the workplace I am reading about in the newspaper every day.

For instance, who would have thought that one of our elected city councillors would blatantly use his corporate credit card for personal expenses? Not only that, it is understood the credit card was used for an entire two years and 600 transactions in spite of multiple warnings.

Following the rules is a strategy for career success

Things happen fast in a global world. In Malaysia, two Saskatchewan siblings ended up in court and were eventually deported after they -- along with others -- stripped naked on a mountain that's considered sacred and posted photos on social media. Not only did the photos go viral, they coincided with a terrible earthquake. Unfortunately, the social-media stunt was linked by the government to the natural disaster and the subsequent loss of life.

Grin and wear it

Although I’ve never followed fashion, I’ve certainly had a front seat to the phenomenal social transition from formal office attire to casual dress. No longer is the three-piece uniform for men or the pencil skirt and matching jacket for women the standard business uniform. 

The often worst managed HR function can be a boon if well-implemented

As time creeps toward school-report season and that well-known Halloween gala event, many organizations are also looking at finally getting around to that dreaded report card or "performance review" process. You’ll notice I used the word "finally." I did so deliberately because performance reviews are almost always late or simply not done. In fact, the performance-management function is the worst managed area of the human resource field.

Focusing on human resources is an investment, not an expense.

For some unknown reason, as the Christmas holiday came and went, the 1944 novelty Christmas song All I Want for Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth kept ringing in my ears. Was it the simplicity of the tune or the simplicity of the child’s "ask" that made it such an earworm?

This then led me to thinking about human resource professionals. What would they have wanted for Christmas? What would they have asked for? What goals for the new year 2017 would they have set?