Despite on-going recession, the Employment Standards Act, 2000 has further increase the general minimum wage in Ontario to C$9.50 per hour last March 2009.  It was the sixth increase amendment since 2004 and an increase to C$10.25 per hour is due March 2010.  The Regulation also increases the minimum wage for students, service workers, home workers and the likes.  The recent changes can relatively boost diversified staffing particularly for aboriginals, women and minorities among others. 

 

To describe this standard, let’s start with:

 

Minimum wages or the lowest rate an employer can pay his employee.  Employees mostly those in the manufacturing sector are eligible for minimum wage, whether they are full-time, part-time, seasonal employees like students or those paid at an hourly rate, commission and either flat rate or salaried.

 

There are job-specific exemptions and rules are certain in some industries and job categories. Here are some of the examples of general minimum wage rate that employers can use as guide.

 

-          Those students who are under 18 years of age and working not more than 28 hours per week during school year or working during holidays are entitled to C$8.90 per hour

-          Service employees especially those serving liquor to direct customers or guest in legal premises are entitled to C$8.25 hourly rate

-          Hunting and fishing guides are entitled to C$47.50 per day if working less than five consecutive hours in a day; shall be given C$95.00 per day for working five or more accumulated hours in a day

-          Home workers can get up to 110% of the general minimum wage; these are employees who do paid works in their homes for an employer

-          If the minimum wage rate changes during the pay period, the pay period shall be treated as if it was two separate periods and the employees should be given the minimum wage that applies in each period.

 

For some companies they can also opt staffing through contractual approach to reduced employment cost.  Others may quickly find contract workers or consultants that don’t normally sits at the office reducing other administrative and utility cost.  Recession is here and it can greatly affect staffing budget, however, a consolidated and practical approach to diversified employment relies positively on careful evaluation and execution of the most cost-effective decisions. 

 

Recession should not stop you from diversifying your work force, visit www.DiversityCareers.ca for more information and get the right mix of diverse agents and hopefuls to drive your company amidst economic turmoil.

As the government encourages workplace equity and diversity, almost every Canadian company is embracing the bandwagon, there are however few that really excelled and maximizes the benefit of having a diverse workforce.

Diversity in the workplace is a no new approach in creating a heterogeneous working environment; there are few companies that have already exercise this method by employing individuals with above average skills; these are the companies that believes in individuals strength and unique abilities.  How important is diversity and how companies can leverage from it especially those in the service industry?

A typical service company may benefit from various government incentives, tax holidays and lobbying privileges upon embracing diversity.  More so, that it can provide equal opportunities among employed individuals of continuous career development resulting to loyalty and dedication. Embracing a diverse workforce also provide service companies with unparalleled assets that comes from patronage among different ethnicity, culture, origins, languages and beliefs.  It also helps companies understand their customers and even expand market niche.  A company may also leverage in having a diverse poll of talents and expertise in order to stay competitive and advance in the global market.  Diversity makes businesses become more proactive in dealing with challenges and future development as different set of legs works together as one.

For a company to experience the benefit of developing a diverse workforce, they may start searching at leading job sites like DiversityCareers.ca (www.DiversityCareers.ca) – a company committed in providing a bridge between Canada’s highly skill aboriginals, hard-working immigrants and minorities, seasoned professionals and successful companies that embraces diversity.