Jobs

Lynda Trudell, left to right, Terance Brouse, Julie Rusciolelli and Megan Dunscombe, are photographed during a meeting at the PR agency Maverick, in Toronto, on Wednesday, February 15, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Tijana Martin

Perk or necessity? Hybrid work expectations differ between employers, employees

81% of workers want a flexible work arrangement — and are willing to leave their current job to get it

Lynda Trudell, left to right, Terance Brouse, Julie Rusciolelli and Megan Dunscombe, are photographed during a meeting at the PR agency Maverick, in Toronto, on Wednesday, February 15, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Tijana Martin
B.C. is encouraging ministries to allow their employees to work from home. (Pixabay)

B.C. embraces a remote work future

Government ministries strongly encouraged to allow for flexible work arrangements

  • Feb 13, 2023
B.C. is encouraging ministries to allow their employees to work from home. (Pixabay)
The provincial government forecasts more than one million jobs to open up with the next decade. (Joshua Fischlin/The Free Press)

B.C. needs to fill more than 1 million jobs within 10 years: report

Latest B.C. Labour Market Outlook says immigration needed as retirements, economy will fuel demand

The provincial government forecasts more than one million jobs to open up with the next decade. (Joshua Fischlin/The Free Press)
Canfor President and Chief Executive Don Kayne said the lack of fibre supply led to the closure of its sawmill and pallet plant in Chetwynd, whose mayor says that the community will have to digest the closure for a while. But Allen Courtoreille also tried to strike a positive note. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

Mayor says mill closure is ‘devastating’ for small community of Chetwynd, B.C.

Canfor’s closure eliminates 120 jobs in a community of 2,500

Canfor President and Chief Executive Don Kayne said the lack of fibre supply led to the closure of its sawmill and pallet plant in Chetwynd, whose mayor says that the community will have to digest the closure for a while. But Allen Courtoreille also tried to strike a positive note. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
Known as ‘Hollywood North’, Vancouver is the third largest film and TV production centre in North America with approximately 65 movies and 55 TV series filmed here every year. (Photo: Brands&People on Unsplash)

1 million job openings predicted in B.C. over the next decade

Report makes 65 recommendations on how to fill the future void

  • Feb 7, 2023
Known as ‘Hollywood North’, Vancouver is the third largest film and TV production centre in North America with approximately 65 movies and 55 TV series filmed here every year. (Photo: Brands&People on Unsplash)
People working in long-term care have filed the most approved COVID-19 compensation claims to WorkSafeBC since 2020, out of all the different work sectors in B.C. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

More than 15,000 COVID compensation claims approved for B.C. workers since 2020

Vast majority of claims to WorkSafeBC come from health-care sector

People working in long-term care have filed the most approved COVID-19 compensation claims to WorkSafeBC since 2020, out of all the different work sectors in B.C. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Mexican and Guatemalan workers pick strawberries at the Faucher strawberry farm, Tuesday, August 24. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jacques Boissinot

Long delays and rising cases deny B.C. workers justice, say critics

Some workers waiting months or years for decisions to be made

  • Jan 31, 2023
Mexican and Guatemalan workers pick strawberries at the Faucher strawberry farm, Tuesday, August 24. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jacques Boissinot
This June 19, 2017 file photo shows a person working on a laptop in Massachusetts. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Elise Amendola

Trust essential in work-from-home era, experts say, after B.C. ‘time theft’ ruling

More and more companies using technology to monitor their employees’ every move

This June 19, 2017 file photo shows a person working on a laptop in Massachusetts. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Elise Amendola
Colorado Mammoth forward Brett McIntyre, front left, scores a goal against Buffalo Bandits goalie Matt Vinc, back, on June 11, 2022, in Denver. Injured players working in the US are typically eligible for workers’ compensation, but not in Canada. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Pro athletes chasing workers’ compensation for their injuries

Canadian athletes not eligible if they’re injured in a game or practice, B.C. asked to change that

  • Jan 13, 2023
Colorado Mammoth forward Brett McIntyre, front left, scores a goal against Buffalo Bandits goalie Matt Vinc, back, on June 11, 2022, in Denver. Injured players working in the US are typically eligible for workers’ compensation, but not in Canada. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
President of the Treasury Board Mona Fortier speaks in the foyer of the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Thursday, Dec. 15, 2022. Fortier says that if federal public servants refuse to return-to-office by the end of March management will be left to assess each situation on a case by case basis.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Penalties for public servants who won’t go back to office to be handled individually

Federal employees still working from home will begin to transition back starting Monday

President of the Treasury Board Mona Fortier speaks in the foyer of the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Thursday, Dec. 15, 2022. Fortier says that if federal public servants refuse to return-to-office by the end of March management will be left to assess each situation on a case by case basis.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
Softwood lumber is pictured in Richmond, B.C., Tuesday, April 25, 2017. An estimated 300 jobs in British Columbia will likely be gone by the end of the year as Canfor Pulp Products closes the pulp line at its Prince George pulp and paper mill. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

Hundreds of jobs affected as Canfor announces pulp line closure at B.C. mill

Vancouver-based company blames a lack of fibre for its pulp operations

Softwood lumber is pictured in Richmond, B.C., Tuesday, April 25, 2017. An estimated 300 jobs in British Columbia will likely be gone by the end of the year as Canfor Pulp Products closes the pulp line at its Prince George pulp and paper mill. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
In 2021, 6,532 workers reported a mental disorder claim to WorkSafeBC, a 60 per cent increase from 2017. Of them, about 37 per cent were accepted. (Credit: Pixabay)

The growing toll of job injuries you can’t see in B.C.

Workers are increasingly reporting mental health challenges and the struggle to have them recognized

  • Dec 28, 2022
In 2021, 6,532 workers reported a mental disorder claim to WorkSafeBC, a 60 per cent increase from 2017. Of them, about 37 per cent were accepted. (Credit: Pixabay)
FILE- Senior citizens make their way down a street in Peterborough, Ont. on Monday May 7, 2012. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn

‘It is your new normal’: Canada’s aging work force root of national labour shortage

Canada’s labour force growth rate has been trending downward since 2000, and is intensifying

FILE- Senior citizens make their way down a street in Peterborough, Ont. on Monday May 7, 2012. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn
FILE - Juul products are displayed at a smoke shop in New York, on Dec. 20, 2018. Embattled vaping company Juul Labs announced layoffs Thursday, Nov. 10, 2022, as the company tries to weather growing setbacks to its electronic cigarette business, including lawsuits, government bans and increasing competition. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)

Vaping company Juul cuts 400 jobs amid growing setbacks

Industry experts speculating company could soon go bankrupt

FILE - Juul products are displayed at a smoke shop in New York, on Dec. 20, 2018. Embattled vaping company Juul Labs announced layoffs Thursday, Nov. 10, 2022, as the company tries to weather growing setbacks to its electronic cigarette business, including lawsuits, government bans and increasing competition. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)
Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem speaks at a press conference in Ottawa on Thursday, June 9, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Patrick Doyle

Job losses will rise but won’t reach levels seen in past economic downturns: BoC

Slowdown necessary to halt inflation, says Bank of Canada governor

Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem speaks at a press conference in Ottawa on Thursday, June 9, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Patrick Doyle
FILE - In this May 1, 2018, file photo, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg delivers the keynote speech at F8, Facebook’s developer conference, in San Jose, Calif. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., who heads the Senate Commerce subcommittee on consumer protection, called in a sharply worded letter Wednesday, Oct. 20, 2021, for Facebook founder, Zuckerberg, to testify before the panel on Instagram’s effects on children. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez, File)

VIDEO: Facebook parent company Meta lays off 11,000 employees

Number represents 13% of entire Facebook, Instagram workforce

FILE - In this May 1, 2018, file photo, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg delivers the keynote speech at F8, Facebook’s developer conference, in San Jose, Calif. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., who heads the Senate Commerce subcommittee on consumer protection, called in a sharply worded letter Wednesday, Oct. 20, 2021, for Facebook founder, Zuckerberg, to testify before the panel on Instagram’s effects on children. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez, File)
Workers are seen around a cafe-style bar in Lightspeed’s Montreal office in an undated handout photo. When Lightspeed Commerce Inc. staff headed back to the office this year after a pandemic hiatus, they found a space double the size of their last with a restaurant serving free meals, a smoothie bar and a barista to craft custom drinks. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Lightspeed

Canadians companies turning to amenities to lure staff back to offices

Catered lunches, workout spaces, childcare among perks being offered by some

Workers are seen around a cafe-style bar in Lightspeed’s Montreal office in an undated handout photo. When Lightspeed Commerce Inc. staff headed back to the office this year after a pandemic hiatus, they found a space double the size of their last with a restaurant serving free meals, a smoothie bar and a barista to craft custom drinks. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Lightspeed
A sign welcomes visitors to Merritt, B.C., Friday, Nov. 19, 2021. The city is launching a four-day work week pilot program in hopes of attracting, recruiting and retaining staff for the city. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

Merritt to pilot four-day work week at city hall to attract workers

One-year trial will see city hall closed on Mondays

A sign welcomes visitors to Merritt, B.C., Friday, Nov. 19, 2021. The city is launching a four-day work week pilot program in hopes of attracting, recruiting and retaining staff for the city. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
An excavator from a Wikimedia Commons file. GFL Environmental Inc. has been been handed a record WorksafeBC fine in connection with debris cleanup in the Kootenays. Wikimedia Commons file photo

Clean-up firm slapped with record WorksafeBC fine tied to lack of asbestos protection

WorkSafeBC fines GFL Environmental over $700,000 for infraction on Kimberley job site

An excavator from a Wikimedia Commons file. GFL Environmental Inc. has been been handed a record WorksafeBC fine in connection with debris cleanup in the Kootenays. Wikimedia Commons file photo
In this file photo members of the BC General Employees Union rally outside the Surrey Pretrial Services Centre. (Photo: Lauren Collins)

BCGEU bans overtime work by members as job action intensifies

Union hoping to highlight issues of under-staffing, excessive workload with latest move

In this file photo members of the BC General Employees Union rally outside the Surrey Pretrial Services Centre. (Photo: Lauren Collins)