Marijuana, Mental Health, Mergers and Millennials: Managing Diversity and Motivating the Modern Retail Workforce.
March 7, 2017TORONTO, March 7, 2017: Retail Council of Canada’s 2017 Human Resources Conference on April 19th at the International Centre in Mississauga, will expose and debate the most contested human resources challenges facing retailers in Canada today.
A recent Retail Council of Canada survey of its member leaders identified that human resources professionals now have new concerns that add further complexity to their roles. These controversial areas of concern are the foundation for Retail Council of Canada’s intense day-long 2017 Human Resources Conference on April 19th, 2017. The most innovative human resources professionals and retailers in Canada will share and debate how they are proactively managing these increasingly pressing workplace issues to stay ahead and thrive.
Conference delegates will get inspired and educated on the latest best practices and earn 6.5 hours of certified HRPA credits for participating in the conference’s hotly debated topics.
The bold lineup of speakers to champion these topics at Retail Council of Canada’s 2017 Human Resources Conference include:
• Jim Caldwell, Executive Vice President, Big Box Retail at Lowe’s Companies Canada ULC
• Monika Mielnik, Senior Consultant, HR Workplace Health, Bell Canada
• Kelly Davis, Senior VP HR, Loss Prevention & Customer Service, Town Shoes
• Gil Dennis, Executive Vice President, Retail and Human Resources, Indigo
• Ed Mantler Vice President, Programs & Priorities, Mental Health Commission of Canada
• Michel Arsenault, Clinical Director of Ontario and Digital Clinical Services, Morneau Shepell
• Dan Demers, Senior Manager of Strategic Business Development , CannAmm
• Andrea Coopman, Sr. Human Resources Manager, Microsoft
• Miles Lucas Country Human Resources Manager H&M Canada
• Rob Power, North American Retail Trainer, Michael Hill Jewelers
• Ted Moroz, President, The Beer Store
• Ramesh Venkat, Director, David Sobey Centre for Innovation in Retailing, Sobey School of Business
• and many more
The full listing of speakers is available at http://www.rcchrconference.ca/speakers.
Diane J. Brisebois, President and CEO, Retail Council of Canada will open the conference with Lowe’s Jim Caldwell who will lay out how dramatic business changes, such as Lowe’s 2015 acquisition of RONA, affect people, and how implementing progressive human resources strategies can help companies flourish.
Further building on employees’ morale and emotional resilience, Ed Manteler, Vice President, Programs & Priorities, Mental Health Commission Canada will discuss the National Standard of Canada for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace (The Standard) and share updates on how some of the first companies to implement The Standard are experiencing its impact.
Monika Mielnik, Senior Consultant, Human Resources – Workplace Health at Bell Canada will also share learnings from Bell’s “Let’s Talk” program and how Bell is measuring the progress of its adaptation of The Standard for its workplace mental health strategies.
Effective strategies to attract and hire talent through employment brand building will be explored in a three-way exchange featuring Stacy Parker, Managing Director, Blu Ivy Group, Ted Moroz, President of the Beer Store, and Kristen MacLellan, Senior Manager, Talent Acquisition Best Buy Canada.
Perhaps one of the most polarizing human resources issues today is the burning debate on the impact of marijuana legalization, especially as it relates to safety sensitivity. This session, let by Dan Demers, Senior Manager, Strategic Business Development, CannAmm, will help provide guidance on how to manage both medically authorized and legally accessible marijuana in the workplace through compelling facts, resources and action steps.
The full agenda can be viewed at http://www.rcchrconference.ca/agenda.
“It’s fascinating how members are being stretched to tackle highly nuanced and complex human resources issues that were not even on the radar a few years ago” said Retail Council of Canada’s Senior Director of Events and Education, Kyle Tomlin. “This is going to be one of the most controversial conferences Retail Council of Canada has ever produced as we all try to together find a way to bring solutions to these modern workforce challenges for retailers in Canada.”
-30-
About Retail Council of Canada:
Retail is Canada’s largest employer with 2.2 million Canadians working in our industry. The sector annually generates payroll of $60 billion and approximately $350 billion in sales (excluding vehicles and gasoline). As of 2016, Retail Council of Canada (RCC) members’ represent more than two thirds of retail sales in the country. RCC is a not-for-profit industry-funded association and represents small, medium and large retail business in every community across the country. As the Voice of Retail™ in Canada, we proudly represent more than 45,000 storefronts in all retail formats, including department, grocery, specialty, discount, independent retailers and online merchants. www.RetailCouncil.org
