Nearly half of Quebecers affected by the shortage of workers

Montreal, November 12, 2024 – A new study by Leger, commissioned by the Retail Council of Canada (RCC), reveals that nearly half of Quebec workers (47%) feel the direct impact of staff shortages on their working conditions. These concerning results highlight significant challenges to productivity and well-being, as teams at most companies face increased pressure.

This situation influences the quality of life of workers, who feel an increasing need for support. Considering that 34% of employees feel that their immediate supervisors do not have the tools to effectively assist them with psychological health issues in the workplace, it is becoming essential to improve resources and support for management staff.

“This study highlights the urgent need to adapt human resources management strategies to better support managers and employees. The retail sector, the second largest private employer, is already making considerable efforts to adapt to the transformation of the world of work, but the multitude of recent and upcoming changes in the rules requires constant readjustment, especially considering the challenge of overseeing a vast network of branches,” says Michel Rochette, President of RCC – Quebec.

Higher expectations in Greater Montreal

There is a marked difference between Greater Montreal and the rest of Quebec when it comes to assessing the tools available to employers to enrich the work experience, particularly in terms of inclusion, diversity and integration of cultural and LGBTQ+ communities. In Greater Montreal, 62% of respondents believe that their employer’s efforts are satisfactory, compared to 74% in other regions of Quebec.

Salary and financial benefits: a powerful motivational tool

The survey results indicate that the salary issue remains the main motivating factor for 61% of Quebec workers, regardless of their age group. However, important distinctions emerge about other motivations. For employees aged 18 to 34, the social environment, including the quality of interactions with colleagues, is crucial. On the other hand, for workers aged 55 and over, recognition of the efforts made is a major motivational lever, highlighting the importance of valuing their contribution in a tangible way. These variations across generations indicate that retention and engagement strategies need to be adapted to meet the specific expectations of each age group.

Three webinars to delve deeper into these issues

All these questions will feed into a series of three webinars on human capital issues that will take place over the next few weeks. Thanks to the invaluable collaboration of our partners, including Leger, the Centre patronal SST, Nurau, La Vie en Rose and the law firm BCF, these webinars will offer enriching perspectives that will allow us to better understand the expectations of Quebec workers and to develop concrete solutions to improve their experience within organizations.

• November 19: Webinar hosted by the Centre patronal SST, dedicated to the new obligations for employers in terms of occupational health and safety in Quebec, offering key information for managers.
• November 26: Webinar hosted by Nurau and La Vie en Rose, exploring how innovations, including artificial intelligence, can help managers in the field.
• December 3: Webinar hosted by BCF, on attracting workers from outside Quebec in the context of the transformation of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP), international student policies and certain permanent residence programs.

 

To read Leger’s study (in French).

For more information on the webinars, please visit the Events page of the RCC website (in French).

 

About the Retail Council of Canada

Recognized as the Voice of Retailers™ in Quebec and Canada since 1963, the Retail Council of Canada is an industry-funded, not-for-profit association that represents small, medium and large retail businesses that are rooted in people’s daily lives. The organization has more than 17,000 businesses and establishments as members, including the largest banners in Quebec – and nearly 60,000 in Canada –; from department stores to food distribution, specialty stores, pharmacies, independent retail and online stores. A crossroads where unique expertise converges, RCC designs certified guides, tools and training, in addition to being a true source of data and analysis. The retail sector employs more than half a million Quebecers and generates sales of nearly $110 billion (2022). https://www.retailcouncil.org/

 

For media information:
Laurence Tôth
Director, Public Affairs
AUCOIN Stratégie & Communication
581 305-4501
ltoth@aucoinstrategie.com