Latest news with #jobsecurity
CBC
19 hours ago
- Business
- CBC
Contract talks with N.S. public service break down over job protection
Officials with the union representing most civil servants in Nova Scotia say they're prepared to take their chances with an arbitration panel as long as the provincial government is targeting job protection. The contract for about 8,400 workers represented by the Nova Scotia Government and General Employees Union expired on March 31, 2024, and the two sides had been working with a mediator in recent months to try to reach a new collective agreement. NSGEU first vice-president Hugh Gillis said in an interview Friday that it seemed like they were making progress until earlier this week when "those talks kind of went sideways" and government representatives indicated they wanted the job protection clause on the table. Gillis described job security as "a red line" for the union. "Obviously, government would like to get rid of that so it would be easier to lay off employees and we're having nothing to do with that," he said. "We're not giving up our job security." Union wants wage increases to follow pattern The union's job protection provisions state that when someone's position becomes redundant, is relocated or would otherwise receive a layoff notice, they cannot be laid off. Instead, a worker could exercise bumping rights, accept a voluntary layoff but be entitled to recall, or voluntarily resign with severance. The other issue relates to pay. Although he would not say what the government is offering, Gillis said the union believes a new deal should begin with a 5.5 per cent wage increase in the first year, in keeping with the terms of other recent collective agreements. "We're a wage pattern province and we believe that we can make the case that it's 5.5 [per cent]." If talks do not resume, the two sides are destined to meet at an arbitration panel hearing Oct. 20-21. Representatives for the government and union would argue their respective positions, with the panel's decision being binding. A spokesperson for the province declined to comment on matters involved in bargaining. Severance terms announced for non-unionized workers Meanwhile, the province announced Friday the new severance terms that will apply to non-unionized civil servants if they are laid off without cause. The Progressive Conservative government passed amendments to the Civil Service Act during the winter session at Province House giving itself the power to fire non-unionized workers without cause. About a quarter of the public service is not represented by a union. The updated regulations will provide four weeks of pay per year of service, capped at 72 weeks. The previous cap was 52 weeks. Employees would receive eight weeks' notice ahead of a layoff. In March, Public Service Commission Minister Twila Grosse said the amendments were required to give the government greater flexibility to deal with changing needs in the public service. At the time, Grosse said there were no plans for a broader reorganization or layoffs within the public service. A spokesperson for the province said Friday that "staffing decisions remain with individual departments, who must manage within their operational needs and budgets."
Independent Singapore
a day ago
- Business
- Independent Singapore
Work-life balance is still top priority for Singaporeans after 3 years, though Gen X values pay a bit more
Photo: Depositphotos/ Shadow_of_light (for illustration purposes only) SINGAPORE: Work-life balance has remained the most important factor for Singaporean workers when choosing an employer for the third consecutive year, according to the Randstad Employer Brand Research 2025 report. The report surveyed 2,522 Singapore job seekers and employees across various sectors, including healthcare, information and communication technology (ICT), education, engineering, and finance. The survey, conducted by Randstad in partnership with research firm Kantar, was carried out between January and March this year through 14-minute online interviews with individuals aged 18 to 64. According to Malay Mail, citing the survey, Singaporeans across all age groups continue to value work-life balance the most. However, Gen X workers placed slightly more weight on financial compensation. They also place high importance on job security and working for a financially stable company. Still, only around half of the respondents said their current employers are meeting expectations when it comes to providing work-life balance. David Blasco, country director for Randstad Singapore, said work-life balance is likely here to stay for at least the next decade, as 'We will eventually have a job or have different income avenues, which makes work-life balance the true differentiating factor between employers.' Notably, work-life balance is closely tied to employee motivation and engagement, with those experiencing better work-life balance reporting higher job satisfaction and loyalty. On the other hand, poor work-life balance was one of the top reasons people considered leaving their jobs in the past year. Nearly half of all respondents also said they felt disengaged at work, and those who did were 60% more likely to consider leaving their jobs. /TISG Read also: Businesses should address burnout as an organisational problem, expert says Featured image by Depositphotos (for illustration purposes only)
Forbes
2 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
How To Talk About Your Layoff Without Damaging Your Career
Layoffs eliminated over 221,000 jobs in Q1 2025, hitting government, tech, retail, accounting, ... More manufacturing and logistics sectors the hardest. Layoffs continue to impact a range of sectors with large-scale ripple effects, hitting government, tech, retail, accounting, manufacturing and logistics the hardest. More than 221,812 jobs were eliminated within the first quarter of the year. Economists at Deloitte have cited ongoing economic turmoil, federal funding cuts, tariffs, decelerated consumer spending, AI's widespread impact and cost-cutting measures as contributing factors. According to Clarify Capital's 2025 survey of 1,000 Americans, one in three people have anxiety about layoffs. Building job security and 'career insurance' for ourselves involves preparing for layoffs, including knowing how to talk about being laid off. Here are three tips to help you navigate this challenging situation—including 6 ways to discuss your layoff positively. When Layoffs Hit, Separate Role Elimination From Personal Performance The first thing to do is make sure you don't internalize your layoff as something that reflects poorly on you personally. Layoffs are business decisions that are fundamentally different from firing someone for poor performance. Mass layoffs impact multiple teams or departments—often stripping teams down to a 'skeleton crew' or eliminating them entirely. When layoffs occur across the board, companies are making structural changes—not assessing individual skill, ability or value. The first negotiation is with yourself: don't conflate the elimination of your role with personal performance issues. If you do, this will negatively impact how you position and present yourself for your next role. Take Time To Regroup Before Going Full-Force With Your Job Search You may feel the temptation to dive straight into a full-on job search. Resist that urge. If you don't take the time to process what happened and determine how you will intentionally move forward, you will continue to operate in a reactionary state of 'fight or flight,' which does not bode well for a successful job search. Take what time you can to regroup. Decide on a timeline and create a structure for this period of strategic reflection and planning to make the most of it. If you absolutely cannot take weeks to plan your next career moves, build in 'micro' breaks daily to process your emotions and avoid bottling them up. Even five or fifteen minutes a day to ground yourself and ensure that you don't internalize your layoff as a judgment on—or reflection of—you personally will help sustain your transition into your next role. Taking the time to prevent emotions from negatively impacting your job search will pay off as you transition into full-on job searching when it's time. How To Talk About Your Layoff When you share with your network that you're available for new opportunities, you don't need to mention the layoff unless the topic comes up naturally. However, if you're asked directly about why you left your previous role, be honest—never hide or lie about it. If you do discuss the layoff, frame it properly. Instead of saying, 'I was laid off,' or 'I was let go,' try: 'My role was eliminated as part of a company-wide restructuring,' 'My position was eliminated during a departmental reorganization,' or 'The organization underwent strategic changes that impacted multiple departments.' You can also reference business model changes or external forces: 'The company pivoted their business model and underwent a full reorg,' 'Due to industry changes, the company restructured several teams,' or 'The company underwent a merger and consolidated roles across departments.' The bottom line: layoffs reflect company-wide changes, decisions and shifts—not individual performance. Your Layoff Is Redirection, Not A Setback Layoffs have become an unavoidable reality in today's working world. While you can't control when they happen, you can still control your ability to process, respond and frame the experience of a layoff—both to yourself and to others. As anxiety-provoking and destabilizing as navigating layoffs may feel, what you offer the world through your efforts and labor is far greater than any one job or role. Sometimes external factors force our hand and push us toward opportunities that align better with our path. The unknown can be terrifying, even paralyzingly so. Yet it may also reveal possibilities that are perfectly suited to where you're meant to be—opportunities you might never have pursued otherwise.
Malay Mail
2 days ago
- Business
- Malay Mail
Singapore workers from Gen Z to Gen X still value work-life balance most, but half say their employers fall short
SINGAPORE, June 26 — For the third consecutive year, work-life balance has topped the list of what makes an employer valuable among Singaporean workers, according to the Randstad Employer Brand Research 2025 report. The survey, conducted by global HR firm Randstad in partnership with research agency Kantar, showed that although work-life balance topped the list across all ages, Gen X respondents placed slightly more emphasis on financial compensation. 'Work-life balance is never going to disappear, at least for the next decade. We will eventually have a job or have different income avenues, which makes work-life balance the true differentiating factor between employers,' David Blasco, the country director for Randstad Singapore, said in the report. Only around half of respondents, however, believe their current employers are meeting expectations on this front, pointing to a persistent gap between employee desires and organisational delivery. The study found that younger generations, particularly Gen Z and Millennials, prioritise work-life balance alongside opportunities for personal growth and flexible working conditions. Gen X workers, while also valuing balance, placed slightly greater emphasis on job security and a financially stable employer. Work-life balance was also closely tied to motivation and engagement, with those enjoying better harmony between work and life reporting higher job satisfaction and loyalty. Conversely, poor work-life balance was among the top reasons cited by respondents for considering resignation in the past year. The research also indicated that employees who feel disengaged — nearly half of all respondents — are 60 per cent more likely to consider quitting their jobs. The report surveyed 2,522 respondents in Singapore aged between 18 and 64 via 14-minute online interviews conducted from January to March 2025. Participants were drawn from various sectors including engineering, finance, healthcare, ICT and education, representing a balanced mix of jobseekers and employees. Now in its 14th edition in Singapore, the annual study aims to help companies strengthen their employer branding strategies by understanding workforce sentiment.
Malay Mail
4 days ago
- Business
- Malay Mail
Ipsos poll: AI optimism rises in Malaysia, yet six in 10 fear losing jobs to machines
KUALA LUMPUR, June 24 — More Malaysians believe artificial intelligence (AI) could improve their jobs, but growing fears about job loss cast a long shadow. According to the Ipsos AI Monitor 2025, 54 per cent of Malaysians now think AI will enhance their jobs in the next three to five years, up from 39 per cent in 2024. This signals growing confidence in AI's workplace potential, especially in Southeast Asia where support is higher than the global average. But the same survey found that 63 per cent of Malaysians fear AI could replace their current job within that same timeframe. This puts Malaysia among the countries with the highest levels of job-related anxiety linked to AI, behind only Thailand and Indonesia. At the same time, 55 per cent of Malaysian respondents said AI makes them feel nervous, up from 50 per cent last year. The data suggest Malaysians are increasingly aware of AI's double-edged impact — boosting efficiency on one hand, and threatening job security on the other. Despite these fears, public trust in government oversight remains strong, with 73 per cent saying they trust Putrajaya to regulate AI use responsibly. 'This presents a crucial opportunity for Malaysia to strike a balanced path — embracing innovation while safeguarding public trust and workforce resilience,' said Ganesan Periakarruppan, the principal of Ipsos Strategy3 at Ipsos Malaysia. 'This is in line with the various initiatives and efforts carried out by the government to capitalize on AI as an economic growth catalyst while improving public service and ensuring responsible AI development.' This trust far exceeds that found in developed countries such as Japan and the United States. Experts say that managing this anxiety while encouraging AI adoption will be key to Malaysia's success in the digital economy. Ipsos said Malaysians also believe AI has already made a difference, with 75 per cent saying it has changed their daily lives in the past few years. The survey involved 500 Malaysian adults between March 21 and April 4, and forms part of a wider global poll.
