The notion of holding one job for life does not hold any appeal for the new generation of talent. Those days are gone forever, and unless organizations are willing to invest in them emotionally and financially‚ this savvy group will seize the opportunity and leave you scrambling to replace them. They won’t accept complacency in their leaders or teams‚ and neither should you.

In addition to managing the increasing numbers of retiring Baby Boomers, building a culture that draws in new talent and fosters engagement for all team members, regardless of age or culture, is a key priority. Leaders need to ask themselves: What is it that people want when they come to our organization? What is appealing about our industry that would attract them to our organization? If you are able to answer these questions, then the process of attracting and retaining new talent becomes easier.

As leaders, we also must recognize that our own leadership style impacts employee motivation and talent retention. Leaders at all levels can profoundly impact an individual’s decision to stay or leave. Are you doing your best to communicate, connect and demonstrate a genuine interest in your team members?

In this content-rich keynote presentation, you will discover the key components for building a dynamic environment where people can thrive and enjoy their work. You will recognize that the intangible (nonfinancial) motivators often have a major influence on a prospect.

Is the current attraction and retention tumult going to continue as the new normal? Can we address issues that will settle employee departure volumes and recruitment activity into a steady, sustainable state?

Considerations include:

• Investigating trends in turnover: Where, when, why, who
• What is working in attraction and retention, and why?
• Future-proofing the workplace model—Flexibility is the key.

Surveys continue to show that employee benefits are a key factor driving attraction, retention and culture. But when the workplace brings together multiple generations with diverse wellness, family and health needs, designing a cost-effective benefits plan that appeals to all employees can be a challenge.

Is more choice better for your organization? Can a meaningful flex plan be simple?

In this session, we’ll explore:

• Different approaches to benefits flexibility and how to know which is best for you and your employees
• Critical factors to consider before embarking on a flexible benefits plan (or super-flexing your existing program)
• How to build a sustainable flex plan that drives participation and appreciation.

This session will look at the current state of Canadian workplace mental health as we move through the pandemic. How have we been impacted, what are we experiencing now and what are the impacts on employees and the workplace of the future? What do we need to consider to tackle mental health concerns and help create a psychologically healthy workplace in today’s still-pandemic conditions? This session will conclude with a call to action for participants to bring mental health to the forefront of their organization.

In this session, we will cover:

• The role of nontechnical stakeholders in building cyberresilience
• Third-party risks in the benefits world and how to assess service providers
• Preventive measures for pension and benefit plan administrators
• Liability of the company/fiduciary in case of a breach
• How government and regulators are approaching cyberrisk.

Wellness has always been an important part of an employer’s benefit and HR programs. But over the years, the discussion has evolved from purely physical wellness to a broader concept of well-being that also encompasses mental, psychosocial and financial wellness. This panel will explore various ways that employers can provide holistic support to help employees be their best selves, both at work and at home.

Jim Reid knows what it takes to build a high-performance culture and successfully lead organizations through tremendous growth. Recognized as one of the 50 Best Executives in Canada in 2021, and with the OC Tanner Lifetime Achievement Award in Human Resources in 2022, Reid will share the five timeless principles that the very best leaders understand and live everyday in their work and life to help their companies outperform. Leaders set the tone, and Reid’s presentation will bring together some of the best research on high performance and over 30 years of observing what top executives do differently to create a winning employee experience that delivers value to customers and shareholders. All attendees will get a FREE copy of Jim’s book, Leading to Greatness!

I’m not a bully, I’m just a passionate person.

• If I feel bullied, but you didn’t mean it, am I hypersensitive?
• Why bullying the bully doesn’t help
• Preventing bullying in a hybrid workplace
• Creating a team agreement to clarify and reinforce acceptable behaviours

Remote work has opened up a world of opportunity for companies to engage talent from across the globe, but there’s a lot for employers to consider. This session will discuss the benefits and challenges of finding and managing global talent, and how benefits plans must adapt.

Diversity, equity and inclusion are becoming important considerations for employers, but how do they impact benefits plans specifically? Join us for a thoughtful discussion on what employers need to know and do to ensure they’re creating an inclusive benefits environment for everyone.