Editor’s Note

If there is a list of jobs that do not receive the due appreciation it deserves, probably HR will top the list. While HR plays an essential role in ensuring company success, it is strange that many people are unaware of what HR does all day!

Human Resource departments are considered the backbone of many Canadian organizations. However, a recent survey from ADP Canada and Leger found that HR is often overlooked and, in many cases, underappreciated by the everyday office worker. With more than 1,000 working Canadians participating in the survey, the findings of the poll were interesting. The results highlighted that Canadians are taking their HR teams for granted - with one-third saying their HR person or department is underappreciated in the workplace. So, why is HR so underappreciated? To know this and more, read Heather Haslam’s article, Why Doesn’t HR Get The Appreciation It Deserves?

Though terms like Data Science, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning are echoing everywhere, not everyone knows the technical details of these new age terminologies. But, these fields are growing extremely fast, and very soon all business professionals will need to have some level of understanding about them and know the important considerations about the related business cases, project lifecycle, and strategies. Alan Bostakian in his article, provides a summarized go-to resource on these terminologies for the busy executives

These days, most small businesses have open positions, and many are struggling to find enough quality applicants to fill them. Why does recruitment represent such a challenge for small businesses? One reason is that many of these organizations do not have a fully-staffed HR team – or even a designated HR team member. However, there are a few easy changes organizations can make to their recruitment practices to get more quality applicants. To know that, read Alex Tolbert’s article, 3 Ways HR Pros Can Find More Quality Applicants.

Advances in technology enable startups to swiftly move into international markets, expanding their opportunities and brands on a global basis. In doing so, HR can play a leading role, the importance of which cannot be understated.  In his article, How HR Can Support Global Growth Of An Organization, Shan Nair examines some ways in which a solid HR strategy can greatly enhance the ability of a business to grow globally and retain key employees.

Apart from these articles, also read other informative articles on various HR strategies in this issue. We hope you enjoy reading the articles and take home the insights to make the right decisions to build a high-performing workforce.

Cheers!