Making workplaces better for all 

Workers, job seekers and employers are spending more time these days talking about and exploring what Quality of Work means.

Quality of work can mean something different to each of these groups.

For workers and job seekers, it can mean what makes a workplace a good place to work: Good wages and benefits? Healthy work-life balance? The chance to fully use their skills on the job? The opportunity for promotion? And more.

For employers, it can mean how can they make their workplace more attractive to existing employees and potential new hires. What can they offer so their staff are happy? How can they leverage quality of work to attract and retain human talent? And more.

The Workforce Planning Board of Grand Erie set about to investigate how these group preceive quality of work and, further, to understand barriers that might exist to enhance it.

The report Examining Quality of Work in Grand Erie: An Assessment of Needs, Gaps and Opportunities, by author-researcher Wynona Mendes, does just that.

Over the course of a year, the Workforce Planning Board surveyed hundreds of job seekers, employees and employers, conducted dozens of one-on-one interviews, and carried out additional research.

Among the key findings:

• There are major differences in how the different groups perceive and rank quality of work factors;
• That job seekers and employees will shift where to work based on quality of work factors, especially regarding wages;
• That employers see a need for access to affordable, community-based job training and skills development programs;
• That employers see a need for access to increased mental health and wellness supports in the community;
• Community agencies and government have an important role to play in supporting businesses to enhance quality of work.

The full report, including key findings and recommendations, can be read or downloaded HERE.

A webinar detailing the findings from the Quality of Work study is available. The webinar can be found HERE.

Examining Quality of Work in Grand Erie was funded by the Government of Canada’s Future Skills Centre, a forward-thinking centre for research and collaboration dedicated to preparing Canadians for employment success. We thank them for their support.