Thursday December 31st, 2009
You're aiding economic recovery just by reading this!

So it's the last day of 2009 and, like most people, I'm spending the day reflecting on the year that's passed and the year to come.

I think 2009 was pretty much the 13th floor of our lives:  Sure, we all know it's there, but the elevator buttons skip from 12 to 14, as though not labelling the 13th floor will somehow keep us safe from the bad luck it supposedly brings.

However, I have to say I was surprised by our collective resiliency this year.  The media in the first few months of 2009 was a non-stop deluge of economic disaster stories. 

But there's only so much of that doom and gloom a body can stand, and by August it felt like, as a society, we put our collective foot down and said, "Enough with this paralyzing economic stasis!  Let's start moving forward again!"

In other words, barely a year after the Bear Stearns collapse that started it all, we were able to pick ourselves up, shake off the dust, and get back on the road, as it were.  Maybe we're not yet running down the road, but we're definitely striding briskly, and possibly whistling.

But I found myself wondering..

The 2008/09 recession was more sudden, dramatic, and global than any other economic downturn since the Great Depression.  So how come we seem to be recovering - in spirit, if not yet in actual dollars - so much faster?  

(Remember the real estate tumble in the late 1980s?  Not only did house prices take ages to recover, but everyone was just so depressed for so long.  If I had a nickel for every time one of my friends, family or university profs told me that graduating in 1991 with a BA in English Lit basically qualified me for a life on the breadlines, I'd have been able to bail out Bear Stearns myself.  Now that 'content is king', however, us English grads are looking remarkably prescientient.)

Social media:  The #1 factor in the optimism that leads to economic recovery

Back in May, I wrote that social media was saving the economy, and I still think it's true.

Our connections to people far outside our previously circumscribed little worlds have given us all more of a sense of 'team spirit'.  Personal economic disasters - losing a job, losing retirement investments, etc. - can be alienating and isolating.  But these days, instead of holing up at home, quietly falling off the grid into an alcoholic slough of despond, we're taking to blogs, vlogs, status updates, discussion groups - and finding that not only are we not alone in our own circumstances, but there are plenty of people in far worse circumstances, so maybe we should stop moaning about how we can't afford that 52" flatscreen any more.

(All of this also puts me in mind of the whitepaper we published this year on grassroots corporate philanthropy and its effect on the bottom line, actually.)

Anyhow, I guess that's my Big Deep Thought for 2010:  Spending so much time connecting with people via social media isn't 'wasting time' - it's these connections, which are driving the optimism that, ultimately, drives economies.

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Monday December 21st, 2009
Are you diversity-aware? Use this checklist to find out!

I don't know about you, but this time of year always gets me thinking about diversity-related issues - it's important to remember that not everyone is taking 'Christmas' holidays.

We all know we need to be more aware of diversity-related issues.  But are we really doing anything about it?

This self-test will help you determine whether your organization is really doing all it can to support/improve diversity in your organization.

Has your organization:

• Sought out more information to enhance awareness and understanding of racism by talking with others, reading or listening?
• Examined your attitudes and behaviours as they contribute to or combat racism, ageism, sexism, or other forms of discrimination?
• Re-evaluated your use of terms or phrases to see whether they may be perceived as degrading, hurtful, or in poor taste?
• Suggested or initiated workshops or discussions with friends, colleagues, social clubs or religious groups about cultural diversity?
• Openly disagreed with a racist comment, action or joke?
• Talked with co-workers about the racial/cultural climate in your organization?
• Made a commitment to learn more about a culture different from your own, through reading, study and listening?
• Initiated or participated in at least one multicultural celebration or observation in your workplace?
• Taken a positive action to include/reflect a minority culture in a work-related function?

I know, sometimes all this 'diversity' stuff can seem onerous, but think about it this way:  The more you know about other cultures' celebrations, the more you can incorporate them into yours!  (I myself like the Moon Festival and Chinese New Year - the food alone is worth it!)

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Tuesday December 15th, 2009
IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING TIMESHEET DEADLINES

In order to ensure timely payment throughout the holiday season – please note the following timesheet deadlines.

For the pay period December 6 to 19, 2009, your pay will be deposited Thursday December 31, 2009. Timesheets must therefore be submitted no later than 5pm, Thursday, December 17, 2009. LATE SUBMISSIONS will be paid in the following run on Jan. 15th, 2010.

Please refer to the schedule for the remainder of the year on our microsite: Head2Head Contractors

Should you have any questions please email timesheets@head2head.ca

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About the Authors

Paul Dodd
Co-founder and President
Head2Head Canada

Paul has one simple goal: To help companies hire great people - and get the most out of every recruiting dollar they spend. That's why he's recognized as one of the best recruitment-industry thinkers in Canada.

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