SESSION DESCRIPTIONS

A panel of three senior executives from companies ranked among the Best Workplaces in Canada 2008. The list was published in the Globe and Mail on April 28, 2008. Organizations are ranked by a score derived from a survey of employees and a workplace culture audit. The Great Place to Work® Trust Index© is the primary selection criterion, which is based on five trust-building dimensions found in the best workplaces. These include credibility, respect, fairness, pride and camaraderie.

The role played by a CEO of an organization in creating a sustainable culture is well documented. Participants will be introduced to the groundbreaking research on leadership behaviours that are key to employee engagement and to employee well-being, drawn from the book, Energizing Organizations. Participants will be asked to evaluate the leadership of their managers and discuss the implications of their findings on the sustainability of their organizations. They will be introduced to Leadership Ethics from the Josephson Institute of Ethics and asked to create a new formula of leadership that is designed specifically for creating a healthy workplace culture.

Interactive theatre (based on the work of Augustus Boel, Playback Theatre and Headlines Theatre) allows the audience to witness real work experiences portrayed through theatrical scenarios and then to reflect on the communication between the story’s characters. Sharon Bronstein and Alan Caplan are both actors and therapists with over 20 years experience. Along with their troupe, they act out the stories of problematic situations, which become the basis for collective learning as the audience witnesses the story, explores its impact and discusses the dynamics. A new enactment is then created, based on the collaborative thinking of the audience. The revised scenario serves as a model for audience members to understand their own personal work issues and resolutions.

With a corporate mandate to build a viable, sustainable, healthy workplace, Calgary Laboratory Services partnered with the union, Health Sciences Association of Alberta, to challenge traditional labour processes. The two organizations broke the established norms in labour relationships and created an initiative that found solutions to their issues. Donna will showcase how the new strategies helped staff achieve valuable work-life balance and also enabled the organization to increase efficiency and manage workload in a more effective way. In a knowledge and technology based culture that celebrates innovation, diversity and corporate values, it is imperative for employers to "walk the talk" and "put their money where their mouth is" when it comes to creating and sustaining a healthy, viable culture for their greatest asset: their people. Through a creative and innovative wellness process, Nova Scotia Power Inc. has created and is sustaining a wellness-focused culture that not only has improved the health of their employees, but has positively affected their bottom line. Come hear how this organization measures both the tangibles and intangibles within their workplace.

This is a highly engaging, and interactive session that will be immediately useful to all participants. Presenter Susi Hately Aldous uses her extensive experience as a Kinesiologist, Ergo Consultant and Yoga Teacher, to explore the natural partnership between workplace ergonomics and the art of yoga. Ergonomic principles will be discussed, and participants will be shown how yoga principles can be applied to complement and support ergonomic modifications in the workplace. Participants will have an opportunity to learn yoga postures and principles specific to the whole-body needs of the modern office worker.

Join Peter Robinson, CEO of the David Suzuki Foundation, for an interactive presentation about becoming a values-based organization. Peter’s diverse experiences leading Mountain Equipment Coop and now the David Suzuki Foundation, have given him insights on how best to engage staff in creative initiatives that reduce the ecological footprint of their organization. The David Suzuki Foundation is launching a dynamic program to help businesses across Canada get started and continue on the path to sustainability. Find out how to distinguish yourself as an employer of choice and share your own insights about what makes an organization healthy.

While a physical presence on the job can be bought, companies cannot crowbar ideas from the heads of their employees, or falsely engage their passion for work. Organizations must instead earn the commitment of their staff in an era where intellectual property (i.e. the "golden egg") is not only their competitive edge, but also a necessary component of organizational endurance. This session is for anyone who is seeking to develop a healthy workplace culture where the best can do their best. Walk away with a road map for creating an aligned and winning culture. Discussion topics include: vision, values, culture evolution, alignment, communication, reinforcement, and challenges, as well as what workplace trust is and isn’t.

We've all heard that laughter is the best medicine, yet many of us have "hardening of the attitudes" at work. In this session, we will explore research that demonstrates how laughter and humour enhance mental, emotional, physical, spiritual, and social well-being. After seeing the many merry merits of bringing humour and laughter to our professional lives, participants will enjoy a session of laughter yoga (breathing, gentle stretching, laughter exercises, and relaxation). We'll discuss daily practices to bring attitudes that foster laughter, humour, and great relationships into our lives. Participants will learn how to "HAVALAF" and the power of perspectives.

The world of technology is reshaping the way companies do business. It is redefining the meaning of the word ‘workplace’ and has dramatically altered how employees work together in today’s dispersed workforce. As corporations grapple with a looming talent shortage, escalating operating costs and the pressure to be environmentally and socially responsible, solid evidence is supporting the inclusion of a virtual workforce strategy. Estelle Morrison will share her insights into the world of virtual work and how it can support and align with a company’s overall business strategy. The ‘win-win’ of virtual work will be described as she outlines how virtual work gives back to the environment, the individual and the workplace. She will share Ceridian Canada’s successful virtual work strategy that has garnered the company as a Top 100 and Best Employer.

Karen will share her insights on disability management in today’s workplace from a benefits cost perspective, with a focus on prevention and management of health conditions. Please visit the conference website for more information.

Sixty-two per cent of people over the age of 50 die from heart attacks, strokes, or colon cancer. Most CEOs are in the highest risk categories. Dr. Ohlhauser will show you how being the CEO of your health can help you achieve physical, relational, and financial wellness. You will use self-assessment tools, goal setting techniques and individualized action plans. Dr. Ohlhauser will go into detail about revitalizing and balancing all the areas of life where good health is essential. Participants will learn how adopting a health and wellness philosophy can increase profitability and build strength within a company, as well as an individualized step by-step personal action plan to achieving the results they desire.

"Gen Y-ers" are the face of the new, driven, educated and computer savvy workforce. They’re the first generation to grow up online, and are the embodiment of globalization. They have high incidence of stress and mental illness, rising cancer rates and risk factors for diabetes, heart disease and stroke. The Y-ers will represent a large portion of the workforce as the Boomers retire. Their expectations in the workplace are higher than any previous generation. How can employers come up with new and innovative ways to attract Y-ers to the workforce despite the costs? How will benefit plans and incentives be modified to meet the demands of this new generation?

Corporate culture, simply stated, is "the way we do things around here". This simple idea has the power to paralyze companies, stall their ability to get where they want to be or propel them to new heights. Corporate philanthropy can unleash the potential of organizations by energizing employees, improving loyalty and retention, enhancing personal satisfaction and establishing trust. In this presentation, Peggie Pelosi establishes the case for corporate philanthropy, shares strategies for creating the right match, and lays out what it takes to create action plans that deliver meaningful results.