technology
June 5, 2012 Adam Gorley Human Resources, Recruiting and Hiring, Training and Development,
We’ve made a fair amount of noise about the generational differences in today’s workplaces. There are four generations of workers in the labour market, each with different expectations and methods of work. But in most workplaces, regardless of workers’ ages and attitudes, there is one constant: they all use the same computers. Today’s computers might be versatile enough to support various working styles, but are workers—young and old—adaptable enough to use them efficiently?
application designers, computer literacy, Computers, employer policy, generation of workers, good computer practices, knowledgeable employees, methods of work, technology, user interface, work computers, workers' ages and attitudes, working styles
October 24, 2011 Adam Gorley Employee Relations, Human Resources, Privacy and Security
Sometimes, technology creates new ways to exploit information faster than the law and business can keep up. The Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada is trying to make sure that doesn’t happen in the case of behavioural advertising. Last year, the Privacy Commissioner conducted consultations on the new ways that organizations are collecting and using customers’ personal information, and prepared its Report on the 2010 Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada’s Consultations on Online Tracking, Profiling and Targeting, and Cloud Computing.
behavioural advertising, marketing, mobile technology, Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner, oipc, privacy, Privacy Commissioner, profiling, targeting, technology, tracking
June 2, 2011 Yosie Saint-Cyr Human Resources, Privacy and Security
In a recent survey of 500 information technology and data security workers, 40 percent said they could easily use their knowledge of encryption keys, shared passwords, weak controls and loopholes in data security programs to make off with information, or hold their organization’s data hostage. And 31 percent said that, even if they no longer worked for the company, with their knowledge of the systems they could access encryption keys and authorization codes and hack in remotely to snoop, secretly alter files or shut down the data system.
administrative passwords to the network, data security, Digital security firm, disgruntled former employees, employment law, encryption keys, IT department, IT employee, network, network security practices, poor management, risk management, sensitive data, technology, terminations, Venafi
February 1, 2011 Adam Gorley Health and Safety, Human Resources
I’ve caved. The end of my phone contract has been looming large, and as I pondered my options, somehow I thought, “I’d really like to be more connected.” So I’m ditching my two-year-old, decidedly not smart, flip phone and getting an iPhone—and a data plan. Soon I’ll be able to tweet and update my Facebook status and share photos wherever I am. And I’m afraid.
conduct and behaviour, distraction, downtime, employee Internet use, employee relations, exhaustion, facebook, focus, hours of work and overtime claims, Internet, iPhone, multi-tasking, overtime, performance, productivity, risky behaviour, smartphones, social media, stall-call, stress, technology, twitter, wireless
December 17, 2010 Christina Catenacci Human Resources, Privacy and Security
I recently read a news release by the Alberta Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner that indicated that there are still high incidences of laptops containing personal information being stolen—without having security measures such as encryption put in place. The commissioner was left scratching his head.
Alberta, canadian employment law, employment law, encryption, Encryption technology, identity theft, laptops, Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner, personal information, private sector privacy legislation, protecting personal information, security measures, stolen laptops, technology
December 6, 2010 Adam Gorley Accessibility Standards, Announcements, Standard for Customer Service, Standard for Information and Communications
Customers demand more of businesses in so many ways these days—better quality and safety, greater social and environmental responsibility, extra service, and accessibility. The law increases its demands frequently, too. Even our governments and public service providers have a hard time keeping up with the legal requirements! Making improvements in all of these areas can challenge an organization, but only accessibility offers the advantage of access to a market of unrealized potential.
accessibility, Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, accommodating a disability, AODA, blind, blog comments, canadian employment law, CAPTCHA, Disability, dyslexia, employment law, internet accessibility, learning disability, screen reader, technology, vision loss, web accessibility
August 30, 2010 Adam Gorley Human Resources, Training and Development
You’ve written an email that says some things you might be better off saying in person—or not at all—right? Like when you wanted to tell off a co-worker—or supervisor—about taking credit for your work, or putting you down in front of the boss, or just for generally being a jerk. Maybe you were caught up in the anger of the moment—you let your temper get the best of you—or maybe you were just a bit—or a lot—drunk. And maybe you hit that “Send” button, and maybe you reconsidered before it was too late. I don’t like to imagine the result of sending such a message.
beer goggles, communicating at work, communication at work, drinking, email, email at work, email features, gmail, impulsiveness, records, technology, undo send, working conditions, workplace behaviour, workplace communication, workplace conduct
August 16, 2010 Adam Gorley Employee Relations, Human Resources, Human Rights, Privacy and Security
Technology usually helps us function by making daily tasks easier, safer, more efficient, and so on. But sometimes a technology comes along that doesn’t simply improve the way we do something, it actually creates a new type of behaviour. I think this is the case with online social networking, which allows individuals to broadcast to mass audiences in a way that wasn’t available in the past. The question remains, however, as to whether this activity makes life any easier! Some have certainly found it just causes them trouble.
Canadian Football League, CFL, communications, discrimination, marketing, policy, racism, social media, social networking, social networking policy, technology, twitter
April 22, 2010 Adam Gorley Announcements
We recently added another way that our readers can access content on the First Reference blog: we’ve optimized it for smartphones and some other portable devices. If you have a Blackberry Storm, an Apple iPhone or iPod Touch, a Palm Pre, an HTC Dream or Cupcake, or a Sanyo Incognito, or a phone that runs on Android or WebOS, you can experience our content in an easy-to-read and easy-to-access format that should load more quickly than ever.
mobile content, smartphones, technology
I was at a wedding reception recently, where immigrant parents who had made a living as factory workers or administrative staff showed off their children... – May 21, 9:23 AM
Good day, I have just recently started a new job in the Position of Regional Loss Prevention Manager. I am a former Military Police Officer... – May 16, 7:14 AM
Improving web accessibility – our own!
December 6, 2010 Adam Gorley Accessibility Standards, Announcements, Standard for Customer Service, Standard for Information and Communications
Customers demand more of businesses in so many ways these days—better quality and safety, greater social and environmental responsibility, extra service, and accessibility. The law increases its demands frequently, too. Even our governments and public service providers have a hard time keeping up with the legal requirements! Making improvements in all of these areas can challenge an organization, but only accessibility offers the advantage of access to a market of unrealized potential.
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accessibility, Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, accommodating a disability, AODA, blind, blog comments, canadian employment law, CAPTCHA, Disability, dyslexia, employment law, internet accessibility, learning disability, screen reader, technology, vision loss, web accessibility