Being an employer is tough and getting tougher.
When the pandemic accelerated remote and hybrid work, it added to a complex workplace already full of challenges for employers.
Keeping employees engaged, dealing with generational change, controlling inflationary wage pressures and promoting diversity rank among those challenges.
This complexity compels employers to think carefully and act proactively to create a happy and productive workplace.
To support local employers, the Ottawa Business Journal is working with local economic development partners to create an entire day dedicated to identifying and developing talent.
One day devoted to local talent issues
This is the vision behind Best Places to Work 2024, scheduled for Oct. 17 at the Shaw Centre.
The event is divided into two parts: a career expo that will attract thousands of job seekers and an employer summit that will educate business owners, managers and HR professionals on best practices.
“We want to create a forum to talk about the disruption happening right now in our workplaces,” says OBJ publisher Michael Curran. “When I speak to employers, many seem overwhelmed by these challenges, but there is some good news. There are strategies and solutions that can help. As a business community, if we can proactively embrace these changes then it really creates a foundation for economic growth.”
The Employer Summit will begin with an awards brunch to celebrate recipients of Best Places to Work 2024. This awards program will highlight 20 local companies who completed in-depth employer questionnaires and conducted employee engagement surveys to demonstrate their Best Places to Work status.
The awards brunch will include a keynote address from Dr. Linda Duxbury, one of Canada’s leading HR researchers, titled “How to Lead and Manage in Times of Disruptive Change.”
Starting at noon, the Employer Summit will feature a series of free learning sessions to address specific workplace challenges: the impact of artificial intelligence, recruiting younger workers and important employment law changes.
Return of DistruptHR Ottawa
The Employer Summit will culminate with DisruptHR, a global speaking series often compared to TEDx. Eight speakers will have five minutes and to make the audience think differently about an HR issue.
“After two years, we’re so excited to bring DisruptHR back to our Ottawa community,” says Mike DesLauriers, who is leading a group of volunteers to organize the cocktail and presentations. “This event hopes to test the status quo in talent management and the future of work, sparking innovative discussions and new perspectives.”
DesLauriers says DisruptHR is still looking for speakers. Anyone interested in presenting can complete this form.
Employer Summit highlights
- Thursday, Oct. 17th @ Shaw Centre, Canada Hall 1
- 9:00-11:00 am: Awards Brunch and keynote from Dr. Linda Duxbury of Sprott School of Business
- 12:00-12:45 pm: How AI is Set to Transform HR (free session)
- 1:00-1:45 pm: Recruiting Reimagined ~ How to Attract and Recruit Top Talent (free session)
- 2:00-2:45 pm: Building Tomorrow’s Leaders (free session)
- 3:00-3:45 pm: Employment Law Updates ~ What You Need to Know Now (free session)
- 4:00-6:30 pm: DisruptHR cocktail and presentations
- To view detailed agenda, click this link
Career Expo highlights
- Thursday, Oct. 17th @ Shaw Centre, Canada Hall 2
- Doors open at 11:30 am and close at 6:00 pm
- Free to attend with advance registration
- 75+ employers from technology, real estate, homebuilding, manufacturing, professional services, health care, public sector and more
- Businesses looking to exhibit can email cindy@obj.ca
