CONFERENCE AGENDA
Day One - November 16th
8:00am - Registration and Continental breakfast
8:45am - Conference Opening Remarks
NLEC Executive Director, Richard Alexander
9:00am - Realities of a tight labour market
An overview of the current and future labour market in Newfoundland & Labradorand the realities employers will be facing in the coming years, based on the provincial government's Labour Market Outlook 2020.
Presented by: Baxter Rose, Deputy Minister of Advanced Education & Skills, Government of Newfoundland & Labrador
9:30am - Economic impact of the tight labour market
An analysis of what the predicted 77,000 job vacancies will mean for the economy of our province, and your ability to do business.
Presented by: Wade Locke, Professor of Economics, Memorial University of NL
Reality #1: You will be challenged to find candidates that meet your expectations
10:00am - Hiring in a tight labour market
Our labour market has changed, and your strategies and expectations for hiring will have to change with it. Join Knightsbridge Robertson Surrette as they shed light on new and innovative ways to find talent in a tight labour market, to fill both skilled and unskilled positions.
Presented by: Ada Shave & Natalie Hand, Senior Consultants, Knightsbridge Robertson Surrette
10:30am - Mid Morning Refreshment break
10:45am - Government’s role – The impact of social programs on the labour market
Join NLEC Executive Director, Richard Alexander; President of the Association of Seafood Producers, Derek Butler; and Director of Public Affairs for CFIB-NL, Bradley George as they discuss the impact social programs such as Employment Insurance and Worker’s Compensation have on the labour market in Newfoundland & Labrador and your ability to attract and retain workers.
Facilitated by: Geoff Meeker, Blogger & Communications Consultant
11:45pm - Accessing the underutilized labour market
The underutilized labour market in this province provides a prime opportunity to address labour market challenges. This trade show, sponsored by the Department of Advanced Education & Skills, will highlight programs to target unemployed or underemployed individuals to fill labour shortages within your organization, and other resources to support you in your recruitment & retention efforts.
12:15pm - Working Lunch: NLEC AGM
All delelgates from NLEC member organizations are invited to attend the organization's Annual General Meeting where NLEC Board and Committee members will outline the organization's performance over the 2010-2011 fiscal year.
Reality #2: Those you do find, will demand more
1:30pm - That’s not in my job description:
Adapting to the shift in power in the
employer-employee relationship
Today’s workforce has options, and these options mean that attitudes and expectations of employees have changed. In this session, learn more about these changes, and how to adapt to them while maintaining productivity – and in some cases even increasing it.
Presented by: Travor Brown, Director of the Master of Employer Relations Program, Memorial University
2:30pm - Talent management
Talent management typically refers to identifying and managing the bright stars in your organization in an effort to keep them happy. With today’s tight labour market, it is more important than ever to apply this principal to all employees. Operating in the extremely tight labour market in Labrador West, Cliffs Resources - Wabush Mines has learned this lesson first hand. In this session, Human Resources Area Manager Paula Krats will share elements of their Talent Management program in an effort to help you keep the talent you have.
Presented by: Paula Krats, Human Resources Area Manager, Cliffs Resources - Wabush Mines
3:15pm - Afternoon Refreshment Break
3:30 pm - Working with your union
In order to maintain productivity, business and labour must work together to deal with current labour market realities. In this session Greg Anthony, senior labour lawyer and Partner with Cox & Palmer, will discuss the future of unionization, and new and creative ways unions and employers can work together to maintain productivity. David Frew, VP of Human Resources at NL Liquor Corporation, will provide an example of how a progressive relationship with their union that has helped them achieve business success, despite labour market challenges.
Presented by: Greg Anthony, Partner, Cox & Palmer and David Frew, Vice President of Human Resources, Newfoundland Labrador Liquor Corporation
4:30pm - Day One Concludes
Day Two - November 17th
8:30am - Continental Breakfast
9:00am - Day Two Opening Remarks
NLEC Executive Director, Richard Alexander
9:15am - Founding Chair’s Scholarship Presentation
This year's Founding Chair's Scholarship recipient will read their winning essay on "Realities of a tight labour market"
Presented by: Vince Withers, NLEC Founding Chair
Reality #3: You will have to do more, with less
9:45am - Employer of Distinction Panel: Doing more with less
Join this year's recipients of Employer of Distinction Awards as they discuss how they have been successful while dealing with the reality of doing more with less in today’s labour market.
Panelists: Glenn Andrews, Senior Human Resources Business Partner, Iron Ore Company of Canada; Sharon Horan, President, FIT For Work; Mike Wadden, President & CEO, Ever Green Environmental
Facilitated by: Richard Alexander, NLEC Executive Director
10:45am - Mid-morning refreshment break
11:00am - Lean management
Lean management is management based on efficiency – maintaining productivity with less work. Developed to provide value to customers, this concept is now necessary in all businesses – as in many cases there will be fewer employees to produce the same or more output. In this session you will learn how to apply lean management techniques to increase productivity within your organization.
Presented by: David Haire, Vice President - Best Practices & Lean Management, Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters
12:00pm - Networking break
12:30pm - Luncheon: Keynote Address by Kevin Kelloway, St. Mary's University
Dr. Kelloway will present on managing employees in today's labour market, through what he calls the HTML principal of management: Hire the Best, Treat Them Well, Manage Performance and Leadership.
2:00pm - Outsourcing: Knowing when to contract out
Knowing what and when to outsource will be an important tool in managing impending labour shortages. In this session, learn what type of work should be outsourced and what is best left in house, how to maintain quality control, and how to manage sub-contractors.
Presented by: Kathy-Jane Elton, President, Elton Management Consulting
2:30am - Using technology to increase productivity
There have been many technological advances that allow us to increase or maintain productivity while employing less staff: automatic bank tellers, pay at the pump gas pumps, and self check out at the supermarket are just a few. Learn how you can apply these same concepts to your business to continue to grow while employing less people.
Presented by: Bob Blackmore, Director of Information Services, Newfoundland Power and Craig Foley, Technology Coordinator, Hospitality Newfoundland & Labrador
3:30 pm - Conference Concludes