There has been unprecedented employment loss across Canada due to the COVID-19 pandemic. According to Statistics Canada, the country has lost 858,000 jobs since March 2020.  The highest decline was in Ontario and Quebec and concentrated among women aged 25-54. Many of these jobs were in retail and service industries, which closures hit the hardest due to public health restrictions. Women have also left their jobs for caretaking roles for sick relatives, providing childcare and helping with online schooling.  Now that vaccination rates are increasing and infections are decreasing, women across Canada are re-entering the workforce. While the job search may seem intimidating, there are resources to help. Women Quest…

Returning to the workplace after working from home will be a big adjustment.  Many employees have been working from home since March 24, 2020. That was when the provincial government announced the mandatory closure of all non-essential workplaces to contain the spread of COVID-19.  This closure was put in place for 14 days and extended as the pandemic evolved.  For some, this work-from-home situation was strange, and for others, it was more than ideal.  Many companies have adapted over the past year. The need to go back into the office for five days a week may become a thing of the past.  As Ontario moves into Stage Three and restrictions…

Close to two million women and girls in Canada live in poverty.  Women are more likely than men to experience poverty, according to the Canadian Women’s Foundation. Workplace discrimination, lack of affordable childcare and unpaid labour all contribute to women’s poverty. Single mothers, marginalized, disabled, and newcomer women also struggle to find employment in Ontario, according to a government report. These organizations provide women with housing and employment opportunities.  Housing  Housing is one of the essential factors for safety, survival and protection. Homeless women are at an increased risk of violence, trafficking and sexual exploitation.  There are charitable and non-profit programs that help women access housing, depending on location.  A…

As a woman, choosing the right workplace can be tricky, and you don’t always know what to expect.  Great Place to Work compiled a list of the best places for women to work in Canada to simplify that decision-making process. In order to qualify, a workplace must have been Great Place to Work-Certified™ in the past year. It also needs to have a minimum of 15 female employees and “at least 90 [per cent] of employees must agree that people are treated fairly, regardless of their gender,” according to their website. Great Place to Work also specified that “creating great workplaces for women isn’t political or trendy, and it’s not…

Job hunting is a difficult process in normal circumstances. Throw in a global pandemic where you can’t meet in person and you have an even bigger challenge. Now that everything from finding an open position to interviewing is mostly online, here are some tips to adjust to your online job hunt. A 2020 Financial Accountability Office of Ontario report recorded a loss of 355,300 jobs during that year. The most recent Economic and Budget Outlook said there will be an increase in employment in the next year as the province fully reopens. Lyla Nagasaka, a human resources representative, was one of the many people who had to adapt to working…