ABC Canada Review of HR Practices

Date:

EE REQUIREMENTS

Assess the Need for Change 2. Plan for Change 3. Implement Plan

INITIAL STEPS REQUIRED

Identify Gaps in the workforce numbers (workforce analysis)

Employment

Systems Review or ESR

Identify

barriers and make a plan for change.

What is an Employment Systems Review (ESR)?

A

review of all HR policies and practices to identify ones that may disadvantage one of the designated groups:
Intentional barriers Systemic barriers Corporate culture

Function of the ESR

Explain reasons for the numerical gaps (gaps of -3 or more) Indicate actions that ABC could take to attract and retain the best employees from the full spectrum of the available workforce. A requirement of the Federal Contractors Program.

Method
Review

of policies and documents (e.g., job postings) of human resources practices

Review

information gained through interviews and focus groups with HR, senior managers, managers, supervisors and other employees.

Method
Review

of impact of policies, practices and corporate culture

Information from interviews and focus groups with members of the designated groups.

Interviewed

a total of 38 employees at all levels and in three main locations.

Summary of Gaps for ESR

Occupational Category Professionals (118) Mft. & Trade Supervisor (22) Semi-skilled Manual (337) Total workforce -3 -4 -8 - 14 - 27 Women VM AP PWD -5

Summary of ESR Findings

Potential Barriers

General
The

ABC workforce survey information may under-represent some of the designated groups.

Barriers in Recruitment
Job

ads do not indicate that ABC is an EE employer. by employee referral.

Recruitment

Lack

of outreach recruitment.

Lack

of explicit instructions to recruiters about sending a diversity of candidates.

Barriers in Selection & Hiring

Job

descriptions and job postings do not indicate the core job duties and do not always include physical demands. No reference in selection materials to accommodating job candidates with disabilities. The orientation materials (checklists re new employees) do not remind the manager or HR to check as to whether the employee needs accommodation for a disability.

Barriers in Selection & Hiring

The

ABC Selection Process Guideline states the requirement for HS graduation or GED for all jobs.
for English, math multiple choice testing for Semi-skilled Manual jobs.

Requirement

Barriers in Selection & Hiring

Visible

minorities among Middle & Other Managers receive lower salaries than others because they are underrepresented among Sales Managers, one of the highest paying jobs in this group compared to availability.

Barriers in Selection & Hiring

Visible

minorities and women are clustered in lower salary quartiles in the Professional EEOG because they are under-represented in some of the highest paying Professional jobs:
IT Analysts Manufacturing Engineers Pharmacists (Visible minorities only)

Barriers in Selection & Hiring

Interviews

in the ??? location are designed primarily to determine fit of the employee with the company style. and reference checks often include assessment of generic communications and leadership skills in ??? do not use a set of prepared questions for job interviews

Interviews

Interviewers

Barriers in Selection & Hiring

Hiring

patterns indicate that women are clustered in lower salary quartiles in the Semi-professional & Technical EEOG because they are under-represented in some of the highest paying jobs in that group. (Representation is at availability levels) The ABC job evaluation system is not monitored for adverse impact on the designated groups.

Barriers in Training & Development

Employees

are expected to plan their own professional development but are provided with tools - some are unaware of these tools. Managers receive limited training for managing a diverse workforce. The knowledge of HR staff re employment equity and human rights is not at a leadership level.

Barriers in Promotion
Promotions

within Semi-skilled Manual jobs in both manufacturing environments are not always seen as open nor based solely on merit.

Barriers in Promotion
Promotions

to Supervisor in manufacturing facilities have been affected by an historical segregation of jobs by gender.
but no formal mentoring.

Informal

Barriers in Retention & Termination

Women

in management receive lower pay than men. This appears to be, at least in part, because they are newer managers. However, the total time with ABC is the same for women and men. This suggests that it takes women longer than men to reach a management level.

Barriers in Working Conditions

In

the manufacturing environments, bullying is reported to be a problem. the manufacturing environments, employees lack skills for effective problem-solving, conflict resolution and performance management.

In

Barriers in Reasonable Accommodation

ABC

is just developing an Accommodations Policy. have had little or no training re people with disabilities.

Managers

HR

has not provided consistent support for accommodation.

Barriers in Reasonable Accommodation

The

manufacturing facilities in Location A and Location B are not accessible. on Physical Pre-Employment Testing for Current Employees does not mention accommodation of disabilities.

Policy

Barriers in Reasonable Accommodation

Policy

on Early and Safe Return To Work Program (ESRTW) and Short Term Disability/Long Term Disability do not reference duty to accommodate employees with disabilities. mention of EAP capacity to service the needs of a diverse workforce.

No

Barriers in Attitudes and Corporate Culture

Managers

do not consistently believe that EE is their responsibility. have little knowledge of or skills re EE or managing diversity Location A management reflects the apparent community negativity toward employment equity as it applies to visible minorities and Aboriginal people

Managers

In

Barriers in Attitudes and Corporate Culture

Fast

paced environment.

Lack

of regular communication about EE and the value of a diverse workforce suggests that ABC has not yet focussed attention on this issue.