Vertical Bridge HR Blog

HR strategies, ideas and best practices

What does working in a pandemic mean?

March 19th, 2020|COVID-19, HR, Legal, Newsletter|

These are difficult times. The changing landscape of COVID-19 will continue to riddle society with uncertainty. Business owners and employers are grappling with how to stay afloat, pay their employees and uphold their obligations to protect public health and safety.

February 2020 – Legal Buzz

February 24th, 2020|Legal, Newsletter|

What our employees do outside of work is not our business, right? It depends. In some interoffice dating scenarios, the relationship or interactions may interfere with the employees’ jobs, reporting structure or safety.

February 2020 – Want to Keep Your Best Workers From Quitting? Start Practicing This Daily Habit of the Best Companies

February 21st, 2020|HR, Newsletter|

It is human nature to want to feel recognized by managers and co-workers for good performance and hard work. We are wired to desire praise and recognition, and it's good for our brains. The chemical dopamine, a neurotransmitter produced in the brain, stimulates the parts of the brain that process rewards and create positive emotions like satisfaction and enjoyment.

  • liberal arts historical building in black and white

January 2020 – The Most Unexpected Workplace Trend Coming in 2020: the Return of the Liberal Arts Major

January 16th, 2020|Newsletter, Recruitment|

The pace of technological change isn't going to slow down anytime soon, but some contradictory voices are now arguing that doesn't mean everyone should become a coder or engineer. On the contrary, some are now ready to predict that 2020 will be the year demand for traditional liberal arts majors makes a major rebound.

Tis the Season for Office Holiday Parties

December 4th, 2019|Legal|

December is packed with office parties and long festive lunches. Many of these parties involve the consumption of alcohol. And while we want our employees to enjoy themselves, we also know that over consumption of alcohol can quickly lead to problems. As employers, we are obligated to make sure the workplace is safe; this extends to venues and gatherings occurring offsite and after hours.

The Essential Employee Gift Guide

December 4th, 2019|Newsletter|

Here’s the thing: gifts for your team are gestures. They’re meant to convey a little gratitude and remind your people that you care about them. No one really expects a holiday present to materially change their life, they just want to know their bosses give a damn. (That said, some cash or a bonus could materially change someone’s month.)

  • Macbook Pro and Desktop Monitor displaying the time

October 2019: Legal Buzz

November 7th, 2019|Legal|

According to the Employment Standards Act of BC, non-management employees are entitled to receive 1 ½ times their regular pay after 8 hours a day or after 40 hours a week. They are entitled to double their regular pay after 12 hours a day. (Note: The law permits for averaging agreements but they must be compliant with the legislation.)

September 2019: Legal Buzz

October 28th, 2019|Legal|

Do you have salaried employees or employees who work the same number of hours each day? Employers are often surprised to hear that they have an obligation to keep a daily record of hours, even for people whose hours don’t fluctuate.