Companies seeking savings in employee wages might spend more in the long run
Inflation has stretched the budgets of individuals and companies alike, and some firms have sought to find savings in the wages they pay their employees. A recent report from the Robert Walters recruiting agency found that Canadian firms are increasingly hiring underqualified employees. But that can backfire, says Professor Jean-Nicolas Reyt in interview with Canadian HR Reporter.
McGill alumni most likely to reach the C-suite
There is no single path to the C-suite, but getting a McGill education can help. Among Canadian university graduates, McGill alumni are the most likely to become CEOs, according to research by Immerse Education, a UK provider of academic enrichment programs. According to data drawn from LinkedIn, more than 9,600 McGill alumni are currently chief executives or have held a CEO role in the past.
A four-day work week can improve employee well-being while sustaining productivity
The length of a standard work week has been steadily declining for well over a century. In the 19th century, some factory workers in Canada were expected to work 72 hours each week. It wasn’t until the 1960s that the standard work week reached the current 40-hour norm. Today, the overwhelming majority of workers in Canada are in favour of further reductions.
C. Douglas Mellor Prize for academic excellence awarded to two GCPA students
Alyssa Abruzzese (BCom‘23, GCPA’24) and Vivian Ly (BCom‘22, GCPA’24), students of the Graduate Certificate in Professional Accounting (GCPA) program, have been selected among their graduating class as this year’s recipients of the C. Douglas Mellor Prize for academic excellence.
Two McGill Desautels students named McCall MacBain International Fellows
McCall MacBain Fellowships offer students at select universities an opportunity to spend a year abroad. Valued at up to $30,000 and awarded by the McCall MacBain Foundation, Fellows spend one term studying a language, one term pursuing academic studies, and one term in a job placement or internship. This year, McGill students earned the honour. Mayra Baca El Hachemi, who is majoring in marketing at McGill Desautels and will be travelling to Japan.
BCom graduate and swimmer wins bronze at the 2024 Paris Olympics
Swimmer Clément Secchi (BCom’22) has become the first McGill University graduate to reach the podium at the Summer Olympics since 2008. The 24-year-old management graduate from Aix-en-Provence, France, earned bronze for his native country on Sunday as part of the men's 4x100 medley relay. A four-time All-Canadian at McGill, the 5-foot-11, 157-pound butterfly specialist was a three-time recipient of the Forbes Trophy as the University's male athlete of the year.
Retail Gen AI Hackathon is one part of ALDO Group’s artificial intelligence efforts
Generative artificial intelligence promises to transform the way business is done, but in most industries, it’s still unclear exactly how it will be used. Footwear retailer ALDO is working with Montreal’s cluster of AI talent to explore how to leverage this emerging technology. In October 2023, ALDO staged its first Retail Gen AI Hackathon in partnership with the Bensadoun School of Retail Management and Amazon Web Services.
Frédéric Perron leads internet service provider Cogeco during time of potential growth
Frédéric Perron (BCom’97) was serving as the Chief Commercial Officer for Vodafone Poland when he was asked to return to Canada to become the new president and CEO of Cogeco, an internet service provider. Although Cogeco’s corporate offices are in Montreal, Perron’s position is based in Burlington, Ontario. That puts him closer to the company’s US customers, some of which are in nearby Ohio.
Two McGill Desautels students named McCall MacBain International Fellows
Bartering is on the rise in Canada but only a small part of the economy
High levels of inflation have caused a cost-of-living crisis in Canada, and bartering is one way to help keep costs down. Trading goods and services with others also offers a more personal touch. "Some parts of our economy have become overly financialized,” says Robert Nason, Associate Professor of strategy and organization at McGill Desautels. “We need to put a number on everything.
CEO Series podcast shares insights from business leaders
To succeed in business, you need to win the hearts of the people, says Noah Xie, the founder and president of KMIND, a strategic consultancy headquartered in Shanghai. It’s a lesson that Xie took from The Art of War, an ancient Chinese military text by Sun Tzu.
Opening infrastructure could encourage Canada’s pension funds to invest more domestically
The Government of Canada is exploring ways to increase investments in the country’s pension fund equities, but doing so sacrifices returns, according to The Economist. Over the past decade, Canadian mid and small-cap stocks have returned just 3-4% each year, while U.S. stocks have seen a 13% return annually. Opening infrastructure to investment is another way to encourage pension funds to invest more of their capital domestically.
Pricing models for fitness memberships often hide hidden fees
Gym memberships come with varying price tags and fee structures that can be confusing. Often, a membership contract can come with unanticipated charges. In addition to monthly fees, some charge for signing up, cancellation costs, and annual dues, which is why it is important to do research before signing up, according to Bensadoun School of Retail Management Executive Director Charles de Brabant.
Greece increases length of work week, bucking broader trends
While some countries contemplate shorter work weeks, Greece is heading in the opposite direction. Seeking to boost economic growth, the country recently passed a law allowing employers to implement a six-day work week, though the change is not mandatory. Greece faced a debt crisis in 2010, and its economy has long been among Europe’s laggards.
