A survey by Hewitt Associates, a global HR services company, has found that big and small organizations in all industries throughout Canada are finding it challenging to attract and retain workers. Most of the 232 employers in the survey are focusing on flexibility as a means of addressing the problem.

John Tompkins, a principal in Hewitt's Toronto benefits consulting group, says that: "Organizations are beginning to realize the need to convince older workers to stay on the job longer. At the same time, they want to convince Generation X and Y employees - those under age 40 - to join them. With an employee population so diverse in terms of age, a 'one size fits all' approach is no longer effective. Employers who can identify and meet the different needs of their employees will be most successful in the current labor market."

Hewitt's survey indicates that 55% of organizations are intending to introduce formal phased retirement programs, offering shorter working weeks for older employees near retirement, by 2009, compared to the 26% that have such programs at present. Additionally, there is increasing interest in offering other flexible arrangements such as:

• Job sharing

• Flexible hours

• Compressed work schedules

• Vacation buying and selling

• Working from home

• Elder-care support

• Wellness accounts

• Unpaid time off for charitable work

• Assistance with home technology purchases

Source: Employers Struggling to Find and Keep Employees, HRM Guide Canadian Human Resources, www.hrmguide.net/canada/.