Author: Graham Lowe

Creating a healthy and productive organization requires ‘transformational change’ in jobs, workplace culture, organizational systems and management practices. During this session, Dr. Graham Lowe will discuss the guiding principles and tools that lead to effective change in the pursuit of a healthy and high-performance culture.
Event registration is now open. Session will be held at the Executive Inn (Burnaby) on January 25, 2006. More details are available from the BC HRMA at www.bchrma.org or telephone 1-800-665-1961. The brochure is also available for download (see below).
Brochure

Registration

Graham Lowe will present a workshop entitled, “Creating a Great Place to Work: Lessons from the Best” at the HRPAO Annual Conference, Metro Convention Centre, Toronto Feb 1-3, 2006. For information contact: www.HRPAO.org

Graham Lowe will present the keynote address, entitled, "Creating Healthy Organizations", at the Seventh Annual Workplace Wellness in Niagara Conference, to be held at November 23, 2005, at Club Italia in Niagara Falls. For information, contact: workplace.wellness@regional.niagara.on.ca

Like any knolwedge-based, high-performing organization in the private sector, a university must strive for excellence in its people practices, embedding these goals within its overall business plan.
Article text

Keynote presentation to “Leadership 2005: Enhancing Organizational Effectiveness”, Conference sponsored by the Nova Scotia Association of Health Organizations. Halifax, NS.
Description:
Human resources are the weakest link in the performance of the health system. Inadequate attention has been given to the people issues that matter most in providing quality health care – issues like morale, trust, respect, communication, learning and engagement. Health human resource planning still narrowly targets labour shortages, leaving aside equally important work environment challenges. But thinking has started to shift. A growing number of health employers across Canada are recognizing the strategic contributions of healthy workplaces to organizational effectiveness. The bar has started to rise on people practices.
In this keynote, Dr. Lowe will make the case that the long-term sustainability of Nova Scotia’s health system depends on senior managers and boards taking leadership action on healthy workplaces. Dr. Lowe will outline ways that Nova Scotia’s health employers can embrace a simple principle: healthy workplaces enable staff to provide quality care to patients, clients and communities. He will challenge conference participants to develop a shared vision of what a high-quality, healthy workplace looks likes. Examples of state-of-the-art healthy workplace practices will be provided from Canada, the US and Europe. Dr. Lowe will engage participants in a discussion of the steps Nova Scotia health employers will need to take in order to compete with Ontario, Alberta and BC for scarce health human resources. The bottom line: you must make healthy, high-quality workplaces an urgent priority.

This article describes the cultural practices of 7 hospitals on Fortune magazine’s "100 Best Companies to Work For in America" list.
Article text

Best workplaces have a corporate culture of open and honest communication.
article text

Graham Lowe will present a half day workshop entitled, "Workforce Renewal in Fish and Wildlife Enforcement: Challenges and Solutions", at the annual conference of the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies in Kananaskis, Alberta. This workshop will provide the latest thinking on recruitment, development and workplace renewal in the public and private sector. For further information, contact www.wafwa.org/schedule.html

The aging workforce and retirement of the Baby Boom Generation has been on the radar screen of senior managers for the last decade. Yet despite knowing this age wave is coming, relatively few organizations are ready to respond with creative human resource management strategies that meet emerging workforce challenges. This workshop builds on the best evidence available about retirement plans, career patterns, and work expectations in a rapidly aging workforce.
The workshop will provide participants with a clear understanding of the practical steps they can take to minimize human capital risks and maximize opportunities in the labour market of 2015 – a labour market that could look very different than today if the emerging trend toward delayed retirement accelerates.
This interactive workshop will provide opportunities for shared learning and active participation. Discussions and practical examples will focus on the following challenges employers face:
-Effective strategies for retaining or recruiting older workers.
-Identifying and meeting learning and development needs of older workers.
-Performance management among older workers.
-Flexible HR policies and programs that meet the needs of older and younger workers.
-How older workers can become coaches and mentors.
-Knowledge management and succession planning.
-Developing the next generation of leaders.
-Age differences in work values and job expectations.

Workshop material presented to the Canadian Pension and Benefits Institute in Edmonton, Alberta, June 15, 2005, addressing how employers can respond to an aging workforce.
Presentation Notes