Unique job fair hopes to give retailers an early Christmas gift; more staff
Retailers are facing the same challenge as restaurants and other sectors that deal with the public, experienced staff have left and it doesn’t look like they’re coming back.
While many people are now comfortable visiting the mall to do their shopping, research by Cadillac Fairview (CF), the company that owns and operates Masonville Place and other malls across the country, shows about 20 to 25 per cent are still uneasy when it comes to going indoors to shop
“So that’s probably also the case with job seekers. Some might be a little nervous about getting back into the workforce,” says Masonville Place General Manager Sandra Lorentiu.
Encouraged by tenants, Masonville Place will take the unique step of holding a job fair in the centre of the mall on Thursday, Oct. 7, combining it with Cadillac Fairview’s online recruitment tool called ‘CF Front Door.’
Lorentiu says 32 businesses are taking part, “We have socially distanced tables. Recruiters and job-seekers will be sitting six feet apart. As well, masks will be mandatory, with sanitizer stations throughout the centre.” Lorentiu says they also have a system to deal with lines, if they emerge.
Retailers say early response to the job fair has been encouraging, including Jesse Figueiredo, with video game retailer Game Stop.
“Overall, we’ve had a pretty good response. We’ve had about 70 people applying just for a part-time job, just at our store specifically. In general, it’s created a lot of buzz.”
Retail Council of Canada spokesperson Michelle Wasylyshen says staff shortages aren’t restricted to front-line workers, “At almost all levels we have gaps in people. So, whether it’s front-line staff, skilled operators, truck drivers, we have a lot of gaps in the retail environment.”
One change that may help bolster the workforce is the end of federal pandemic benefits, set to expire Oct. 23. Wasylyshen says the benefits provided a necessary means to help keep the economy stable, but says it’s a delicate balancing act when it comes to protecting people or potentially creating a disincentive to work.
She says many retailers have been adding incentives, “Everything from more flexible work schedules, wellness benefits, new discounts, higher wages. All of those things are in play. We’ve also seen significant increase in employee training.”
Lorentiu can see a growing interest in people looking to return to work, “I think we can do this safely and together.”
As for shoppers, Wasylyshen says they should consider getting the Christmas gift purchases done early, to avoid possible delays created by workforce shortages.
The job fair runs from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. until 6 p.m. on Thursday.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
'Tactical evacuations' underway near Fort Nelson, B.C., as wildfires encroach
The BC Wildfire Service says 'tactical evacuations' began Friday near Fort Nelson, B.C., due to an out-of-control wildfire that has grown rapidly since it was discovered earlier in the afternoon.
Snowbirds in Vancouver for puck-drop flyby as Canucks face Oilers
The Canadian Forces Snowbirds will be performing a flyover across downtown Vancouver at the start of tonight's Stanley Cup playoff game between the Canucks and the Edmonton Oilers.
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
U.S. says Israel's use of U.S. arms likely violated international law, but evidence is incomplete
The Biden administration said Israel's use of U.S.-provided weapons in Gaza likely violated international humanitarian law but wartime conditions prevented U.S. officials from determining that for certain in specific airstrikes.
'State or state-sponsored actor' believed to be behind B.C. government hacks
The head of British Columbia’s civil service has revealed that a “state or state-sponsored actor” is behind multiple cyber-security incidents against provincial government networks.