Workplace ergonomics and cost savings
Think it will cost your business a lot to make it more ergonomic for employees? While it’s true that some ergonomic accommodations have a cost associated with them, not making these changes has a significantly higher pricetag. Businesses…
Is the end near for soft skills?
Some folks in the corporate world say that soft skills should be a thing of the past. To be clear, they’re not calling for the skills themselves to be abolished, or saying they’re no longer useful, but they…
eCommerce and Digital Citizenship Go Hand-in-Hand
Chances are very good that you've purchased something online. Maybe you've bought a pair of shoes or booked a family vacation. Whatever the case, you've taken part in ecommerce. That means you should have digital footprint awareness and…
Why Unconscious Bias Training is Essential
Unconscious bias became an even more important topic for businesses after an incident that took place at a Philadelphia Starbucks in 2018. Two Black men – Rashon Nelson and Donte Robinson –– were waiting for a business associate…
Developing an eLearning Course
As a trainer, have you ever thought about developing an eLearning course? Perhaps you are a trainer who specializes in classroom training, whether that’s in person or online, but you now want to make that training available in…
Corrective Action: The Many Benefits
According to i-Sight, a complaint management software company, “taking appropriate corrective action after an incident ensures your workplace is safe, functional and enjoyable for employees,” as no company is immune from accidents, misconduct and other incidents. “Think of…
Progressive Discipline: Helping employees achieve success
When I was working at my first full-time job after graduating from university, my editor was fired without warning. The action took us both completely by surprise. He had never had any indication that his performance was less…
Becoming a Leader with Integrity
In a leadership survey conducted by global staffing firm Robert Half, integrity was listed as the most important attribute in a corporate leader, by both workers and CFOs who took part in the poll. Seventy-five percent of workers…
Benefits of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Workplace
There are many, many benefits for a business to become more diverse. Here are eight key reasons why your organization should embrace diversity, equity, and inclusion. 1. Increased profits Several studies have shown that companies with a diverse…
Respect in the Workplace: Why it’s Crucial
Bullying, harassment, abuse, and discrimination can hurt a business. These behaviors can result in low employee morale, decreased quality of work, reduced productivity, a hostile work environment, absenteeism and higher usage of sick leave, increased workers’ compensation claims,…
How Your Micromanaging is Hurting You and Your Business
There’s a meme that says: “I hire professional staff, then micromanage them until they walk out the door.” This illustrates the negative impact that micromanaging can have on a business. And it’s only one of the many damaging…
Vendor Management: An essential in today’s business world
Every business owner wants their company to be the best it can be. And one way to ensure a business is indeed the best it can be, is to properly manage the vendors. Vendors are the individuals and…
Building Your Self-Esteem and Self-Confidence: What’s New
Building Your Self-Esteem and Self-Confidence is the latest update of Velsoft’s courseware offerings. Originally called Building Your Self-Esteem and Assertiveness Skills, the name of the softskills course was changed for two main reasons: Only one session deals with…
What you need to know about Delivering Dynamic Virtual Presentations
By now, most of us in the business world are familiar with Zoom or other video conferencing platforms. If video conferencing wasn’t something we used before March 2020 when much of the world was locked down due to…
Ensuring Success with Remote Work
The COVID-19 pandemic brought remote working into the spotlight as many of us – forced to isolate to keep the spread of the coronavirus to a minimum – began doing our paid work from home instead of at…
Cybersecurity: Defense Against the Dark (Cyber) Arts
In J.K. Rowlings’ Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor often tells students to practice “constant vigilance.” Always being on guard or on high alert is also a good mantra for…
Dressing for Success
If you’re like me, since the response to the COVID-19 pandemic forced many of us to begin working at home, you’ve been wearing yoga pants or sweats with a t-shirt and hoodie (maybe even pajamas!) to work. A friend…
Microsoft 365 Teams helps at-home workers collaborate
Chat-based communication and collaboration platforms such as Microsoft 365 Teams have seen an increase in use since many people were required to work from home due to restrictions intended to help slow the spread of the coronavirus. Microsoft…
Training during a pandemic
On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization classified COVID-19 as a pandemic, and our world changed. While different jurisdictions have reacted in a variety of ways, the WHO advised that among other measures to protect against contracting…
How to cope with working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic
As countries around the world are issuing stay-at-home orders to help slow the spread of COVID-19, many of us are now working from home. I wrote this piece to pass along to my co-workers – the real ones…
Stop wasting time
Leaving the house with my daughter typically goes like this: “I can’t find my jacket. Mom, have you seen my jacket?” “Oh, I found it. Where are my keys? Has anyone seen my keys?” “They’re on the kitchen…
10-Minute Presentations: Boost Your Business with Presentation Skills
Whether or not employees give presentations on a regular basis, it’s a good idea for all staff members to know how to make a powerful and meaningful presentation. Why? Because having this skill can give employees confidence, it…
What employers need to know about edible cannabis
How edibles affect the body differently than inhaling Cannabis edibles became legal in Canada back in October, but they weren't available to buy until recently. For those who plan to enjoy these baked goods or beverages, it’s crucial…
Critical Elements of Customer Service: Help Students Improve Their Skills
Disney Parks are known around the globe for providing outstanding customer service. From replacing a dropped ice cream free of charge to searching for a purple balloon for a boy with special needs after they were sold out,…
Use Design Thinking to Get Inside Customers’ Minds
Like a wildlife biologist observing a pride of lions in the grasslands of the savanna to learn about their behavior, the designers at UberEats also watch their products “in the wild.” In an article for medium.com, (now former)…
What legalization means for workplace cannabis use
Statistics Canada carries out a National Cannabis Survey and releases results four times each year. The findings issued in May noted that of those people who use cannabis daily or almost daily, 27 per cent consumed the drug…
Why you should care about Canada legalizing cannabis edibles
A year ago, Canada legalized the recreational use of cannabis, and now the country is set to make the sale of new cannabis products legal as well. These include edibles, beverages, topicals, and extracts. Legalizing cannabis edibles and…
Disability awareness: Accommodation doesn’t have to cost a lot
I am a short person, just a little over five feet tall. When I began working at Velsoft, the chair I was provided was too big for me, and my back got sore every day. The company accommodated…
Getting Started with Microsoft Windows 10: May 2019 Update
TOPIC A: What is New? This course is designed to help in getting started with the Microsoft Windows 10: May 2019 Update. Microsoft Windows 10 is a powerful and easy-to-use operating system. Nearly everyone who works with computers…
Why you should (or shouldn’t) get Windows 10 May 2019 Update
Is it necessary to install updates to Windows 10 on your computer? Yes and no. In most cases, Windows will still function without the update, but it is crucial in preventing hackers and other unwanted users from accessing…