When it comes to hiring in Alberta, Canada, both businesses and job seekers have access to tremendous potential. Alberta has excellent regulations that give workers basic rights without hamstringing businesses. It helps that there is an abundance of talent, with motivated individuals looking for positions in just about every field.
Depending on the positions you need to fill, college education may not be necessary or beneficial. However, it does bode well that Alberta is one of the most educated places in the world, with a whopping 55 percent of Albertans aged 25 to 64 having completed a post-secondary program.
The high quality of the talent pool available is great for businesses seeking to hire in Alberta. That said, Albertans have many opportunities available to them for this reason. In order to get the best talent, you need to do your homework.
Here are 10 things you need to know about hiring in Alberta.
1. The Importance of Language in Job Posts
Most Canadians speak English as a first language, and that is especially true in Alberta. Only 2% of Albertans speak French as a mother tongue. However, that doesn’t mean you should overlook the French-speaking population. Even if the roles you have available require fluent English, consider posting both English and French posts on job boards and platforms.
This demonstrates a willingness to meet the potential employee halfway. They will feel more comfortable about applying for your jobs, knowing that you will not disregard those who speak French as a first language.
2. Provincial and Federal Laws
Canada has complex rules and regulations regarding employment and HR. However, there is also a lot of room for provinces to implement their own labor laws. When hiring in Alberta, you need to brush up on both the provincial and federal laws. While you don’t need to know every detail – there is just too much to learn – focus on the points a candidate is likely to bring up, so that you can reassure them that your business is committed to giving employees the consideration they deserve.
3. Be Upfront About Expectations
When you’re in a position of strength as an employer, you can take it easy when it comes to interviewing applicants, with the assumption that they probably won’t reject you. But in Alberta, job seekers may have many great options. You should be totally upfront about your expectations, as applicants who don’t understand exactly what you need from them will not want to work for you. This is for the best, as it forces you to identify exactly what you need for the role and helps you hire the best person.
4. Payment and Career Paths
Canada has some strict regulations when it comes to wages. Alberta has its own particular variations. It is crucial that you know all about payment structures so as to discuss what candidates can expect to take home in addition to their gross income. You should also have a good idea of the potential career paths in your company for each candidate, including potential increases if they qualify for promotions.
5. Pension Plans
All employees earning over CA$3,500 per year need to contribute to the Canada Pension Plan. As an employer, you are required to cover half of their contributions. The exact amount an employee pays will depend on how much they are earning, and you are expected to deduct the correct amount from their wages.
6. Paid Time Off
All Canadian businesses need to provide paid time off (PTO) to workers. In Alberta, employees are entitled to two weeks of PTO after a year of employment, and three weeks PTO after five years. If they do not use their PTO, you are required to pay them at a rate calculated as either:
● their daily wage plus 1.5 times regular rate or
● the regular rate plus one day paid leave
They are entitled to whichever rate is higher for their PTO. Some companies make it mandatory for employees to use some of their PTO each year.
7. Income Tax
As an employer in Alberta, you are required to deduct income tax from your employees’ wages. It is up to you to calculate and deduct the correct amount. As such, you should brush up on your knowledge of Alberta’s tax brackets and other regulations.
8. Do Market Research
Another important tip when hiring in Alberta is to do market research to find out what your competitors are offering. Due to the quality of the talent available in Alberta, along with Alberta’s regulations regarding payment and benefits, you may have stiff competition in the race to hire certain applicants. You should know in advance what other businesses are offering so that you can better their offers – or give applicants a reason to choose you in any case.
9. The Cost of Hiring in Alberta
Finding and hiring talent in Alberta comes at a cost. You will need to pay for any research done on your behalf regarding the legal requirements. You may also need to pay recruiters or hiring agencies who are best-placed to find the perfect candidates for your business. You can also advertise your job using online platforms, some of which will charge you. It may be worth paying extra for your job to come up at the top of the list or to incorporate media.
In order to hire anywhere in the world, you need to do relevant legal checks. This is no different in Alberta. You may need to speak to a lawyer if an individual’s legal right to work in Canada is unclear.
10. Don’t Settle
Ultimately, because there is so much talent in Alberta, you shouldn’t settle for a candidate who is anything less than perfect. This does not mean they don’t have flaws, as everyone has weaknesses. However, they should be someone you can get excited about because of what they will bring to the role.
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