What happened
Canadian chief human resources officers say their influence has never been greater. According to research from International Workplace Group, as reported by Talent Canada, 86 per cent of the 260 CHROs surveyed across Canada say their influence in the workplace is at an all-time high. 80 per cent say they work more closely with their company's C-suite than ever before.
The priorities they report are practical. 68 per cent point to boosting productivity, 65 per cent to recruiting and retaining top talent, and 62 per cent to employee well-being and happiness. 89 per cent see themselves as trusted senior advisers to the CEO, and 96 per cent say their role strongly influences profitability.
Flexible work features heavily. 81 per cent of CHROs say it is key to retaining top talent. 64 per cent predict a significant drop in retention at companies that do not offer it, and 79 per cent say forcing long daily commutes to a central office would do harm. Of those with more flexibility, 71 per cent expect retention to improve. The research comes from a provider of flexible workspace, so read the findings with that in mind.
Why it matters if you are hiring
If HR leaders are closer to the CEO, hiring decisions are being made with more weight behind them. Expect talent plans to be tied to revenue and productivity targets, not just to filling seats. For a hiring manager, that means a requisition needs a clear business case, and the HR team will ask for one.
The flexibility finding matters more for candidates than for HR. Office-based professionals in finance, sales, operations and data roles increasingly compare offers on where and when they work. If your competitor allows hybrid and you require five days on site, you will lose some of the best people before the first interview.
Not every role can be flexible. Plant, warehouse and production roles are tied to the site. In those cases the same thinking applies to what you can control: predictable shifts, shorter commutes, and schedule notice. Retention is shaped by these details.
One thing to do this week
Pick your three hardest open roles and write down, for each, what flexibility you can actually offer: hybrid days, compressed weeks, shift choice or start-time latitude. Then put it in the job posting and raise it in the first screening call.
Traverse has placed operations, finance, sales, technical and manufacturing people with Canadian employers since 1997, and we help hiring teams match the role, and the way it is worked, to the candidates who will stay.