What happened in HR? 2015 recap

HRM looks at the big-hitting stories from the third quarter to find out what was happening in summer.

HR is a constantly changing industry and over the past year we’ve seen a number of major stories break, develop and eventually disappear. So what big hitters have you forgotten about?

Here, HRM takes a look back at the prominent articles that grabbed HR professionals’ attention in the third quarter of 2015.

July

HSBC employees sacked after staging mock ISIS execution

The bank apologised after the abhorrent video – filmed during a team building exercise – emerged online.

Canadian HR Awards: finalists confirmed

Two months before the winners were eventually named, HRM revealed the names of those who made it through to the final stage of considerations.

Major buyout offer for Tim Hortons employees

Fifteen per cent of the total workforce was offered severance packages as the Canadian coffee giant continued to make major changes in the wake of its Burger King merger.

IKEA makes historic living wage offer

The Swedish furniture giant became the first national retailer to offer all UK employees the recognized living wage.

August

Government makes DC plan decision for ORPP

11th The provincial government defined DC plans offering total contributions of 8 per cent as comparable to the ORPP 

HR vice president names in Canadian sexual harassment lawsuit

18th Karen Hacker, a senior vice president of HR at Toronto 2015 Pan and Parapan American Games, was named in the lawsuit.

(Continued...) #pb# 

HR warned to beware “cheater lists” after Ashley Madison hack

28th Following the shocking release of user names and data, an IT security firm warned Canadian HR teams to dust off their suicide prevention manuals and prepare for HR department-focused scams

Former steelworkers win key pension battle

Retired Hamilton steelworkers applauded a court decision that protects the place of pensioners in the queue of creditors for U.S. Steel Canada.

September

Starbucks Canada faces $1 million employee lawsuit

Allegations that the company failed to uphold its legal duty surfaced after one worker claimed to have been assaulted and threatened by her supervisor.

Sexist LinkedIn comment sparks fierce debate

The professional networking site found itself at the centre of a workplace-sexism storm when one user publicly shamed another.

Nine-to-five days a form of “torture,” claims research

An Oxford University academic called upon employers to alter working hours after conducting extensive research into the issue.

And the winners of the 2015 HR Awards are…

The worth winners of this year’s highly-acclaimed industry gala were announced on the 18th of September.

More like this:

The 2015 cases that changed employment law 

2015's HR stories from around the world 

What happened in HR? 2015 recap