From outer space? Sask. farmers baffled after discovering strange wreckage in field
A family of fifth generation farmers from Ituna, Sask. are trying to find answers after discovering several strange objects lying on their land.
Presenteeism, where employees show up to work when they’re unwell, was a problem in workplaces even before the-pandemic. But now, some experts say COVID-19 has shifted attitudes around working while sick.
Matthias Spitzmuller, associate professor of organizational behaviour at Queen’s University, told CTV's Your Morning on Friday that presenteeism has always been a serious concern for employers and employees, however, it just wasn't recognized as much prior to the pandemic.
"So much productivity is lost in organizations when employees come to work and they cannot really work at their best because of physical reasons, because of mental health reasons and ... the costs for the Canadian economy really go into the billions every year," Spitzmuller said.
Spitzmuller said an employee's hesitation to call into work when feeling unwell is typically caused by a "dysfunctional work culture that equates excessive overwork with excellence."
He said employees usually come to work sick because they feel indispensable or because they feel like there is an expectation that they have to be there.
But because of this, Spitzmuller said employees then spread germs and viruses throughout the office – something companies are working to address to maintain safe workplace practices and not put others at risk in light of COVID-19.
While the pandemic has put the return to the office on hold for many, Spitzmuller said the time outside of the workplace gives employers the opportunity to "break this cycle" of presenteeism.
He noted that it starts with HR policies in ensuring employees have an adequate number of sick days per year. Spitzmuller said paid sick days will remove the financial burden some employees may feel should they call into work.
Spitzmuller said eliminating presenteeism also comes down to company leadership.
"Imagine a leader who prepares for an important presentation, maybe a client pitch… and calls in sick and sends somebody else," he said.
Spitzmuller explained that this wold send an "important signal" to employees that it is acceptable, even in crucial work moments, to "not come to work when you are physically or mentally not fit to do so."
"I think leadership, organizational policies, the organizational culture -- there's a lot that can change," he said.
A family of fifth generation farmers from Ituna, Sask. are trying to find answers after discovering several strange objects lying on their land.
The National Post is reporting that Rex Murphy, the pundit and columnist who hosted a national call-in radio show for decades, has died.
Another suspect is in custody in connection with the gold heist at Toronto Pearson International Airport last year, police say.
Careful attention to government statements and legislation is required to get a handle on the level of risk British Columbians’ information is under, as investigators probe multiple breaches under a continued barrage of attacks.
A southwestern Ontario woman has received an $8,400 bill from a hospital in Windsor, Ont., after she refused to put her mother in a nursing home she hated -- and she says she has no intention of paying it.
A Conservative government led by Pierre Poilievre would not legislate on, nor use the notwithstanding clause, on abortion, his office says, as anti-abortion protesters gather on Parliament Hill.
Hailey and Justin Bieber are going to be parents. The couple announced the news on Thursday on Instagram, both sharing a video that showcases Hailey Bieber's growing belly.
Studies have shown that ultraprocessed foods can have a detrimental impact on health. But 30 years of research show they don’t all have the same impact.
The Oscar-winning team behind the nearly US$6 billion blockbuster 'Lord of the Rings' and 'The Hobbit' trilogies is reuniting to produce two new films.
A Listowel, Ont. man, drafted by the Hamilton Tigercats last week, is also getting looks from the NFL, despite only playing 27 games of football in his life.
A small Ajax dessert shop that recently received a glowing review from celebrity food critic Keith Lee is being forced to move after a zoning complaint was made following the social media influencer’s visit last month.
The Canada Science and Technology Museum is inviting visitors to explore their poop. A new exhibition opens at the Ottawa museum on Friday called, 'Oh Crap! Rethinking human waste.'
The Regina Police Service says it is the first in Saskatchewan and possibly Canada to implement new technology in its detention facility that will offer real-time monitoring of detainees’ vital health metrics.
The stakes have been set for a bet between Vancouver and Edmonton's mayors on who will win Round 2 of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
A grieving mother is hosting a helmet drive in the hopes of protecting children on Manitoba First Nations from a similar tragedy that killed her daughter.
A chicken farmer near Mattawa made an 'eggstraordinary' find Friday morning when she discovered one of her hens laid an egg close to three times the size of an average large chicken egg.
A P.E.I. lighthouse and a New Brunswick river are being honoured in a Canada Post series.
An Ontario man says he paid more than $7,700 for a luxury villa he found on a popular travel website -- but the listing was fake.