Canada Moms Blog

Workforce Wellness: Another name for don't ask, don't tell?

Way back when, before I learned my lesson, and before I came into the knowledge that freelancing was a viable option, I was a corporate shill. But I was a good little shill - I showed up early, and I billed out a staggering amount of hours. What's more, I worked a staggering amount of hours for free, all as a means of keeping on top of the ever-growing pile of capitalistic success. For my clients. I made, like, $30K annually.

It was for two reasons that I sometimes billed 65 hours a week and worked an additional 15: I was asked to do the work, and then, I was relied upon to do the work. Once I had been assigned a new area of responsibility, magically, no one else was able to take it on, and more and more weight was added to my lucky-to-be-employed shoulders.

A few years of that, plus some borderline abusive employers produced anxiety attacks. And now, five years after I've been out of the game, no longer finding myself clutching my chest and gasping for air, Steven Harper's government is rolling out a program to promote 'workforce wellness'? I don't buy it.

Personal Vendettas

If anyone reads my Wet Coast Women site, I tend to use it as a bit of a platform for my..um..er..rants about the issues that really tick me off. These issues are usually local, Vancouver centric issues that I feel affect my family.

I have ranted about the Olympics a fair bit and the city is now really bracing for the impact.

To be honest I think the games will be great.  I think the big issues around the games will be what VANOC has been worried about in the first place..and that is getting around.   I also think they are MENTAL with making VISA the only credit card accepted at their venues, but not my decision AND since I am just a poor citizen of the city, I won't BE attending any of the events...too rich for my blood.

My other BIG rant is a personal one.  It is housing affordability.  Vancouver has just been listed as one of THE most unaffordable cities to live in.  Meaning the cost of housing vs. the median income is totally out of wack.

I am amazed if this is a surprise to ANYONE living and working in the Lower Mainland.  

Vancouver has no industry.  No big head offices.  No specialized economy.  Nothing draws people here except the weather and the scenery.   Except for real estate and the ease to avoid taxation etc.   Real Estate Development IS the economy of Vancouver.   Condos are bought up site unseen over and over by offshore buyers.

I was talking to our mortgage specialist at the bank the other day, and she says she has many clients who have never stepped one foot into Canada, yet own multiple properties.

This not only keeps the real estate prices high, but the rental rates too.  Vancouver has an almost zero percent vacancy rate and renters are constantly fighting to maintain FAIR rents.