Dear HR Managers and Business Owners,

This month's article on Google's "recruiting culture" lists some of the breathtaking benefits that the company can afford to offer its employees, including flex hours, stock options, a "no tracking of sick days" policy, and all the freebies you can think of.

Meanwhile, closer to home, the Globe and Mail reports that various groups working together in northern BC have arrived at an agreement on the fate of the Great Bear Rainforest ("After an endless hibernation, Great Bear deal is stirring"). This deal, hammered out by the forest industry, provincial government and environmental groups, signals a shift in BC's economy towards sustainable forestry and industry that strives to respect the interests of all stakeholders.

What do the report on Google and the agreement on the fate of the Great Bear Rainforest have in common? We may not all be able to afford the kind of luxuries that Google offers its employees, but we can profit from the same spirit of flexibility and cooperation fostered by Google, as well as by the various groups working together to preserve and enrich the most vital aspects of BC's economy.

In the workplace itself, I'm convinced that the "soft" incentives are the true measure of a positive environment and, subsequently, employee retention. The strength of an employer-employee relationship relies on communication, stimulation, and opportunities for continued growth, all of which can be achieved through cooperation and without breaking the bank.

As spring approaches on the west coast, let's turn our thoughts to ways we can show our employees and environment how valuable they are to our economy!

Cheers,