OK, so you want to grow a green culture in your workplace and find green employees to fill new positions or expand upon current ones. Where do you start? Maybe place classified ads in newspapers, advertise online, or spread the word. With any luck, you'll find the right candidates. Or maybe not. Perhaps the perfect candidate is already in your workplace, just waiting to be unleashed to help green your environment.
It's no secret that the explosion in demand to fill green-related jobs is far ahead of the supply of actual candidates. The reality is that educational institutions are still racing to expand existing programs and develop new ones to meet that demand. That means there's an increasing need to also look within your own workforce.
You can have all the degrees or diplomas you want in your workplace, but many times the green component of a job is still something that's value-added later on. Fact is, on-the-job learning is still a significant factor in growing green jobs. That means, as a business owner, it's also about investing in, and growing current job descriptions and the culture of your workplace to become green-focused. So what does that mean? Well, that person in the lunchroom who keeps an eagle-eye out for co-workers who throw their pop cans in the garbage, and reminds them to recycle, could be encouraged to take on a role as your business's waste diversion coordinator. Put another employee in charge of doing an energy audit (yes, a basic energy audit, with little training, can be done by anyone to spot when power is being wasted and possible remedies).
Most municipalities and hydro utilities now have programs to help businesses become more environmentally friendly. Often, these programs are free or low-cost. And when you launch these initiatives, get your employees involved, not just the managers, as the liaisons with officials.
Remember, growing green jobs -- or just green enthusiasm in the workplace -- can start with your existing employees. Chances are, you'll find they're eager to jump on the bandwagon.
Green Jobs: It's about growing your existing employees too - To learn more about this author, visit Gregg McLachlan's Website.
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Gregg McLachlan
(Visit Gregg's Website)
Gregg McLachlan is founder and president
of WorkCabin.ca, Canada's Outpost for
Green Jobs, Canada's first job site
bullfrogpowered with 100% green
electricity and the first job site to be
approved as a member of
internationally-acclaimed 1% For The
Planet. The site, launched in 2007, is
Canada's new professional source for
leading job listings, job seekers, career
advice and more.
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