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About Alan Kearns
Jobtrekker.ca job expert Alan Kearns is nationally known as Canada's Career Coach. He's the founder of CareerJoy (CareerJoy.com), and is recognized as one of Canada's foremost expert on all things related to careers. Alan has more than 17 years experience coaching people through successful career changes. He was voted one of Canada's Top 40 entrepreneurs under the age of 40, speaks regularly on CBC radio, as well as Chapters. He has been featured in Venture, CP24, The National Post and The Globe and Mail and is also the career expert for WorkCabin.ca, Workopolis.com and CharityVillage.com

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7 elements to being treated fairly

Friday, 27 March 2009

In the late ‘80s and early ‘90s free trade was all the rage in Canada. Brian Mulroney was going to architect a capitalistic model that would sell us down the river. Fast forward to now. Free trade has had a very positive impact overall. However, it is not without its challenges. I have been won over by the principles of Fair Trade. I like it because it has a lot of the elements of Free Trade, only it is better. Rob Clarke is Executive Director of TransFair Canada. If you see any product in Canada with a fair trade logo, his organization is responsible for the licensing of all fair trade products. Rob has a very interesting perspective, as he spent 20 years as an executive in the technology sector before taking on his current role. Fair trade and the organic category is the fastest growing sector in the consumer goods area. I have been interested in the whole area of fair trade, both from a work perspective as well as from an economic model.

There are 7 key elements to a fair trade relationship:
1. Creating opportunities for economically disadvantaged producers
2. Transparency and accountability
3. Capacity building
4. Payment of a fair price
5. Gender equity
6. Working conditions
7. Environmental protection
What kind of relationship do you have with your employer? Is it a "free" or "fair" trade? I think most professionals recognize that their employers have problems to solve and a right to earn a profit, however, they just want to be treated fairly within the context of their business relationship.

A fair trade employment has all of the above elements. One of the great advantages of fair trade from an employers and employees perspective is less turnover. Other advantages include, more innovation, less conflict and a great sense of community, which in most cases, ironically leads to what drives free trade - more profits. Doing good, everyone wins, including the shareholder.

Trading fairly, along the road with you!
Alan

Alan Kearns Canada's Career Coach is the founder of CareerJoy: The Career Coaching Company. He is one of Canada's foremost experts on all things relating to careers. Alan has more than 17 years of experience coaching professionals with successful career decisions. Alan was voted one of the Top 40 entrepreneurs under the age of 40 and is the author of Get the Right Job Right Now!