Canadian employees and labour activists calling for end of 'on call' shifts - just like their U.S. counterparts  They're calling for the elimination of "on-call" shifts, a practice where management schedules shifts for part-time employees each week, but then requires them to call in ahead of their start time to find out if they're actually working.

This is a growing problem for young workers in their 20s and 30s who make up a significant chunk of retail and service workers. I've seen pretty high rates of mental health issues among this group of workers. It also drives stress and anxiety to a pretty high degree."

In recent months, lawmakers in the United States have taken notice of a growing discontent with volatile workplace schedules. And a number of retailers have stopped the practice.

In Canada, similar changes for worker rights are harder to come by, though there have been some inroads in recent months. This summer, Unifor, the union representing Metro employees at stores in the Greater Toronto Area reached an agreement with management to give staff more predictable schedules. The deal also guarantees part-timers a minimum of 15 hours of work after working for one year. Changes have also been made at some Loblaw stores in Ontario as well.

In Ontario, complaints about lax workplace guidelines have pushed the Liberal government to launch a formal review of provincial labour laws with an interim report due early next year. ctvnews.ca

Gap's store brands in Canada to end on-call, short-notice shifts
Stores operated by Gap Inc. in Canada will join their U.S. counterparts in ending the practice of requiring workers to be on call for short-notice shifts. Gap spokeswoman Laura Wilkinson says the changes apply to all four of the brands operated by the company in Canada - the Gap, Banana Republic, Old Navy and Intermix. She says all stores are committed to providing store employees with at least 10 to 14 days ' notice.  theglobeandmail.com

Sears Canada to cut $100m to $125m in annual operating expenses - Cuts are coming  Sears Canada's second-quarter revenue fell 9.1 per cent but the department store chain turned a profit thanks to selling more properties during the period, and executives are encouraged by positive sales momentum in its core retail network. Sears did not detail where the cuts would be made, but said they would happen in the current quarter that began Aug. 2 and account for estimated one-time costs of $15 million to $20 million.  financialpost.com

Clothing retailer Laura's to close five fewer stores after rents lowered - Closing 15 on Sept. 13th  Laura's said it will employ about 2,000 workers in stores across Canada, the distribution centre and remaining office as a results of the changes, down from 2,330 when its network spanned 162 stores. Laura's operates in all provinces except Prince Edward Island and also has two e-commerce sites. About half the stores and store-level employees are in Ontario. Quebec has the second-most stores at 37.  theglobeandmail.com

Canadian shoppers turn to the web for products they can't find nearby
Canadian shoppers are also more willing to be patient on delivery than U.S. consumers. 24% of Canadian shoppers say they find making a purchase online and having the purchase shipped to their home or office more convenient than purchasing at a store (versus 39% of U.S. shoppe. The survey results also indicate Canadian consumers may have lower expectations when it comes to getting a deal online. More Canadian shoppers than U.S. shoppers rate shipping cost as a deciding factor in whether they will make an online purchase. internetretailer.com

Canada gets serious about e-commerce
"The only reason e-retailing has taken longer to catch on in Canada is the cost of shipping as a percentage of the sale"   But Canadian consumers are catching onto online shopping as domestic and foreign retailers, including many with U.S. roots, make shopping online more attractive. Forrester projects that in 2019, online spending will account for 10% of Canadian retail spending, pulling it nearly equal, on a percentage basis, with the 11% expected in the United States. U.S.-based retailers including Amazon.com Inc., Best Buy Co. Inc. and Wal-Mart Stores Inc., have made significant moves in the market. internetretailer.com

Plus-Sized U.S. Retailer Torrid Plans Up to 50 Canadian Stores

It's operation rehab for many fashion chains

Retail Fast Facts: August 2015

Highlights: 
Total monthly retail sales changed by 3.7 per cent over the comparable month last year.
Total sales excluding food, automotive and gasoline changed by 4.5 per cent over the comparable month last year. Read more