Virtual  ·  March 18–20, 2025

Better Workplace Conference 2025

Empowering Employee Voice and Choice

The 28th annual Better Workplace Conference will address emerging workplace challenges, such as polarization and technology-induced burnout, and explore how to meet the diverse needs and requirements of today’s workforce.

This year, we aim to showcase how empowering employee voice and choice can cultivate safe, resilient, and thriving workplaces.

The three-day conference will feature engaging keynote speakers, panel discussions, and concurrent sessions, and will include important Conference Board research findings.

Location

Virtual

Contact Us

1-888-928-7190

registrar@conferenceboard.ca

Themes for the 28th annual Better Workplace Conference

Addressing today’s diverse workforce needsEnhancing psychological safety at workAdapting to an evolving workplace
Discover how to assess your workforce needs and enhance personalization of your employee offerings, accommodations, and training.Learn about proven organizational models and designs, such as Human Organizational Performance (HOP) and peer support groups. Plus, industry experts will provide best practices for implementing the Standard for Psychological Health and Safety.Find solutions to workforce challenges around mental health, polarization, technology-induced burnout, and hybrid work.

Agenda

Please note: All agenda times are in Eastern Standard Time. See what time that is for you.

12:30 pm

This session is part of the members-only ​​Council for Safe Workplaces, Council on Workplace Health and Wellness, and Council on Inclusive Work Environments meeting. To learn more about becoming a member of one of these councils, please contact us.

Shimi Kang

Leading expert in change, leadership, innovation, and wellness


1:15 pm

Break


1:30 pm

Conference Board CEO Susan Black will introduce our conference theme in greater detail, highlighting the importance of integrating evidence-based insights into our decision-making for the modern workforce.

Susan Black

Susan Black

CEO, The Conference Board of Canada


1:45 pm

Discover how psychological safety drives innovation, enhances adaptability, and strengthens diversity in today’s complex work environments. This session will highlight the business case for psychological safety, showcasing its direct impact on the bottom line. Learn practical strategies to create workplaces that embrace diversity, foster collaboration, and leverage the full potential of AI and emerging technologies. Equip yourself with tools to navigate challenges, unlock team potential, and future-proof your organization for sustained success.

Shimi Kang

Change, leadership, innovation, and wellness expert


2:45 pm

Break


3:15 pm

This workshop will delve into approaches to measuring workplace health, exploring various metrics of organizational culture that most directly impact employee wellbeing and productivity.

Attendees will walk away from this session thinking about new ways to implement effective measurement strategies that drive meaningful improvements in workplace culture and employee satisfaction.


4:00 pm

This panel discussion will delve into the complexities of building a truly diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace, exploring the latest trends and themes that can promote or hinder DEI efforts. This session will drive toward fostering a workplace where everyone can thrive through strategies that address systemic inequalities and forward-thinking approaches to boost a sense of belonging. Real-world examples will be discussed.


​​​​​​Staying on Top of Current and Anticipated Needs Within the Workforce and Workplace

12:00 pm

Session description coming soon.

Lee Rubin

Team-building expert


1:00 pm

Break


1:15 pm

Join us for an engaging session where we’ll explore the intersection of physical and psychological health and safety through the lens of support systems such as peer support and cultural assessments. Discover best practices being implemented to enhance employee wellbeing while recognizing the multifaceted nature of health and safety.


This session will dive deep into innovative strategies for creating inclusive and tailored benefits that amplify employee voice and choice. Discover how organizations have leveraged technology to assess diverse workforce needs, ensuring equity and inclusion across various dimensions, such as age, race, gender, and disability.


Organizations are already using advanced technology and AI to create personalized support, training, and development experiences for their workforce that promote inclusivity and boost individual performance. We’ll discuss the critical steps needed to ensure AI systems are bias-aware and accessible.


2:00 pm

Break


2:15 pm

Discover some of the latest trends shaping Canada’s workforce and workplaces through a series of dynamic lightning talks. Gain quick insights and practical strategies from peers, and walk away with useful ideas to implement in your own setting.


3:00 pm

Session description coming soon.


​​​Being at the Cutting Edge of Cultivating the Workplace of Tomorrow

12:00 pm

This session is part of the​​ Council for Safe Workplaces, Council on Workplace Health and Wellness, and Council on Inclusive Work Environments members-only meeting. To learn more about becoming a member of one of these councils, please contact us.

Lee Rubin

Team-building expert


12:45 pm

Break


1:00 pm

Session description coming soon. 

Jody Carrington

Psychologist, human connection expert, and best-selling author


2:00 pm

Break


2:15 pm

In this engaging session, attendees will explore the delicate interplay between individual employee needs and overarching organizational goals.


In today’s fast-paced work environment, stressors from both the personal and professional spheres can significantly impact employee performance and overall workplace health.

Learn how to identify early warning signs, develop effective coping mechanisms, and foster a culture of resilience and wellbeing that boosts productivity and job satisfaction.


In this session, we’ll discuss how organizations can actively help their employees manage workload perceptions and combat feelings of overwhelm and burnout.


3:00 pm

Break


3:15 pm

In our final session, we will explore how leveraging data and evidence can drive innovative practices in the Canadian workplace, with a strong emphasis on empowering voice and choice. We will focus on the next generation of research on creating safe, resilient, and thriving environments that prioritize flexibility, inclusivity, and employee wellbeing. Together, we will discuss future research strategies to build a more adaptive workforce for the future and how attendees can be involved and drive the research agenda.


Speakers

Tops of skyscrapers

Testimonials

Past Event

Previous conference highlights:

At the 28th annual Better Workplace Conference, discover impactful, research-based solutions to workplace issues. Join us at this virtual event for captivating keynote speakers, panel discussions, and best practice showcases.

706

Past Attendees

4.2/5

Overall satisfaction

Attendees by job function

Unknown Public admin. Educational services Health care and social assitance Other (except public admin.) Professional, scientific, and tech. services Finance and insurance Utilities Transport. and warehousing Information and cultural indust.

Attendees by job title

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Some noteworthy speakers from our previous conference

Sponsors