Kompass Blog

Health and safety managers have a critical leadership role in many organizations: creating and monitoring policies and programs to keep people safe on the job.

Ultimately, they’re responsible for identifying risks, preventing accidents, and promoting safety and wellness throughout the organization.

If you have a background in health and safety and are hoping to move your career forward, the next logical step is to become a health and safety manager.

So what do you need to move into this role?

We analyzed dozens of job postings to see what qualifications and skills employers look for when hiring health and safety (H&S) managers.

Here are the typical requirements you'll need to fulfill.

Updated February 2024

Family mediators help families settle conflicts and disagreements without going to court.

Mediators do not take sides or make decisions. Instead, they help each party understand the other's concerns, explore options, and agree on solutions.

Family mediators are often called in when a couple decides to end their relationship. They help the ex-partners work out arrangements regarding children, property, and finances.

But while divorce is a common family mediator practice area, it's not the only one. In fact, a variety of specializations exist within the field.

In this post, we explore four major practice areas in family mediation—and some helpful information on getting started in this career.

Updated January 2023

Your success as a mediator will depend on your ability to cultivate a sense of collaboration and trust between people in conflict. That's no easy feat.

After all, people usually enter into mediation because communication has broken down. Resentment, stress, and suspicion have made it difficult to see matters clearly—let alone negotiate a fair outcome!

Professional mediators need a toolkit of techniques they can use to break down those walls, create an atmosphere of trust, and get opposing sides talking in productive ways.

These are fundamental skills taught in mediation training - and competencies you'll continue to hone throughout your entire career.

Here are four ways to build rapport and break through mistrust during the mediation process.

Updated December 2024

The field of human resources has transformed quite dramatically over the past few years. We used to think of HR as primarily about handling employee discipline problems, enforcing workplace policies, and hiring/firing people.

But as global business competition grows ever more intense, and new generations join the workforce, we’re seeing a major shift in the reality and perception of HR. 

Human resources professionals are joining strategy sessions with CEOs and other C-suite executives to discuss the growing importance and impact of employee engagement, talent acquisition, and skills development. 

HR has become an essential and integral part of business success, in every sector of the economy. 

Is human resources the right career for you? Consider these key points while making your decision.

Are you passionate about helping Ontario families settle disputes, separations, divorces, or custody issues without resorting to costly litigation?

Going through the process to become a certified family mediator is an excellent way to gain the skills and credentials to begin your career.

Certification is not technically required to work as a family mediator in Ontario. But it can open a lot of doors.

For instance, you generally need to be certified if you want to provide court-connected family mediation services.

So how do you get started?

This post details the steps required to become accredited through the Ontario Association for Family Mediation (OAFM).

Here's how the process works.

Health and safety managers are tasked with looking out for the physical, mental, and emotional health of staff members at all levels of an organization.

That means more than just avoiding accidents. The most effective health and safety (H&S) plans incorporate both safety and wellness.

But what's the difference between the two?

In a nutshell: Workplace safety initiatives revolve around preventing illness and injury on the job. Everyone is required to follow the rules and non-compliance can have serious consequences.

On the other hand, workplace health and wellness initiatives are aimed at promoting healthy behaviours (including mental health and emotional well-being). These are often voluntary programs, so participation is not mandatory.

Learn which workplace health and safety initiatives fall into each category—and why a good OHS plan must include elements from both.

Updated June 2025

Occupational health and safety is top of mind for many people these days. In the wake of a global pandemic, keeping people safe and healthy on the job has a whole new importance.

But workplace health and safety goes far beyond protecting people from disease. It encompasses total wellness, from physical safety to mental health, emergency procedures, risk prevention, and safety training for staff.

Each year brings new regulations, new best practices, and new research on how to improve health and safety at work.

If you're looking to advance your OHS career, which areas should you focus on? Which health and safety manager skills are most important right now and over the long term?

Find out which areas you should focus on to create a stronger safety culture and take your career to the next level.

Updated January 2023

What exactly is public policy and what does an analyst do?

In a nutshell, we can think of public policy as a system of laws, regulations, and courses of action implemented by government. These directives touch every aspect of our lives, including education, law enforcement, the allocation of environmental resources, healthcare, etc.

Ideally, public policy is developed to serve the public interest. But ideas about what is "best" for the public are always changing, influenced by shifting values, and evolving social, political, and economic needs.

Therefore, public policy is constantly in flux. Government commitments change. Public interests change.

How do decision-makers choose which new policies to introduce, and how best to develop and implement them?

Enter the public policy analyst.

Public policy analysts advise governments at all levels on which new policies are needed and what's involved in launching those policies.

In this post, we break down the core skills required to do this job well and truly thrive in the challenging, ever-complex sphere of policy leadership.

Updated January 2023

So much skill, care, and hard work goes into developing thorough policy recommendations. Analysts spend months gathering research, analyzing data, developing solutions, and evaluating pros, cons, and possible outcomes from every angle.

Then comes the crucial stage of presenting those findings in a comprehensive proposal.

In addition to ensuring accuracy and thoroughness, what else should policy analysts do to make sure their ideas are clearly understood and highly valued?

Start with these five steps to more impactful and persuasive policy proposals.

Updated January 2023

Public policy refers to the collection of laws and regulations that governments create in response to problems or issues. Such directives are meant to support and promote the collective good.

A public policy certificate program focuses on helping students understand how those laws and regulations are put together.

Training at this level should provide an overview of the policy development cycle and the core skills needed to drive effective decision-making.

And there are plenty of reasons to consider public policy training. The field offers a unique opportunity to create directives that support the well-being of Canadians.

All levels of government rely on skilled policy professionals to help solve complex problems related to law enforcement, education, public health, the environment, social justice, and a host of other important issues.

In this post, we outline what you can expect from a public policy certificate. Find out what this type of training includes and decide if it's right for you.