Economy, tariffs, Trump: survival tips from an HR specialist
Sylvain Daignault,
Local Journalism Initiative
The omnipresence of American President Donald Trump in all the media and the bad news that goes with it are causing many people a feeling of worry, even anxiety, at home, in the office or at the factory. Specializing in human resources and an expert in the world of work, leadership and human resources management, Annie Boilard offers some tips for “surviving”.
Right from the start, the specialist applauds this reporter’s initiative on this issue. “I’m glad you’re talking about it. Few people talk about the unease it creates, this kind of financial insecurity or the sustainability of jobs. For ordinary people, it’s not the 25% tariffs that will affect industries that worry them. It’s how it will affect them personally. It’s an interesting point of view.”
For her, the economy’s turmoil is worrying many, and rightly so. “Currently, the labour shortage for unskilled positions is behind us. Everyone knows someone who is having trouble finding a job,” she says. “A situation that is very different from a few months ago.”
“And we are told that the situation is going to be even more difficult! That we could have the worst economic crisis we haven’t had in years. It’s distressing for many people.”
This context prompts Ms. Boilard to advise economic prudence: “This is not the time to make big expenditures,” she says.
Possible solution
Ms. Boilard is categorical: the important thing is not to get caught up in the situation. “It’s good to be interested in it and take care of it. There must be a collective awareness about it.” But we also need to protect our mental health, she emphasizes. We need to manage our internal dialogues. We can’t stop the hamster from turning in our head. But we can influence our thoughts.
For the expert, becoming aware of the internal discourse that inhabits us is the first step towards better mental balance. Then, we need to ask ourselves what is positive in this repetition of thoughts. Finally, we need to ask ourselves what to replace these thoughts with in order to help ourselves.
“It’s complex! You can’t do this alone in thirty seconds by cutting carrots! It takes in-depth reflection. Sometimes you need support. Sometimes we’ll do it with our manager or our work team. There are realizations in that. There are a lot of things.”
According to Annie Boilard, HR specialist, the world of work is always adapting to change.
Regarding the omnipresence of the 47th President of the United States in the media, Ms. Boilard points out that Donald Trump takes the place he is given. “From an HR perspective, these major trends come and go! If the Canadiens were in the playoffs or the Stanley Cup final, that’s what we would be talking about!”
Ms. Boilard speaks from experience; “I’ve seen work topics obsess teams for months, then disappear. It’s a cycle.”
“Whether it’s Trump or artificial intelligence, the world of work is always adapting. The employer and the employee take turns holding the upper hand. Power relations shift very quickly. It’s very dynamic. People benefit from being informed,” the specialist concludes.
