Men and women respond to work incentives in very different ways
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office reviews hundreds of thousands of applications each year, making efficiency a challenge. When managers introduced cash incentives for meeting quotas, men and women reacted differently. Men tended to increase their output to secure the bonus, but the quality of their reviews declined. Women, by contrast, often prioritized maintaining high-quality work, even if it meant missing out on the financial reward.
Does job hopping affect your career prospects? It depends.
Young professionals are frequently advised that the best way to progress professionally is to pursue new opportunities, even if it means changing jobs. Yet, in some cases, employers may view a history of frequent job changes unfavorably, according to research by Matissa Hollister, an Associate Professor of Organizational Behaviour.
AI replaces tasks, not entire jobs
AI is changing the workplace, but it usually doesn’t replace entire jobs. Before laying people off because of ‘AI efficiencies’, employers need a solid plan. “We may or may not overestimate how much AI will affect the world of work, but we’ve figured out that it does not destroys jobs, it destroys tasks,” says Lisa Cohen, Associate Professor of Organizational Behaviour at McGill Desautels.
Employers are more open to negotiating employment terms than Canadians assume
Relatively few job candidates negotiate the terms of their employment, often because they fear losing the offer. Yet surveys show recruiters are open to negotiation, and it is rare for employers to withdraw an offer because a candidate attempted to negotiate.
Many workers are back in the office full-time—and some aren’t happy about it
The world’s pivot to remote work in 2020 happened almost overnight, altering workplace expectations in ways still felt today. The return to the office is happening more slowly, but many of the country’s biggest employers now require workers to be in the office five days each week—and not everyone is happy about it.
Employers should consider whether hybrid work will achieve the same aims as a return to the office
For many workers, the return to the office is already in full effect.
Former Provost Anthony C. Masi receives Lifetime Achievement Award
McGill Desautels Professor Anthony C. Masi was honoured with the Morty Yalovsky Lifetime Achievement Award for Excellence in Academic Leadership at Fall 2025 Convocation. Over his 46-year career, Masi has shaped the University through his leadership as Provost and contributions to digital transformation, faculty development, and teaching innovation. He founded Teaching and Learning Services, modernized McGill’s IT infrastructure, and advanced the University’s research and academic mission.
Stranded travellers should keep their cool
When 10,000 Air Canada flight attendants went on strike, more than 100,000 passengers were left stranded. For many of those affected, the experience has been an overwhelming one. For stranded passengers, the Air Canada strike combines three powerful stressors: uncertainty, lack of control and crowding, writes Associate Professor of Organizational Behaviour Jean-Nicolas Reyt in The Conversation.
Companies are bringing employees back to the office, but over time, the trend could reverse
Large Canadian companies such as Rogers, RBC and BMO recently announced their employees will be required to spend more time in the office moving forward. Many employees aren’t happy about it at all. “Research tells us that employees are more productive when they can work the way they want to,” said Prof. Jean-Nicolas Reyt in an interview with Radio-Canada’s Les faits d’abord.
McGill Desautels professors and lecturers recognized at Faculty Awards
The McGill Desautels Faculty of Management acknowledges the vital contributions of research, teaching, service, and public engagement in inspiring future leaders. Through our annual Faculty Awards, we celebrate the exceptional achievements of our faculty members across various programs and disciplines. This year, we are proud to honour the following distinguished individuals:
Employees tend to own workplace successes, but blame external factors for failures
Nearly two-thirds of employees feel they’ve been ‘thrown under the bus’ by their colleagues—but an even higher number say they’ve never engaged in blame-shifting themselves. “The axe forgets, but the tree remembers,” says Jean-Nicolas Reyt, an Associate Professor of Organizational Management at McGill Desautels.
The power of purpose in employee motivation
Motivating employees isn’t just about perks or pay—it’s about helping them see the bigger picture. According to Jean-Nicolas Reyt, associate professor of organizational behaviour at McGill Desautels, employees who understand the broader impact of their work are often more engaged. “A manager can see the broader picture,” Reyt explains.
Changes in leadership can affect an entire organization
Changes at the top of an organization can have a ripple effect through its ranks—and Justin Trudeau’s resignation as leader of the Liberal Party is a case in point. An organization’s culture starts at the top, and the personality of its leader influences how decisions are made and how to get ahead, says Associate Professor Jean-Nicolas Reyt in an interview with Canadian HR Reporter.
Return to office won’t necessarily increase productivity
After a sudden shift to remote work in 2020, federal public servants have been required to be on site for 60 per cent of their working days since September 2024. Productivity was among its reasons for introducing the requirement, but that’s misguided, according to Jean-Nicolas Reyt, Associate Professor of Management at McGill Desautels.
Employers judge job candidates – but it isn’t a one-way street
Job seekers put their resumes out there to be judged by potential employers, but the evaluation goes both ways, says Lisa Cohen, Associate Professor of Organizational Behaviour at McGill Desautels. “Candidates talk to other candidates,” Cohen tells The Globe and Mail.
