Thinking of volunteering or seeking new employment?

Well, if you have a previous criminal record you may want to double check that record before your prospective employer does.

According to Pardon Applications of Canada, those Canadians who received an absolute or conditional discharge prior to July 24, 1992 may find they still have a criminal record attached to their name.

Young money.

According to a new report from BMO Economics, Canada's youth will have more spending power than their parents over their lifetime.

Years ago, it seemed the younger you were, the worse off you were.

But now it seems the kids will be all right.

Can there really be a price tag attached to the role of being a mother?

Well, according to a recent survey conducted by Leger Marketing for Wal-Mart Canada, the job of mom is worth about $161,287.

That translates into about $3101.67 a week or $441.88 per day.

Now that school is out for college and university students, the race is on to find a job.

Even though employment fell by 55,000 full-time jobs in March, it is up by 203,000 over last year.

But even better news is that almost half of Canadian businesses plan on hiring students or recent graduates this year, according to a new report by BMO Bank of Montreal.

Most employees dread having to take their work home with them.

But that was then and this is now.

Telecommuting provides employees with the freedom to get out of the office and take their work home with them, on the road or even conduct business from a restaurant or a coffee shop.

Currently, 23 per cent of Canadian companies offer telecommuting to their employees, with large businesses more likely to offer it than smaller ones.

But do mobile employees actually get the job done?

Well, according to a new poll by BMO Bank of Montreal, 65 per cent of business owners feel that they do.

One of the best ways to ensure your day-to-day work life is something to look forward to and that your career remains on an upward trajectory is to stay on your boss' good side.

A big part of maintaining the boss-employee relationship is to never allow a manager to think you dislike your work, are incapable of doing it, or—worse—consider it beneath you, warns Karen Burns, author of  The Amazing Adventures of Working Girl: Real-Life Career Advice You Can Actually Use.

As a result, expressions like “That’s not my job” or “It’s not my problem” should never pass your lips, she suggests.

But “no” is always an option, she says, even if it might jeopardize the relationship you share with your boss. It's essential to position yourself in the best way possible if and when you have to say no at work.

Sometimes, requests are either too wierd or simply inappropriate for even the keenest of workers to put up with. Many workers have been asked to do some pretty crazy – and at times potentially dangerous – things for those that call the shots.  

Wondering where your next job should take you? Google, Habanero and Royal LePage take top spots in this year’s 100 best places to work in Canada ranking.

The annual competition is based on years of research by the Great Place to Work Institute with input from more than 57,000 Canadian employees this time out.

The actual rankings are based on the culture of the organization that's modeled on the five dimensions found in the employee view of a great workplace.

On top of that, a culture audit helps identify gaps between the impact programs are intended to have and their actual influence on employees.

What do franchises like Pizza Nova, M&M Meat Shops, Cora and Coffee Culture have in common?

They all have the ingredients to be financially successful.

In Canada, one out of every five dollars spent ends up in the cash register of a franchise operation.

That's more than $100 billion each year, proving savvy marketing, solid fiscal planning and some calculated risks are helping franchises prosper north of the 49th parallel.

When you're doing something you love, it seldom seems like work.

So it comes as no surprise that the majority of Canadian women polled in a recent survey say the main reason they want to start their own business is for the opportunity to do something they love.

BMO Bank of Montreal conducted a survey in recognition of International Women's Day that revealed that 36 per cent of women are interested in starting up their own businesses within the next decade.

Been out of work for awhile now?

If you've got 10 years experience in your field, don't even think of starting off at the bottom again -- all you'll do is annoy the employer, says outspoken career coach John Heckers. You'd be much better off consulting or starting your own business than to apply for entry-level jobs.

When he sees someone with extensive experience applying for an intern job, Heckers admits he's not even going to interview them.

"I know that they’ll be gone in a heartbeat if something in their field comes along, and that they won’t stay and grow with my company," he says. "I also know they’re going to second guess me, not be coachable and generally be a pain in the neck."

Other things that turn him off: the smell of smoking, visible tatoos, piercings, and face stubble.

Grumpy, but at least he's honest.