How GTA’s Top Employers 2022 by Mediacorp are building stronger organizations

Globenadmail.com
Dec. 3, 2021
Diane Jermyn

The pandemic may have changed how we work over the past 18 months -- hello Zoom -- but it’s also given employers a new opportunity to build stronger, better organizations.

Judged as the most progressive companies in their industry when it comes to human resources policies, Greater Toronto’s Top Employers by Mediacorp are ready to remake the workplace.

These organizations have shown resiliency and adaptability in challenging times. While there is still uncertainty about what work will look like in the near future, the best are listening to what their people want and having conversations about working differently than in the past.

For example, after Panasonic Canada quickly moved employees to work from home at the beginning of the pandemic, it followed up with a company-wide survey to capture feedback on remote work, productivity and future work options. In response, the company introduced new flexible work policies, office supply discounts and support for at-home fitness.

Across the organization, staff at Ornge settled on a mix of working arrangements that are dependent on position and preferences, with employees working from home or onsite and nearly half of employees working a hybrid model. TMX Group Inc. is already ahead, having established an employee committee back in 2020 to begin imagining and discussing the future work environment post pandemic.

The stress of the pandemic has also brought wellness to the forefront, with a new focus on mental health. That’s become a top priority for Greater Toronto’s Top Employers by Mediacorp, with most significantly increasing funding for mental health benefits as well as resources ranging from mindfulness sessions to healthy cooking class.

Another trend is that many employers have formalized their renewed commitment to inclusion and diversity, incorporating accountability at every level of their organizations. Given the GTA’s rich and multi-cultural talent pool (Toronto is reported to be one of the most diverse cities in the world, according to Statistics Canada), that’s just smart business.

METHODOLOGY 2022
Any employer with its head office or principal place of business in the Greater Toronto Area may apply for Greater Toronto’s Top Employers by Mediacorp contest. Competition is tough as the region is home to over 40 per cent of Canada’s business headquarters, with many exceptional workplaces. Here’s how the winners are decided.

The editors of Greater Toronto’s Top Employers by Mediacorp evaluate each employer’s operations and human resources practices using the same eight criteria as the national competition of Canada’s Top 100 Employers. Those criteria are physical workplace; work atmosphere and social; health, financial and family benefits; vacation and time off; employee communications; performance management; training and skills development; and community involvement. The criteria have remained the same since the competition’s inception. All applicants must pay a fee to enter and The Globe and Mail is not involved in the judging process.

Employers are compared to other organizations in their field to determine which ones offer the most progressive and forward-thinking programs.

More detailed reasons for selection, explaining why each of the winners was chosen, are published on the competition’s website, www.canadastop100.com/toronto.

• Vaughan, The Corporation of the City of, Maple. Municipal government; 1,322 employees. Has updated its alternative work arrangement policy along with supportive training and guidelines for managers.