B.C. medical firm takes top honours for second year in a row
For the second year in a row, B.C. Biomedical Laboratories Ltd. has topped the list of the Best Employers in Canada study.
The Surrey, B.C.-based medical firm, with 399 employees, took top honours thanks to programs like individual health spending accounts and a computer purchase plan. It marked the first time in the five-year history of the Canadian study that a company has earned the top spot more than once. (The entire list is reproduced below.)
The study is designed and conducted by Hewitt Associations. Organizations with at least 300 full-time or full-time equivalent employees are eligible to participate, as long as they have been in operation in Canada for at least three years. More than 2,500 organizations were invited to participate in the study, and 129 responded — representing 64,000 employees and more than 1,200 leaders.
Five key traits of top employers
Hewitt identified five key traits among the top 50 that set them apart from the rest.
“With each study we refine our understanding of what sets best employers apart from other organizations,” said Ted Emond, a Hewitt consultant. “After five years of analyzing data from employers with engaged employees, we’ve been able to determine what these top organizations have in common. It's clear that, without all of these traits, an employer will not appear on the 50 best list.”
1. Leadership team is aligned – with each other and with employees
There is a higher degree of alignment among members of the leadership team at best employers. They share a common set of values and beliefs about the people they need to meet business objectives and they reinforce behaviours that generate success. These leaders are more accessible, communicate honestly and openly, and provide clear direction.
To ensure that future leaders at their organizations continue to promote the same beliefs, best employers are more likely to have leadership development programs in place and execute them effectively. As a result, there is also a closer degree of alignment between the leadership team and other employees. Employee perception of the leadership team at best employers is more positive than at other organizations.
2. Employees are intrinsically motivated
The linchpin of the Best Employers study is employee engagement. All of the 50 have superior employee engagement levels — an average of 79 per cent, compared to an average of 59 per cent for the rest of the organizations in the study. A high percentage of workers at the top 50 organizations have a keen desire to be there, speak positively about their employer, and are inspired to go above and beyond the call of duty to help meet business goals. Yet these employees are not all alike. They are the “right fit” for their particular organization, with the ability, drive and mindset needed to help their best employer achieve success.
3. “The basics” are done well
Best employers execute core people management practices very well — day-to-day programs such as recognition, performance management and employee development. When these programs are not executed effectively, there is a significant dip in employee engagement levels.
To guard against this negative outcome, best employers ensure that even the most routine human resources task is handled flawlessly.
4. People practices are designed, communicated and executed effectively
The programs offered by the 50 best employers, such as benefit and pension plans, are aligned with business objectives. These programs are designed appropriately for the particular organization so that they are meaningful to its workforce, employees understand them and they are administered and executed successfully.
5. Employees are connected to the business
Employees at best employer organizations understand the company’s goals and objectives, and their own role in achieving them. They’re committed to helping the organization succeed and feel they have a personal stake in the employer’s success.
“Each best employer implements practices that engage its own workforce,” said Hewitt
consultant Chris Howe. “They have clearly defined their business objectives and what they need and expect from employees. The traits and the outcomes are the same, but the approaches vary. For instance, some organizations ‘do the basics well’ by outsourcing administrative tasks, while others tackle day-to-day administration internally. Some hold employee information sessions monthly, while others do so quarterly. There is no one ‘magic formula’ that guarantees success. However, if an organization manages its people practices within the framework of these five factors, we’re confident it will realize a greater level of success.”
The top 50 employers
1. BC Biomedical Laboratories Ltd., Surrey, B.C.
2. Flight Centre North America, Vancouver
3. Rothmans, Benson & Hedges Inc., Toronto
4. Cintas Canada Ltd., Mississauga, Ont.
5. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., Mississauga, Ont.
6. EllisDon Corp., London, Ont.
7. PCL Construction Group Inc., Edmonton
8. Chubb Insurance Company of Canada, Toronto
9. Mercedes-Benz Canada Inc., Toronto
10. L'Union Canadienne, Sillery, Que.
11. Microsoft Canada Co., Mississauga, Ont.
12. Edward Jones Canada, Mississauga, Ont.
13. Crystal Decisions Corp., Vancouver
14. Wal-Mart Canada Corp., Mississauga, Ont.
15. JTI-Macdonald Corp., Toronto
16. Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Markham, Ont.
17. Golder Associates Ltd., Burnaby, B.C.
18. Merck Frosst Canada Ltd., Kirkland, Que.
19. Creo Inc., Burnaby, B.C.
20. Maritime Travel Inc., Halifax
21. Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc., Dorval, Que.
22. Pfizer Global Pharmaceuticals Canada, Kirkland, Que.
23. Envision Financial, Langley, B.C.
24. GlaxoSmithKline Inc., Mississauga, Ont.
25. Maritime Life Assurance Company, Halifax
26. Bennett Jones LLP, Calgary
27. Dofasco Inc., Hamilton
28. HEPCOE Credit Union Ltd., Toronto, Ont.
29. QLT Inc., Vancouver
30. Whirlpool Canada Inc., Mississauga, Ont.
31. Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc., Toronto
32. Husky Injection Molding Systems Ltd., Bolton, Ont.
33. ACNielsen Company of Canada, Markham, Ont.
34. Keg Restaurants Ltd., Richmond, B.C.
35. S. C. Johnson & Son, Ltd., Brantford, Ont.
36. Eli Lilly Canada Inc., Toronto
37. Nexen Inc., Calgary
38. Shell Canada Ltd., Calgary
39. Ceridian Canada Ltd., Winnipeg
40. AstraZeneca Canada Inc., Mississauga, Ont.
41. DaimlerChrysler Services Canada Inc., Windsor, Ont.
42. Carswell, a Division of Thomson Canada Ltd., Toronto
43. Unilever Canada Inc., Toronto
44. Xerox Canada Inc., Toronto
45. The Co-operators, Guelph, Ont.
46. Ernst & Young LLP, Toronto
47. SaskTel, Regina
48. BTI Canada Inc, Toronto
49. R.C. Purdy Chocolates Ltd., Vancouver
50. Farm Credit Canada, Regina
Methodology: How the companies are ranked
This year 142 organizations applied and 129 completed all the steps in the process.
“The study always generates a lot of interest from organizations, but participation is not a walk in the park,” said Hewitt’s Jean Douglas. “Organizations must fulfill certain minimum requirements in order to ensure that a representative sample of employees is surveyed. This requires considerable effort on the part of participants.”
The study consists of three surveys: the employee opinion survey, the leadership survey and the human resources survey.
The employee opinion survey is completed by the employees themselves. A requisite number of employees from each participating organization must complete and submit the survey directly to Hewitt Associates. The results from this survey account for 70 per cent of an organization’s final score.
The second component, the leadership team survey, must be filled out by a minimum percentage of the senior leadership team or, again, an organization is not eligible to participate in the study.
The remaining 30 per cent of the score is calculated based on information contained in the leadership team survey and corresponding questions in the employment opinion survey.
Participants must also complete the human resources survey. It’s used to collect data on various HR functions within the organization, certain practices and statistics.
The Surrey, B.C.-based medical firm, with 399 employees, took top honours thanks to programs like individual health spending accounts and a computer purchase plan. It marked the first time in the five-year history of the Canadian study that a company has earned the top spot more than once. (The entire list is reproduced below.)
The study is designed and conducted by Hewitt Associations. Organizations with at least 300 full-time or full-time equivalent employees are eligible to participate, as long as they have been in operation in Canada for at least three years. More than 2,500 organizations were invited to participate in the study, and 129 responded — representing 64,000 employees and more than 1,200 leaders.
Five key traits of top employers
Hewitt identified five key traits among the top 50 that set them apart from the rest.
“With each study we refine our understanding of what sets best employers apart from other organizations,” said Ted Emond, a Hewitt consultant. “After five years of analyzing data from employers with engaged employees, we’ve been able to determine what these top organizations have in common. It's clear that, without all of these traits, an employer will not appear on the 50 best list.”
1. Leadership team is aligned – with each other and with employees
There is a higher degree of alignment among members of the leadership team at best employers. They share a common set of values and beliefs about the people they need to meet business objectives and they reinforce behaviours that generate success. These leaders are more accessible, communicate honestly and openly, and provide clear direction.
To ensure that future leaders at their organizations continue to promote the same beliefs, best employers are more likely to have leadership development programs in place and execute them effectively. As a result, there is also a closer degree of alignment between the leadership team and other employees. Employee perception of the leadership team at best employers is more positive than at other organizations.
2. Employees are intrinsically motivated
The linchpin of the Best Employers study is employee engagement. All of the 50 have superior employee engagement levels — an average of 79 per cent, compared to an average of 59 per cent for the rest of the organizations in the study. A high percentage of workers at the top 50 organizations have a keen desire to be there, speak positively about their employer, and are inspired to go above and beyond the call of duty to help meet business goals. Yet these employees are not all alike. They are the “right fit” for their particular organization, with the ability, drive and mindset needed to help their best employer achieve success.
3. “The basics” are done well
Best employers execute core people management practices very well — day-to-day programs such as recognition, performance management and employee development. When these programs are not executed effectively, there is a significant dip in employee engagement levels.
To guard against this negative outcome, best employers ensure that even the most routine human resources task is handled flawlessly.
4. People practices are designed, communicated and executed effectively
The programs offered by the 50 best employers, such as benefit and pension plans, are aligned with business objectives. These programs are designed appropriately for the particular organization so that they are meaningful to its workforce, employees understand them and they are administered and executed successfully.
5. Employees are connected to the business
Employees at best employer organizations understand the company’s goals and objectives, and their own role in achieving them. They’re committed to helping the organization succeed and feel they have a personal stake in the employer’s success.
“Each best employer implements practices that engage its own workforce,” said Hewitt
consultant Chris Howe. “They have clearly defined their business objectives and what they need and expect from employees. The traits and the outcomes are the same, but the approaches vary. For instance, some organizations ‘do the basics well’ by outsourcing administrative tasks, while others tackle day-to-day administration internally. Some hold employee information sessions monthly, while others do so quarterly. There is no one ‘magic formula’ that guarantees success. However, if an organization manages its people practices within the framework of these five factors, we’re confident it will realize a greater level of success.”
The top 50 employers
1. BC Biomedical Laboratories Ltd., Surrey, B.C.
2. Flight Centre North America, Vancouver
3. Rothmans, Benson & Hedges Inc., Toronto
4. Cintas Canada Ltd., Mississauga, Ont.
5. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., Mississauga, Ont.
6. EllisDon Corp., London, Ont.
7. PCL Construction Group Inc., Edmonton
8. Chubb Insurance Company of Canada, Toronto
9. Mercedes-Benz Canada Inc., Toronto
10. L'Union Canadienne, Sillery, Que.
11. Microsoft Canada Co., Mississauga, Ont.
12. Edward Jones Canada, Mississauga, Ont.
13. Crystal Decisions Corp., Vancouver
14. Wal-Mart Canada Corp., Mississauga, Ont.
15. JTI-Macdonald Corp., Toronto
16. Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Markham, Ont.
17. Golder Associates Ltd., Burnaby, B.C.
18. Merck Frosst Canada Ltd., Kirkland, Que.
19. Creo Inc., Burnaby, B.C.
20. Maritime Travel Inc., Halifax
21. Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc., Dorval, Que.
22. Pfizer Global Pharmaceuticals Canada, Kirkland, Que.
23. Envision Financial, Langley, B.C.
24. GlaxoSmithKline Inc., Mississauga, Ont.
25. Maritime Life Assurance Company, Halifax
26. Bennett Jones LLP, Calgary
27. Dofasco Inc., Hamilton
28. HEPCOE Credit Union Ltd., Toronto, Ont.
29. QLT Inc., Vancouver
30. Whirlpool Canada Inc., Mississauga, Ont.
31. Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc., Toronto
32. Husky Injection Molding Systems Ltd., Bolton, Ont.
33. ACNielsen Company of Canada, Markham, Ont.
34. Keg Restaurants Ltd., Richmond, B.C.
35. S. C. Johnson & Son, Ltd., Brantford, Ont.
36. Eli Lilly Canada Inc., Toronto
37. Nexen Inc., Calgary
38. Shell Canada Ltd., Calgary
39. Ceridian Canada Ltd., Winnipeg
40. AstraZeneca Canada Inc., Mississauga, Ont.
41. DaimlerChrysler Services Canada Inc., Windsor, Ont.
42. Carswell, a Division of Thomson Canada Ltd., Toronto
43. Unilever Canada Inc., Toronto
44. Xerox Canada Inc., Toronto
45. The Co-operators, Guelph, Ont.
46. Ernst & Young LLP, Toronto
47. SaskTel, Regina
48. BTI Canada Inc, Toronto
49. R.C. Purdy Chocolates Ltd., Vancouver
50. Farm Credit Canada, Regina
Methodology: How the companies are ranked
This year 142 organizations applied and 129 completed all the steps in the process.
“The study always generates a lot of interest from organizations, but participation is not a walk in the park,” said Hewitt’s Jean Douglas. “Organizations must fulfill certain minimum requirements in order to ensure that a representative sample of employees is surveyed. This requires considerable effort on the part of participants.”
The study consists of three surveys: the employee opinion survey, the leadership survey and the human resources survey.
The employee opinion survey is completed by the employees themselves. A requisite number of employees from each participating organization must complete and submit the survey directly to Hewitt Associates. The results from this survey account for 70 per cent of an organization’s final score.
The second component, the leadership team survey, must be filled out by a minimum percentage of the senior leadership team or, again, an organization is not eligible to participate in the study.
The remaining 30 per cent of the score is calculated based on information contained in the leadership team survey and corresponding questions in the employment opinion survey.
Participants must also complete the human resources survey. It’s used to collect data on various HR functions within the organization, certain practices and statistics.
