The 2010 Best Workplaces in Canada List

This Special National Report is available at greatplacetowork.ca and in today's Globe and Mail.

TORONTO, April 13 /CNW/ - Seventy-five companies ranging in size from 56 to over 50,000 employees are being recognized today as the 2010 Best Workplaces in Canada. The judging panel? More than 40,000 Canadian employees.

And the winner is...

Environics Communications Inc. has successfully created a high-trust work environment where managers are credible and employees feel respected, proud of their work, and connected to their colleagues - but the perks are pretty good too! One popular method of thanking staff, that has now become a tradition, is taking the entire team to some of the hottest concerts and sporting events in the world (such as Madonna, The Rolling Stones, U2, and the Toronto Maple Leafs. There are also generous long-service awards that recognize employee loyalty after: 5 years ($5000 towards travel and an additional week of vacation) and 8 years ($3000 towards travel).

... the complete listing of winners is available in today's report!

This year, the Institute has also selected award winners in six special categories:

    
    -   Best Workplace for Women: SAS Institute
    -   Credibility (how employees see their managers): General Mills Canada
        Corporation
    -   Respect (My manager respects me as an individual): NetApp Canada Ltd.
    -   Fairness (The rules of the game): Precision BioLogic
    -   Pride (I have pride in what I do): S.C. Johnson and Son, Limited
    -   Camaraderie (I enjoy the people that I work with): Devon Canada
        Corporation
    

Organizations on this year's list were all assessed using an employee survey, the Trust Index(C), developed by global research firm Great Place to Work(R) Institute (GPTW).

What's so special about these companies?

Regardless of size, industry or the current economic climate, each of these organizations has discovered that TRUST is the foundation for quality jobs and performance excellence. And the good news is that high-trust relationships require behaviours that can be learned and embedded into any organization's culture.

What's more, organizational leaders who develop a high level of TRUST with their employees see stronger employee performance, which often translates into stronger company performance. The US version of the survey shows that, even in a difficult economy, while S&P has allowed an average of 2.95% yearly gain, the best companies averaged 10.3%!(1)

Organizations featured on the Canadian chapter of the study have also been automatically nominated for the first Best Workplaces in the World study, which will be published by the Institute on October, 2010.

To learn more about these inspiring organizations visit our website or pick up a copy of today's Globe and Mail.

About the Great Place to Work(R) Institute: Great Place to Work(R) Institute is a global research and management consultancy with expertise on workplace transformation and a presence in over 30 countries worldwide. Our mission is to improve society by creating better workplaces. We are best-known for our global Best Workplaces Programme, which we produce in conjunction with prestigious media partners such as the Financial Times, Fortune and the Globe and Mail. With more than 4,000 organizations taking part in over 44 national lists across the globe, the programme is the world's largest of its kind. We believe passionately that any company or organization can become a great place to work. Our mission is to help them do it.

    
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    (1) Based on Independent research by the Russell Investment Group (2010).
        More information available on www.greatplacetowork.ca.
    

For further information: Great Place to Work(R) Institute Canada, [email protected], [phone], www.greatplacetowork.ca