For third consecutive year Loblaw earns distinction as one of the Best Employers for New Canadians

BRAMPTON, ON, March 12, 2013 /CNW/ - (TSX: L) - For the third consecutive year Loblaw Companies Limited (Loblaw) has been named one of the Best Employers for New Canadians by Mediacorp Canada Inc. The award commends Loblaw for its efforts in creating a workplace that is inclusive and respectful of ethnic diversity. This recognition reflects positively the Company's commitment to Reflect our Nation's Diversity, one of five Corporate Social Responsibility principles that shape the way Loblaw does business.

"Loblaw is honoured to be recognized once again as one of the Best Employers for New Canadians. We are proud of the impact that our recruitment and orientation approach and processes have had in enabling and supporting a workplace culture that contributes to successful integration of our new colleagues," says Judy McCrie, executive vice president, Human Resources and Labour Relations, Loblaw Companies Limited.

Loblaw's diversity efforts are spearheaded by its Inclusion Council, made up of senior leaders from across the organization. The mandate of the Inclusion Council is to ensure that Loblaw's commitment to creating an inclusive and respectful workplace is met. Loblaw also has an Inclusion Toolkit that helps hiring managers, recruiters, and Human Resources Representatives recruit and orient diverse colleagues.

Here are some reasons why Loblaw earned its place on the Best Employers for New Canadians list:

International Credentials
Loblaw is committed to reducing the employment barriers for recent immigrants and understands the importance of recognizing foreign credentials. For eligible colleagues across the organization, Loblaw offers financial assistance to those wishing to upgrade their international credentials and professional accreditations.

Workplace Culture
Loblaw is committed to ensuring that cultural, religious and language needs of new Canadians are recognized and respected through a variety of initiatives.

At the stores and store support offices, Loblaw employees have access to diverse food options in cafeterias and opportunities to educate colleagues about religious observances and their importance. At the store support office in Brampton, Loblaw colleagues also have access to Reflection/Quiet rooms.

An online training course introduces managers and colleagues to resources and information related to cross-cultural issues and inclusiveness to ensure a welcoming environment.

The Loblaw buddy and lunch program gives colleagues the chance to meet new people and share their cultures and backgrounds. The buddy program pairs all new hires with a colleague to assist with transition into the workplace. Whenever possible, buddies are assigned based on a shared second-language or other similarities.  At the store support centre in Brampton, Loblaw has a lunch program where colleagues who speak or want to practice languages other than English can get together.

Recruitment
Loblaw works with various community organizations including Career Edge Organization to match the resumes of new Canadian jobseekers with meaningful work experiences. To ensure that new Canadians who apply for positions are considered fairly, Loblaw's Inclusion Toolkit equips Loblaw recruiters with resources so that they can better understand foreign credentials, as well as important cultural competencies and differences.

Now in its sixth year, the Best Employers for New Canadians award is a national award that recognizes Canada's best employers for recent immigrants. These employers offer programs that assist new Canadians in transitioning to a new workplace - and a new life in Canada.

About Loblaw Companies Limited
Loblaw Companies Limited, a subsidiary of George Weston Limited, is Canada's largest food retailer and a leading provider of drugstore, general merchandise and financial products and services. Loblaw is one of the largest private sector employers in Canada. With more than 1,000 corporate and franchised stores from coast to coast, Loblaw and its franchisees employ more than 134,000 full-time and part-time employees. Through its portfolio of store formats, Loblaw is committed to providing Canadians with a wide, growing and successful range of products and services to meet the everyday household demands of Canadian consumers. Loblaw is known for the quality, innovation and value of its food offering. It offers Canada's strongest control (private) label program, including the unique President's Choice^®, no name^® and Joe Fresh^® brands. In addition, the Company makes available to consumers President's Choice Financial^® services and offers the PC^® points loyalty program.

SOURCE: Best Employers for New Canadians

For further information:

Public Relations Department, Loblaw Companies Limited
[e-mail] or [phone]