Creative benefits key during tough times: Ernst & Young

Firm named among Greater Toronto's Top 90 Employers for 2010

TORONTO, Oct. 19 /CNW/ - In a difficult economy, companies must provide creative benefits that align with their values, according to Ernst & Young, one of Greater Toronto's Top 90 Employers for 2010.

"It's not just about how much money you spend. To be effective, benefits must support your people and fit with the organization's values," says Karen Wensley, Human Resource Director for Ernst & Young. "It's especially important to maintain that alignment in tough times, when your people need to feel appreciated most."

Ernst & Young offers a range of benefits that align with the firm's goal of helping people achieve their personal as well as their professional goals, including:

    
    -   Subsidized backup care service for children, an ill spouse or an
        elderly relative when a regular care provider is unavailable
    -   A $10,000 financial assistance program for adoptive parents, in
        addition to parental leave
    -   A $1,000 fitness reimbursement that employees can use towards just
        about any fitness activity - from ski passes to dance classes to the
        purchase of home gym equipment

    In this tough economy, the firm added a new benefit to help employees
stretch their dollars:

    -   A corporate discount site offering savings on everything from
        groceries and restaurant meals to car rentals and electronics
    

Wensley says people are looking for an employer who will support them both inside and outside the office. "Offering the right benefits can help companies recruit and retain top talent. At Ernst & Young, we're continuously developing new and innovative ways of tailoring our benefits to align with our overall values while also meeting our people's needs."

Greater Toronto's Top 90 Employers are named annually through a combination of employee testimonials, company application and outside research. In addition, Ernst & Young has also been awarded:

    
    -   Canada's Top 100 Employers 2010
    -   Canada's Best Diversity Employers 2009
    -   Progressive Employers of Canada 2009
    -   Alberta's Best Workplace for Millennials 2009
    -   Ottawa's Employee's Choice Awards 2009
    -   Greater Toronto's Top 75 Employers 2009
    

About Ernst & Young

Ernst & Young is a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services. Worldwide, our 144,000 people are united by our shared values and an unwavering commitment to quality. We make a difference by helping our people, our clients and our wider communities achieve their potential. For more information, please visit ey.com/ca.

For further information: To reach a spokesperson, please contact: Amanda Olliver, [email protected], [phone]; Brooke McLachlan, [email protected], [phone]; Marie-Ève Graniero, [email protected], [phone]