KPMG Named One of Canada's Best Diversity Employers

TORONTO, March 23 /CNW/ - KPMG has again been recognized by Mediacorp Canada Inc. as one of Canada's best employers to promote diversity in the workplace. KPMG shares this honour with 14 other employers across Canada, and is proud to be a leader among its peers in creating a workplace that welcomes and celebrates diversity in its various forms.

"We are honoured to be recognized for the third consecutive time as one of Canada's best diversity employers," said Michael Bach, Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, KPMG. "This recognition is a strong testament to the hard work we have done over the last few years to promote and encourage diversity in the workplace."

This award recognizes the nation's leaders in workplace diversity and inclusiveness initiatives among several employee groups that have traditionally been under-represented in the workforce.

    
    Reasons cited for why KPMG won this award:

    -  The creation of a unique reciprocal mentoring program, where employees
       in senior leadership roles mentor employees who are members of
       diversity groups at all employee levels; mentees receive valuable
       professional development advice while mentors gain perspective on how
       diversity issues in the workplace are experienced by employees
    -  Recently installed "Reflection Rooms" in its Toronto, Montréal,
       Vancouver, and Edmonton offices for employees who need space to
       worship or conduct religious observations during the business day
    -  The creation of a new employee group last year for Muslim employees
    -  The launch of a revamped diversity, equity, and inclusion intranet
       site that includes information about diversity council activities;
       toolkits to help employees start a new people network; and information
       on diversity, equity, and inclusion-related training and education
    -  The implementation of a mandatory online training program on diversity
       in the workplace for all employees, with customized modules for
       employees, managers, and executive-level staff
    -  The launch of a National Diversity Advisory Board in 2009, chaired by
       Senior Partner and CEO Bill Thomas; the board meets quarterly and acts
       as the advising body for the firm's Canada-wide diversity, inclusion,
       and equity strategy
    -  The implementation of a targeted recruitment strategy in 2007 to
       increase the number of women and visible minority employees by
       10 percent over the next 5 years; in 2009, 40 percent of new partners
       were women or visible minorities, which is an increase from 15 percent
       for women and 6 percent for visible minorities in 2007
    -  One of the first employers to create a Director of Diversity role, as
       well as Diversity Councils in Toronto, Montréal, Calgary, Vancouver
       (and some smaller regional offices) to address diversity issues
       relating to local offices
    -  An in-house group for LGBT employees (pride@KPMG) that publishes a
       quarterly newsletter to highlight networking events happening at
       offices across Canada
    -  Helping to maintain a unique employee network group for employees who
       are parents of special needs children
    -  The development of a course on communication in a diverse workplace
       for managers, which is held once every month and provides training in
       barrier-free interviewing and accommodation to recruitment staff.
    

"KPMG encourages diversity within its ranks because it makes good business sense," said Mario Paron, KPMG's Chief HR Officer. "We strongly believe that encouraging a diverse workforce will make a better workplace for our people, help us be more creative in how we bring value to our clients, and allow us to remain competitive."

For more information about KPMG's employee programs, please visit www.kpmg.ca/careers.

About KPMG

KPMG LLP, the audit, tax and advisory firm, a Canadian limited liability partnership established under the laws of Ontario, is the Canadian member firm of KPMG International Cooperative ("KPMG International"). KPMG International's member firms have 140,000 professionals, including more than 7,900 partners, in 146 countries.

The independent member firms of the KPMG network are affiliated with KPMG International, a Swiss entity. Each KPMG firm is a legally distinct and separate entity, and describes itself as such.

For further information: or to arrange a media interview, please contact: Mark Klein, Manager, Media Relations, KPMG, [email protected], [phone]; Julie Bannerjea, Head of Media Relations, KPMG, [email protected], [phone]