Preparing employees for tomorrow is what makes this year's 'Saskatchewan's Top Employers' stand out from the crowd
REGINA, Feb. 13, 2019 /CNW/ - A lot of employers talk about the need to train employees to make sure they have the skills needed to create the products that will be in demand tomorrow. But only a few leading employers have put these words into action. That's the message from this year's Saskatchewan's Top Employers, announced today by the organizers of the Canada's Top 100 Employers project at Mediacorp Canada Inc.
"Saskatchewan is unique in Canada in having a significant public-sector component to its economy combined with relatively modest levels of immigration," says Richard Yerema, Managing Editor of the Canada's Top 100 Employers project. "For employers, this makes it even more important to ensure their existing employees have the skills needed to succeed in tomorrow's economy. More than in other parts of Canada, Saskatchewan employers have a significant incentive to develop the skills of their existing workforce."
"We see Saskatchewan employers taking a greater role in preparing their employees for tomorrow's skills," adds Kristina Leung, Senior Editor at the Canada's Top 100 Employers project. "With softer prices for many of Saskatchewan's primary commodities, more organizations are realizing they have to move up the value chain to compete internationally. The best way to do this is with employees who have the skills needed to create products and services that the world needs."
Here are some of the notable initiatives that the editors recognized this year:
- Regina-based ISM Canada, a subsidiary of IBM Canada Ltd., operates a company-wide program called 'Think 40' that strongly encourages employees to complete a minimum of 40 hours professional development each year.
- Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corp. encourages ongoing employee development through full tuition subsidies for training courses, whether or not the course is related to an employee's current position.
- Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies builds on its role as an educator by promoting employee skills development through in-house courses and subsidies (to $1,500) to obtain various professional certifications.
- Saskatoon Police Service reaches out to the next generation through a dedicated summer jobs program for Aboriginal students, as well as a special outreach program to youth who are newcomers to Canada and interested in a career in policing.
- Synergy Credit Union in Lloydminster encourages a culture of learning with tuition subsidies for courses that help employees improve their skills, plus cash bonuses (to $1,800) on the completion of particular training programs.
Now in its 14th year, Saskatchewan's Top Employers is a special designation that recognizes Saskatchewan employers that lead their industries in offering exceptional places to work. Employers throughout Saskatchewan were evaluated by the editors at Canada's Top 100 Employers using the same criteria as the national competition: (1) Physical Workplace; (2) Work Atmosphere & Social; (3) Health, Financial & Family Benefits; (4) Vacation & Time Off; (5) Employee Communications; (6) Performance Management; (7) Training & Skills Development; and (8) Community Involvement. Employers are compared to other organizations in their field to determine which offer the most progressive and forward-thinking programs. The annual competition is open to any employer with its head office in Saskatchewan; employers of any size may apply, whether private or public sector.
Founded in 1992, Mediacorp Canada Inc. is the nation's largest publisher of employment periodicals. Since 1999, the Toronto-based publisher has managed the Canada's Top 100 Employers project, which includes 18 regional and special-interest editorial competitions that reach over 13 million Canadians annually through a variety of magazine and newspaper partners. Mediacorp also operates Eluta.ca, the largest Canadian job search engine, which includes editorial reviews from the Canada's Top 100 Employers project and is now used by almost 8 million users in Canada each year. Mediacorp also organizes the Top Employer Summit, Canada's largest annual conference for senior-level HR professionals.
The full list of Saskatchewan's Top Employers for 2019 is attached. This year's winners were announced today in a special magazine published in the Regina Leader-Post and Saskatoon StarPhoenix. Detailed reasons for selection, with dozens of additional stories and photos, were released this morning and are accessible via the competition homepage.
Saskatchewan's Top Employers
2019 Winners
3sHealth / Health Shared Services Saskatchewan, Regina
Access Communications Co-operative Ltd., Regina
ClearTech Industries Inc., Saskatoon
Cornerstone Credit Union Financial Group Limited, Yorkton
Creative Options Regina, Inc., Regina
Group Medical Services / GMS Insurance Inc., Regina
Harvard Developments Inc., Regina
Information Services Corporation / ISC, Regina
ISM Canada, Regina
K+S Potash Canada GP, Saskatoon
Pattison Agriculture Limited, Swift Current
Ranch Ehrlo Society, Regina
Saskatchewan Apprenticeship and Trade Certification Commission, Regina
Saskatchewan Blue Cross, Saskatoon
Saskatchewan Construction Safety Association, Regina
Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corporation / SCIC, Melville
Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority / SIGA, Saskatoon
Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies / SIIT, Saskatoon
Saskatchewan Polytechnic, Saskatoon
Saskatchewan Research Council / SRC, Saskatoon
Saskatchewan Workers' Compensation Board, Regina
Saskatoon Police Service, Saskatoon
Saskatoon, City of, Saskatoon
SaskPower, Regina
SaskTel, Regina
Solvera Solutions, Regina
Southeast College, Weyburn
Synergy Credit Union Ltd., Lloydminster
University of Regina, Regina
SOURCE Mediacorp Canada Inc.
For further information: Anthony Meehan, Publisher, 416-964-6069 x1464
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