Firms honoured for employment equity

IBM Canada and Pelmorex Inc. nab federal government's Equity Vision Award

IBM Canada and Pelmorex Inc. have been honoured by the federal government for their work in promoting employment equity.

Claudette Bradshaw, the federal Minister of Labour, presented the two firms with the Equity Vision Award at the 13th annual Employment Equity Merit Awards in Ottawa earlier this month.

“These awards recognize the importance of opening up the workplace to all our citizens, regardless of gender, race, culture or physical attributes,” said Bradshaw. “And I commend IBM Canada and Pelmorex for their commitment, progress and leadership, which have gone well beyond the legislative requirements of employment equity.”

This year’s winners were recognized for their creative and innovative approaches to implementing equity and fairness in the workplace.

IBM Canada has been committed to building a diversified work force and a workplace free from discrimination and harassment. This is reflected in many of its initiatives, including establishing a diversity council to act as a forum on diversity issues; encouraging employees to form network groups to provide mentoring, networking, and community outreach to members of designated groups; providing all new employees with a presentation on the importance of equity in the workplace; and launching the Canadian Women's Leadership Council to develop high potential women within IBM.

Pelmorex Incorporated has taken steps to ensure that employment equity is an integral part of its corporate culture and philosophy. Two diversity committees play an active role in helping communicate, implement, and monitor progress of employment equity goals and policies. Equity in the workplace is also promoted through educational training. Members of designated groups are prominent on-air personalities and many programs deal with issues of interest to these groups. This organization has also been proactive in creating and implementing specific outreach measures to recruit qualified Aboriginal peoples and persons with disabilities.

Three honourable mentions were also presented to Shell Canada Limited, the University of British Columbia, and Yanke Group of Companies. These organizations have each implemented unique activities to help them attain equity in the workplace, according to the federal government.

The Employment Equity Merit Awards recognize special achievement by Canadian organizations demonstrating the principles of employment equity-fair representation in the workplace for those traditionally denied full access: women, persons with disabilities, visible minorities and Aboriginal peoples.

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