Top companies have engaged employees and healthy bottom lines
The best small and medium sized employers have high employee engagement, where employees both see and feel a connection between their daily contributions and the success of their organization, according to the 2006 20 Best Small and Medium Employers in Canada.
Queen's Centre for Business Venturing (QCBV) at Queen’s School of Business in Kingston, Ont., along with HR consultant firm Hewitt Associates, surveyed nearly 7,000 employees at 79 organizations with between 50 and 400 employees to determine the top employers.
“There are a number of reasons for smaller organizations to strive to be one of the best small and medium employers in Canada,” said Elspeth Murray, CEO of QCBV. “The higher the level of employee engagement, the greater the motivation and commitment on the part of workers to help their employer achieve its goals. This translates directly into bottom line financial gains.”
There are four key strengths distinguish the best small and medium employers, said Einar Westerlund, director of project development at QCBV. These are leadership, direction-setting, career opportunities and overall employee focus.
“That said, there is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ formula for success,” said Westerlund. “The organizations on the list have determined the type of employees they need to achieve their objectives and what it takes to motivate them to succeed.”
The top 20
1. SportsDirect, Inc. Halifax
2. High Road Communications, Toronto
3. Sapient Canada, Toronto
4. CNC Global, Toronto
5. Cariboo Friendship Society, Williams Lake, B.C.
6. Mary Kay Cosmetics, Mississauga, Ont.
7. Dempsey Corporation, Toronto
8. Saskatchewan Opportunities Corporation, Saskatoon
9. Lutherwood, Waterloo, Ont.
10. iTrans Consulting, Richmond Hill, Ont.
11. Windsor Family Credit Union, Windsor, Ont.
12. Laurentide/Atlantic Controls, Kirkland, Que.
13. The Orthotic Group, Markham, Ont.
14. Lakeside Process Controls Ltd., Mississauga, Ont.
15. 4Refuel Canada, Langley, B.C.
16. Algorithme Pharma, Montreal
17. Eagle Professional Resources, Ottawa
18. CNA Canada, Toronto
19. Spectra Credit Union, Estevan, Sask.
20. Mega Group Inc., Saskatoon
Queen's Centre for Business Venturing (QCBV) at Queen’s School of Business in Kingston, Ont., along with HR consultant firm Hewitt Associates, surveyed nearly 7,000 employees at 79 organizations with between 50 and 400 employees to determine the top employers.
“There are a number of reasons for smaller organizations to strive to be one of the best small and medium employers in Canada,” said Elspeth Murray, CEO of QCBV. “The higher the level of employee engagement, the greater the motivation and commitment on the part of workers to help their employer achieve its goals. This translates directly into bottom line financial gains.”
There are four key strengths distinguish the best small and medium employers, said Einar Westerlund, director of project development at QCBV. These are leadership, direction-setting, career opportunities and overall employee focus.
“That said, there is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ formula for success,” said Westerlund. “The organizations on the list have determined the type of employees they need to achieve their objectives and what it takes to motivate them to succeed.”
The top 20
1. SportsDirect, Inc. Halifax
2. High Road Communications, Toronto
3. Sapient Canada, Toronto
4. CNC Global, Toronto
5. Cariboo Friendship Society, Williams Lake, B.C.
6. Mary Kay Cosmetics, Mississauga, Ont.
7. Dempsey Corporation, Toronto
8. Saskatchewan Opportunities Corporation, Saskatoon
9. Lutherwood, Waterloo, Ont.
10. iTrans Consulting, Richmond Hill, Ont.
11. Windsor Family Credit Union, Windsor, Ont.
12. Laurentide/Atlantic Controls, Kirkland, Que.
13. The Orthotic Group, Markham, Ont.
14. Lakeside Process Controls Ltd., Mississauga, Ont.
15. 4Refuel Canada, Langley, B.C.
16. Algorithme Pharma, Montreal
17. Eagle Professional Resources, Ottawa
18. CNA Canada, Toronto
19. Spectra Credit Union, Estevan, Sask.
20. Mega Group Inc., Saskatoon
