Toronto area Best Employers announced

While the 64 organizations on the 2011 Best Employers in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) list vary widely in terms of industry and workforce size, the one thing they all have in common is high employee engagement, according to HR consulting firm Aon Hewitt.

“The benefits of high engagement include lower turnover, less absenteeism, greater employee productivity, and higher customer satisfaction,” said Neil Crawford, Aon Hewitt’s Best Employers in Canada study leader.

“When engaged, employees speak positively about the organization, want to stay with the company, and go ‘above and beyond’ to help their employer meet its business objectives."

Meyers Norris Penny LLP (MNP), an accounting and business advisory firm, is one of the organizations on the list.

“At MNP, our people are the driving force behind our success and the reason why we have grown to become one of the largest chartered accountancy and business advisory firms in Canada, with an ever growing presence in the GTA,” said Paul Dunnett, Senior Regional Managing Partner Ontario at MNP.

Based in Mississauga, Pitney Bowes Canada was recognized by Aon Hewitt specifically for its training, diversity and employee benefits.

“We are honoured to be named one of Greater Toronto’s Top Employers for the second consecutive year,” said Deepak Chopra, president of Pitney Bowes Canada. “This recognition is further testament to the value we place on diversity and the culture of inclusion and opportunities that we continue to foster for all our employees.”

At ING Direct, another organization on the list, employees can take advantage of a variety of programs that support them in achieving their personal goals and reward them for their dedication.

For example, all employees who have worked at the company for 10 years participate in a six-week Orange Discovery sabbatical program and the annual "Orange in the Community" event encourages employees to volunteer in their communities.

“All of our employees are instrumental in the success of our business. By creating a work environment that promotes creativity and innovation, we are enabling our employees to engage with our clients and community in a meaningful way. Collaboration at all levels is what enables employees to work together to develop and maintain an environment where they feel challenged, appreciated and well rewarded,” said Peter Aceto, president and CEO at ING Direct.

Organizations that participated in the national Best Employers in Canada or Best Small & Medium Employers in Canada study were automatically considered for the regional lists. All organizations on the GTA list are either headquartered in the GTA or have a significant employee population in the area.

Best Employers in Greater Toronto Area (more than 400 employees)

Best Small & Medium Employers in the Greater Toronto Area (50-399 employees)