Wellington County has been selected as one of the best organizations to work for in Canada.
The annual “Canada’s Top 100 Employers” special feature appears in Maclean’s magazine, and was released recently.
The county will also be featured in the 2009 edition of the Canada’s Top 100 Employers book, which is distributed to all major book retailers across the country.
Wellington was also selected as a Top 10 employer for Waterloo and area.
Warden John Green said in an interview on Tuesday about 16,000 companies and government agencies were part of the competition.
“Being ranked one of Canada’s Top 100 Employers is an amazing achievement,” Green said. “The county attracts and retains high-quality employees who make many significant contributions to the residents, taxpayers, and businesses in Wellington County.”
Green said the county learned about the competition from its communications coordinator and decided, “We thought we’d give it a shot.”
There was only one other government in the Top 100 this year – the City of Vancouver, Green said. Last year, two other governments were in the Top 100. Green said the county filled in a form for the competition, and if there was more information needed, contest organizers phoned.
Green said when he made the announcement the county was in the top 100, he could see the pride in all the employees, and that morale is important to him.
“They felt they were part of something wonderful,” Green said.
He noted that this year the county’s employees collected $35,000 for the United Way, and the workforce regularly makes contributions to the community. He cited one woman who collected shoes to be sent to Africa, and noted 100 employees volunteered to plant 5,000 trees “for thinking green and a green environment.”
Green added, “I want to thank Maclean’s and Mediacorp Canada Inc. for this honour, and all of our employees for their hard work and commitment.”
County Chief Administrative Officer Scott Wilson said, “I am proud to work for one of Canada’s Top 100 Employers. It’s an honour for the county to be on this list, in the company of such outstanding organizations. Being a top employer helps us attract and retain the high-performance individuals we want working for us.”
Human Resources Administrator Andrea Lawson said, “We have always known we were a top employer.
“This recognition in Maclean’s magazine will let the rest of Canada know that the County of Wellington is one of the best places to work in the country. This is fantastic for staff morale.”
Employers are evaluated on the following criteria: physical workplace; work atmosphere; health, financial, and family benefits; vacation and time off; employee communications; performance management; training and skills development; and community involvement.
Green said of the pay and benefits part of the competition, “It means we’re competitive. It doesn’t say we are high or low.”
Green added the county consciously tries to build staff morale, and added that starts at the council level, through the department heads, and to all staff.
“When we have a celebration, all of the county is invited,” he said.
Now in its ninth year, Mediacorp Canada Inc., in partnership with Maclean’s magazine, selects recipients for the Top 100 employers list, as well as the regional lists.
