For the past four years, BC Biomedical Laboratories has topped our list of the 50 Best Employers in Canada. But in 2006, we crown not one but two new champions. Among medium-sized companies (300 to 1,499 employees), the Winnipeg-based financial services firm Wellington West Capital took the top honour; Cintas Canada, meanwhile, ranked first among larger companies (1,500 employees or more). This is the first year we've separated companies by size, a format that should allow readers to better compare firms.
As always, those that make up our Top 50 this year are a diverse group, ranging from car rental companies like Enterprise to retailers like Wal-Mart, a multinational often portrayed as a foe of labour rather than a friend. In "What can we learn from Wal-Mart..." (next page), writer Steve Brearton explores why employees gave the nod to the store Sam Walton built, as well as to a couple of other firms that occupy less-than glamorous positions in the corporate pecking order—including our co-winner, Cintas. On the following pages, we chart the Top 50 and put a human face on all the numbers, with some key lessons delivered by employees themselves.
Our partner in the 50 Best survey again this year is Hewitt Associates, a leading global human resources outsourcing and consulting firm. Hewitt began work on the project in March, sending out invitations to 1,500 organizations. For each of the 137 companies that ultimately participated, between 200 and 1,000 employees completed a detailed questionnaire; these results account for the lion's share of an employer's ranking. The remainder is based on a survey of leadership qualities among the senior executive. Hewitt also examined how closely employees' and leaders' goals are aligned, and whether workplace practices and programs reinforce corporate vision. All responses were vetted to ensure companies followed the required survey guidelines.
For more information, including instructions on how firms can participate in next year's Best Employers survey, log on to www.hewitt.com/bestcompaniescanada.
Secrets of their success (and failure)
A firm's chances of ending up on our annual Best Employers list often turn on two simple words: thank you. In the seven years Neil Crawford, leader of the 50 Best study at Hewitt Consulting, has been ranking Canada's best employers, several themes have emerged. For one, organizations where managers and leaders show appreciation for their employees—those thank yous are known in HR circles as non-cash recognition—appear in large numbers in our Top 50. Another factor: Companies fare better when managers coach workers up the corporate rungs. Which leads to the final, crucial point, without which all the thank yous in the world are for naught: leadership. If employees have faith in their managers and executive team, if those in power present the corporate strategy clearly and consistently, employees will be engaged and care about the future of the company—the best outcome an employer can hope for.
Building a culture that embraces these ideals every day requires commitment, patience and single-mindedness, but once in place they become self-sustaining, a habit as natural as breathing. This year Hewitt identified a trio of top-ranked companies that have done this particularly well, and organized focus groups with their employees and managers. What follows are capsule descriptions of key characteristics of the 50 Best and ideas on what works from the employees themselves. Just as importantly, Crawford and Hewitt have drawn from their extensive research with other organizations to paint a picture of leadership, career opportunity and recognition practices that, in the end, fall short.
BEST
LEADERSHIP
Every employee has a role in making the organization successful—and each one knows what that role is. What's more, company leaders provide all employees with opportunities to practise their leadership skills.
In practice
