Honour bestowed for third consecutive year
by Anjum Nayyar
The University of Toronto has been named one of the Top 75 Employers in the GTA for the third consecutive year.
The competition is conducted by Mediacorp Canada Inc. in partnership with the Toronto Star. The Greater Toronto's Top Employers special designation recognizes GTA employers that lead their industries in offering exceptional workplaces.
"We continually evaluate our human resources programs and policies in an attempt to be an employer of choice," said Professor Angela Hildyard, vice-president (human resources and equity). "We are extremely proud to receive a designation that recognizes our commitment to creating a positive and healthy work environment. Not only is U of T a great place to work, it's a great place to build a career."
The top employers are chosen using eight criteria: (1) physical workplace; (2) work and social atmosphere ; (3) health, financial and family benefits; (4) vacation and time off; (5) employee communications; (6) performance management; (7) training and skills development; and (8) community involvement. Employers are compared withf other organizations in their fields to determine which offers the most progressive and forward-thinking programs.
The judges lauded the university for a number of initiatives that contribute to its desirability as an employer, noting that U of T:
• has a quality of work life adviser
• manages a variety of alternative work options, including flexible scheduling, telecommuting, and reduced hours during the summer
• starts employees at three weeks paid vacation (four weeks for some positions) and enjoys a holiday shutdown at the end of the year
• hosts a vast array of intramural leagues in nearly every sport imaginable -- and employees are welcome to participate
• provides employee discounts on home and auto insurance, home Internet service and investment planning services
• provides rare parental leave top-up benefits to employees who are adoptive parents.
"While we continually strive to improve our workplace practices, we are particularly proud of our family-friendly benefits and our commitment to creating an inclusive workplace," said Hildyard. This year the university was one of only 25 employers recognized as a Best Diversity Employer in Canada.
"We value the enormous contribution of our employees, their bargaining units and our administrators and managers in ensuring that we remain an employer of choice," Hildyard added.
For more information on the U of T's staff benefits and perks visit www.hrandequity.utoronto.ca.