14 Rookies Make the Cut on Glassdoor’s 2020 Best Places to Work in Canada

On Dec 11, 2019, Glassdoor released the 25 Best Places to Work in 2020 in Canada. For the second year in a row, Microsoft tops the list. It’s the third time in four years that they rate in the top five. Salesforce, Cisco, Apple, and Shopify are all perennial members of this prestigious group. Yet, there are also banks (RBC), retail coffee (Starbucks) and health care (University Health Network) represented. And every single one of the top 25 has multiple job openings!

One size doesn’t fit all

What this diversified list of organizations tells me is that no one culture fits all. For example, the culture at Microsoft isn’t right for the University Health Network. Each company has purposefully created its own unique environment.

Microsoft talks about three core values for their organization:

  • Respect – We recognize that the thoughts, feelings, and backgrounds of others are as important as our own.
  • Integrity – We are honest, trustworthy and ethical.
  • Accountability – We accept full responsibility for our decisions, actions, and results.

The University Health Network’s core values are safety, compassion, teamwork, integrity, and stewardship. Their website also gives a good example of descriptors for each one of these values. These details help employees understand how the values should show up in the workplace.

Rookies show up every year

Every year almost half the companies cracking the top 25 are rookie winners. Over the last five years, Glassdoor has rated 72 different Canadian companies as a Great Place to Work. And don’t think that your employees aren’t checking them out. With such an assortment of companies, there are lots of options for people looking to take their skills somewhere else.

Christian Sutherland-Wong, Glassdoor’s president says “Glassdoor’s Employees’ Choice Awards winners are employers that are prioritizing culture, mission, and employees at the heart of everything they do”.

How to stay competitive

Do you need to be a top 25 employer? Maybe not. But can you afford to leave your company culture on the sidelines? More and more companies are concentrating on culture. We see new organizations showing up on the Best Places to Work lists every year. To deliberately design your culture and not just flow with the status quo, you need to be very clear about what you have and where you want to be.

Companies with great cultures are also unwaveringly committed to monitoring and managing their culture. When the CEO of G Adventures was recognized as one of Canada’s most admired CEOs, Bruce Poon Tip commented: “We work tirelessly to cultivate and foster a strong and engaged culture among our 2,200 employees, who are based in more than 100 countries, across seven continents”. He went on to say “I’ve always believed that our culture is our brand. It’s what truly sets us apart and distinguishes G Adventures from other travel companies”.

How to Use the List

Lists of top employers can serve as a resource when you’re looking for role models or examples of those who are doing things well. Don’t focus on trying to emulate the front-runner in your particular industry though. There is so much to learn when you look at a variety of companies.

If you’re looking for inspiration to help you along the journey, tap into the insights and perspectives of the leaders of these winning organizations. Here’s a couple of suggested videos for you:

Satya Nadella, Microsoft,  David Ossip, Ceridian

Keep up the great work to build a better workplace and I look forward to seeing you on the next Top Employer List!

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