CANADA'S BEST EMPLOYERS: FIND OUT THE TOP PLACES TO WORK

Though the recession injected plenty of fear into the workforce, employees still have great expectations - and employers need to deliver
Go to: macleans.ca/bestemployers

Also in this week's issue of Maclean's magazine:
• Toronto's unlikely new mayor: Rob Ford
• Europe throws a tantrum

TORONTO, Oct. 28 /CNW/ - Want an employer that keeps you engaged, offers competitive benefits and works to keep you happy? You've come to the right place. Maclean's, in partnership with Aon Hewitt, presents an in-depth analysis of the trends in Canada's workforce, along with a compendium of the 50 Best Employers in Canada. Some of the perks, programs and policies we uncovered include: formal mentoring programs, mental health training for supervisors, generous pensions, on-site daycare, paid days for volunteer work, telework and promote-from-within policies.

Maclean's also looks at how Canadian organizations stack up against the rest of the world in terms of employee engagement (better than the global average); how to stop your best and brightest from jumping ship (lift those recession wage freezes, for one); and leadership advice from Canadian Forces former chief of defence Rick Hillier.

Some of Canada's best employers include:

• Clark Builders, construction and engineering, Edmonton
• Conexus, diversified financial services, Regina
• Earl's Restaurants Ltd., hotels, restaurants and leisure, North Vancouver
• GlaxoSmithKline Inc., pharmaceuticals, Mississauga, Ont.
• Graham Group Ltd., construction and engineering, Calgary
• Island Savings Credit Union, diversified financial services, Duncan, B.C.
• Macdonald's Restaurants of Canada Ltd., hotels, restaurants and leisure, Toronto
• Novartis Pharmaceuticals, pharmaceuticals, Dorval, Que.
• The Co-operators, insurance, Guelph, Ont.
• Wellington West Holdings, Inc. diversified financial services, Winnipeg

The full Best Employers list, and the Best Small & Medium Employers, can be found in the issue of Maclean's hitting newsstands today, at macleans.ca/bestemployers, or to media through the contact below.

PLUS:

Rob Ford: Toronto's unlikely new mayor

He has been called rude and uncouth. Early in his mayoral bid, it became known he had had a brush with the law, was prone to drunken outbursts and had a penchant for politically incorrect comments. Still, with the help of sly campaign manager Nick Kouvalis, Rob Ford capitalized on voters' desire for change and ran a smart, disciplined campaign that snowballed into an unstoppable force that deftly landed him in the mayoral chair this week.

Maclean's Senior Writer Nicholas Köhler tells the inside story of how Rob Ford pulled off the most improbable mayoral victory in recent Canadian history.

Europe loses its cool

To Canadians, the complaints sound absurd. Retiring at 62? We wish. But for a pampered continent used to early retirement, five weeks' vacation and flexible 35-hour work weeks, the recession concessions they are being asked to make are hard to take—and sparking strikes and protests. Maclean's national correspondent Charlie Gillis and correspondent Nancy Macdonald investigate.

Maclean's magazine

Maclean's is Canada's only national weekly current affairs magazine. Maclean's enlightens, engages and entertains 2.4-million readers with strong investigative reporting and exclusive stories from leading journalists in the fields of international affairs, social issues, national politics, business and culture. Visit www.macleans.ca.

For further information:

Louise Leger,
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