Discovering the workplace innovators: Canada's Top Small & Medium Employers for 2015 are announced

TORONTO, March 10, 2015 /CNW/ - If you thought that working at a smaller organization meant getting by with fewer workplace benefits and lower pay, you probably haven't read about Canada's Top Small & Medium Employers.  The 2015 winners were announced this morning, showcasing the nation's most innovative smaller employers.

"These employers are showing they can compete with larger companies when it comes to creating progressive workplace benefits and forward-thinking HR policies," says Richard Yerema, Managing Editor of the Canada's Top 100 Employers project at Mediacorp Canada Inc. "The competition provides us with an opportunity to write about some very dynamic and interesting employers – these small and medium employers (SMEs) are often the workplace innovators when it comes to trying-out new HR and recruitment strategies." 

Now entering its third year, Canada's Top Small & Medium Employers recognizes SMEs with exceptional workplaces and forward-thinking human resource policies.  Employers are evaluated on the same eight criteria as the larger Canada's Top 100 Employers project: (1) Physical Workplace; (2) Work Atmosphere & Social; (3) Health, Financial & Family Benefits; (4) Vacation & Time Off; (5) Employee Communications; (6) Performance Management; (7) Training & Skills Development; and (8) Community Involvement.  To determine eligibility, the Top 100 editors follow the SME definition used by Statistics Canada, limiting the competition to private-sector companies with under 500 employees.

"Small and medium enterprises play a very significant role in Canada's economy," says Tony Meehan, Publisher at Mediacorp.  More than 90% of Canadians who work in the private-sector are employed by SMEs, which were responsible for three-quarters of new jobs created in Canada in the past decade.  "It's important for Canadians to learn what the most innovative SME offer and to realize that smaller employers are capable of doing remarkable things for their employees."

This year's Canada's Top Small & Medium Employers were announced in a special magazine in The Globe and Mail this morning.  The full list of winners is available at: http://www.CanadasTop100.com/sme

SOURCE Mediacorp Canada Inc.

Kristina Leung, Senior Editor, Mediacorp Canada Inc., Tel. [phone] x1464