4- The Oakville Beaver, Friday November 2, 2007 www.oakvillebeaver.com What does it take to be a top 100 employer in Canada? By David Lea OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF Two Oakville companies know the answer than 1,800 organizations to come up with this year's finalists. "The employers have to be stable or creating employment. One of the first questions we look into is, `have they laid people off,'" said Richard Yerema, Mediacorp editor. "We look at physical workplace, work atmosphere, social health, financial and family friendly benefits, vacation and time off, employee communications and performance management, training and skills development. We also look at their role in the community." When it comes to caring about their employees a pair of Oakville companies have been selected to stand among the best in Canada. Nycomed Canada Inc. and Appleby College ranked among the top 100 Canadian employers on the annual list, which was compiled by the publishing firm Mediacorp and presented in the Oct. 15 edition of Macleans magazine. Now entering its ninth year, the competition to be one of the top 100 has become fierce with Mediacorp sifting through the applications of more "I thought Appleby College was interesting in the way they integrated many of their charitable programs with the curriculum." Richard Yerema, Mediacorp editor, compiler of the Top 100 Canadian employers list The perks of employment that got Appleby College a place in the Public Sector and Non-Profit section of the top 100 list, included a complimentary laptop computer and free access to a comprehensive fitness facility that has rockclimbing walls and an indoor pool. "I thought Appleby College was interesting in the way they integrated many of their charitable programs with the curriculum. So, they're not only doing very good things internationally, but they're also doing very good things in developing the student body to become caring individuals," said Yerema. "For an educational institution they also had an interesting return to work program for new mothers, where basically if you're a We talk the comfortable talk, so that you can walk the comfortable walk. teacher who is a new mother and you're coming back to work, you're exempt from extracurricular activities. So, you're treated a little special, which is actually fairly enlightened for the business." This is the second consecutive year Appleby College has been named one of Canada's Top 100 Employers, an honour that has been supplemented by the recent naming of Appleby Collage as one of the Greater Toronto Area's Top 50 Employers. "We once again submitted all of our employment practices and benefits programs for consideration and thorough review and received the news of being included in both categories, an incredible achievement for any organization," said Val Cambre, Executive Director to Appleby College's Human Resources Department. "What it says most about Appleby is that our employees come first. In an extraordinarily competitive job market, that's critical." Nycomed Canada Inc.'s efforts to remain competitive have been no less impressive with the list focusing on the scholarships the pharmaceutical company offers to its employees' children, tuition subsidies of $5,000 and the fireplace in the employee lounge. "Nycomed is one of the employers who have a maternity leave top-up payment, which is fairly generous at 100 per cent for 20 weeks," said Yerema. "They're also one of those employers who have introduced the compassionate care leave top up payment, which is 100 per cent for eight weeks." "Nycomed is one of the employers who have a maternity leave top-up payment, which is fairly generous at 100 per cent for 20 weeks." Richard Yerema, Mediacorp editor, compiler of the Top 100 Canadian employers list This is Nycomed's fourth time on the top 100 list and its second time on the list for top 50 GTA employers. Both of these achievements have been well received by Nycomed officials. "We've been absolutely thrilled and we're very proud of the accomplishment," said Linda Shales, Vice President of Human Resources, Nycomed Canada Inc. "Employees are the core of our business. We have great produces, there's no question, but what separates us is committed employees who help you go that extra mile. That's why we're very focused on our employees." Veterans' Day Parade in Bronte Sunday The annual Veterans' Day Parade at Bronte Legion will take place on Sunday, Nov. 4. 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