Changing the face of Canadian business
From women to visible minorities to the disabled, 25 Canadian employers are looking more diverse than ever
By Margaret Jetelina and Simona Siad
The business case for diversity in the workplace is undeniable. The need to incorporate diversity practices is as crucial today as getting online was in the '90s. With an aging workforce and changing demographics, the labour pool looks a lot different in 2008 than ever before. And this shift is only going to increase - by 2011, immigrants will make up 100 per cent of the growth in the labour force, 70 per cent of which will be visible minorities.
Organizations that want to remain competitive must learn to tap into the talents of immigrants, visible minorities and other under-represented groups like aboriginals, the disabled, gays and lesbians, and women. While many employers recognize this and struggle to get it done, 25 organizations are better at it than others. One of those is the Ontario Public Service. "Being recognized is a sure sign that we're making progress toward the diverse and inclusive organization we want to be," says Shelly Jamieson, secretary of the Cabinet and head of the Ontario Public Service. "Our vision is for the rich diversity of Ontario to be reflected at every level of our organization. We have more work to do to make that a reality, but we will pursue this relentlessly."
A brand-new competition is afoot as companies vie to be named one of Canada's Best Diversity Employers. Compiled by Mediacorp Canada, this year's list covers Canadian businesses from coast to coast that have proven to be leaders in diversity practices.
See Who Canada's Best Diversity Employers are.
More Canada's Best Diversity Employers articles:
|
