VMAC announced that it has been awarded a position on Great Places to Work Institute Canada’s annual “Best Workplaces in Canada” list of the country’s 75 best workplaces. The list showcases businesses that scored highest according to employee surveys and human resources practices.
Organizations on the 2009 list came from a variety of industries, ranging in size from 54 to 55,000 employees, and are located all across Canada. More than 29,800 Canadian employees were surveyed to determine the 75 finalists.
VMAC says its employees experience fairness and respect through the company’s policy of inclusiveness and employee involvement. “VMAC is very open about information sharing,” says Malcolm Hargrave, chief financial officer of the Nanaimo, B.C.-based company. “From business decisions to finances, transparency is one of our greatest strengths. I’ve never worked with a company before that is so open with their information. We post metrics daily so all co-workers can quickly see a snapshot of the company’s performance. A bi-weekly report is also included with pay cheques. When big changes affect the company, we call an all-employee meeting so everyone is informed and has input. There are no big surprises at VMAC.”
Hargrave outlined other company initiatives, such as a Climate Committee, appointed by co-workers, that submits requests and suggestions for improvement; this has resulted in numerous educational sessions for co-workers, as well as a number of other unique benefits and continuous improvements. “All co-workers are involved in improving the company,” he says. “We are really open to new ideas and always strive to stay ahead in the industry.”
Tony Menard, president and owner, says everyone who works at VMAC is attentive to detail and involved in building and improving the company, not just its products. “When the team is focused on making the workplace better, we all have control over our future and the future of the company, resulting in a real sense of pride,” Menard says. “That increases trust and satisfaction at work.”
