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What are the best-managed workplaces in Canada?


    50 companies featured in Canadian Business magazine

    TORONTO, April 23 /CNW/ - Fifty organizations - large and small, publicly
traded and private - are profiled in the latest issue of Canadian Business
magazine: Best Workplaces in Canada.
    Management at these organizations forge a workplace culture of respect,
fairness, camaraderie and, above all, trust. Those are the findings of more
than two-and-a-half decades of research used by the Great Place to Work
Institute in San Francisco, a management consultancy that created the Trust
Index employee survey. The Great Place to Work Institute model has served as
the basis for Fortune magazine's annual list 100 Best Companies To Work For in
America since 1998, and is now used in 30 countries around the world,
including Canada.
    Companies that have been recognized as having leading workplace cultures
by the Great Place to Work model consistently outperform their peers on the
stock market over the long run.And the winners are...

    1.  Back in Motion Rehab

    Based in Surrey, B.C., BiM prefers to promote existing staff, even if
    that means supporting their additional training. The company has also
    historically shared 30% to 50% of distributed profits with staff.

    2.  1-800-GOT-JUNK?

    Based out of Vancouver, with offices worldwide, the junk removal
    company's management encourage staff to share their "101 Personal Life
    Goals" and support each other's dreams.

    3.  Urban Systems

    A consultancy based in Kamloops, B.C. The so-called University of Urban
    Systems is open to all staff and offers courses from effective business
    writing to leadership training.

    4.  Environics Communications

    A marketing and communications company based in Toronto. The ESRA awards
    (Arse spelled backwards) get staff laughing at their embarrassing
    moments, and the "Five for Five" program gets them out of the country in
    their fifth year: employees are given $5,000 and an extra week of
    permanent vacation.

    5.  Karo Design

    A communications and design company based in Calgary and Vancouver.
    Management adapts to staff's needs rather than creating written policies.
    Staff are given as much time off as they need for volunteer work, and
    interest-free loans have been given to those in financial need.Pick-up a copy of the latest Canadian Business magazine, arriving on
newsstands this week, for a full list of the 50 best workplaces in Canada.

    About Canadian Business magazine:

    Founded in 1928, Canadian Business is the longest-serving, bestselling
and most trusted business publication in Canada. Canadian Business stands
alone as the business magazine in Canada with 100% paid circulation. With a
readership of more than one million, the magazine is published every second
Monday, except in January, July and August, when monthly issues are published.
Special annual issues of Canadian Business include the Investor 500, the MBA
Guide, the Rich 100 and the Best and Worst Boards. Visit
www.canadianbusiness.com.