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6 Steps to Becoming an Employee Recommended Workplace

By: Benefits by Design | Wednesday February 15, 2017

Updated : Friday December 11, 2020

Happy Man in a red sweater up against a blue wall | Employee Recommended Workplace | Benefits by Design

It’s one thing for an organization to say that they’re a great workplace, but quite another for their employees to back them up!

At Benefits by Design (BBD) Inc., we’ve participated in the Employee Recommended Workplace Award Program since its inception in 2016, and we’re proud to say that we have been nominated as an Employee Recommended Workplace each and every year.

Now, we’re going to share our secrets with you, because we’d love to see more workplaces thrive, participate in the program, and ultimately create better experiences for working Canadians across the country.

What is the Employee Recommended Workplace Award Program?

The Employee Recommended Workplace Award Program, offered by Morneau Shepell and the Globe and Mail, evaluates the total health of a workforce, including physical, mental, work and life, as reported by its employees.

It provides measures on the health, engagement, and productivity of a workforce while identifying areas they can improve. The program itself is evidence-based, combining measurements of sustainable success and data direct from your employees. In the end, each employee receives customized feedback about their overall status as it relates to total health.

Becoming an Employee Recommended Workplace

We’ll be honest — there’s no quick and easy path to becoming one.

But there are steps we can recommend you can take, modeled after our own success, that can put you on the fast track to becoming an Employee Recommended Workplace!

#1. Put Employees First

This should be a company’s number one priority, award or no award. After all, employees affect virtually every successful outcome of your business. But when it comes to an Employee Recommended Workplace Award, what your employees think of you is pretty much the only important thing.

There are plenty of ways you can do this — many of which we’ll be going into more detail below — but no matter what you do, make sure your employees feel like they’re valued and being taken care of and you’re already halfway there.

#2. Have a Competitive Employee Benefits Plan

Prospective and current employees place a lot of stock in a company’s benefits plan. Not only does this directly relate back to putting employees first, a competitive benefits plan also makes your workplace a desirable and sought-after workplace for prospective employees.

The right employee benefits plans keep employees happy, healthy, and financially secure, attract and retain top talent in your organization, and create a better workplace and corporate culture.

#3. Focus on Corporate Culture

Speaking of which…

The kind of corporate culture you cultivate will have a significant impact on pretty much everything to do with your organization — employee engagement, job satisfaction, employee retention, productivity, creativity, and even your overall return on investment (ROI).

A corporate culture isn’t built overnight, but a consistent focus on culture and encouraging the kinds of behaviours, attitudes, and actions you want to see more of will get it done in time.

#4. Create a Workplace Social Committee

A workplace social committee brings a ton of value to your organization and goes a long way towards increasing employee engagement and building corporate culture your employees can be proud of.

A social committee can organize community events, volunteerism, encourages socialization, teamwork, and collaboration, and builds stronger relationships, both among employees and your community at large.

#5. Consider Employees’ Total Compensation

Total compensation, sometimes known as total rewards, represents the whole package of benefits and perks offered to employees.

It includes traditional options, such as salary, vacation, and a benefits plan, but also other rewards and perks that might not be found at just any workplace, such as flexible scheduling or professional development dollars.

#6. Encourage Fun at Work

Having fun at work doesn’t have to be a bad thing. In fact, it should be (and is) a very good thing! It fosters collaboration amongst employees, reduces stress, lets them exercise creativity, and, done correctly, can even be challenging for employees and get them thinking the right way!