Introduction
As we look to the future, the Greater Toronto Area's Top Employers 2023 are leading the way in shaping the post-pandemic workplace.
While many initiatives are still being piloted, the winners of this year's competition — selected by Mediacorp Canada Inc. — have been quick to respond to employee feedback about how, when and where they want to work. It turns out people like working from home, at least part of the time, even if the kids are occasionally underfoot. So for any organization competing in the GTA's fierce talent market, flexibility is de rigueur, with full-time in office, hybrid and remote options on offer where possible to accommodate individual needs for work-life balance.
Typically, it's not the same old office. Many employers used time over the pandemic to reimagine their physical space, redesigning for collaboration and upgrading communication technologies so employees can connect seamlessly with others from wherever they've chosen to work that day. For some progressive employers, such as Amex Canada, that includes allowing employees to work from outside the country for up to four weeks a year.
GTA's top employers have also been busy adding perks to draw people back to in-person connectivity. CIBC's new workplace strategy offers employees the flexibility to work where they're most productive, but its new global headquarters in downtown Toronto entices with an onsite fitness facility as well as more than 500 bike parking spots.
While these top organizations set the standard for doing business in Canada with best practices, they also continue to push the boundaries. Many recently increased top-up payments for new parents as well as expanding who's included. For example, HarperCollins Canada and Harlequin Enterprises took steps to ensure its top-up policy would be inclusive of all families, with beneficiaries of top-ups defined simply as primary caregivers and secondary caregivers.
Employee wellness is another priority for all, with several companies doubling their budget for mental health last year. League Inc. went even further by offering paid wellness days quarterly, as well as unlimited coverage for mental health services as part of its benefits plan.
When it comes to innovative and progressive ideas, these are the employers to follow.
– Diane Jermyn
This story appeared in the official announcement magazine for Greater Toronto's Top Employers (2023), published on December 9, 2022, in The Globe and Mail. Used with permission.
2023 Winners
- Accenture Inc.
- Accor
- ADP Canada Co.
- AIG Insurance Company of Canada
- Alectra Inc.
- Amazon Canada
- AMD / Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
- Amex Bank of Canada
- Arup Canada Inc.
- AstraZeneca Canada Inc.
- Aviva Canada Inc.
- BASF Canada Inc.
- BDO Canada LLP
- Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP
- Borden Ladner Gervais LLP
- Boston Consulting Group Canada ULC, The
- CAAT Pension Plan
- Campbell Company of Canada
- Canada Goose Inc.
- Canadian Standards Association / CSA Group
- Capco
- Centennial College
- Ceridian HCM Inc.
- CGI Inc.
- CHEP Canada Corp.
- Children's Aid Society of Toronto
- Choice Properties REIT
- CIBC
- CI Financial Corp.
- Citi Canada
- College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario, The
- Colliers International Canada
- Connected Lab Inc.
- Corus Entertainment Inc.
- Credit Valley Conservation Authority / CVC
- CRH Canada Group Inc.
- Diamond Schmitt Architects Inc.
- Distributel Communications Ltd.
- Dream Unlimited Corp.
- Durham College of Applied Arts and Technology
- Dynacare Inc.
- Dyson Canada Ltd.
- Ecclesiastical Insurance Office plc
- Edgewood Health Network, Inc.
- EF Educational Tours
- EY
- Fidelity Canada
- Ford Motor Company of Canada Ltd.
- FreshBooks
- Fundserv Inc.
- General Mills Canada Corporation
- George Brown College
- GlaxoSmithKline Inc. / GSK
A-C
D-G
- Halton, Regional Municipality of
- HarperCollins Canada Ltd. and Harlequin Enterprises ULC
- Hatch Ltd.
- Healthcare Insurance Reciprocal of Canada / HIROC
- Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan / HOOPP
- Hershey Canada Inc.
- Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital
- Home Depot Canada
- Hospital for Sick Children, The
- HP Canada Co.
- Humber River Hospital
- Hyundai Auto Canada Corp.
- IAMGOLD Corporation
- Independent Electricity System Operator / IESO
- Interac Corp.
- Intuit Canada ULC
- Kellogg Canada Inc.
- Kinross Gold Corporation
- Klick Health
- KOHO Financial
- KPMG LLP
- Kruger Products L.P.
- Labatt Breweries of Canada
- League Inc.
- Liquor Control Board of Ontario / LCBO
- Loblaw Companies Ltd.
- Loopio Inc.
- Manulife
- Mars Canada
- Mattamy Homes Limited
- Mazda Canada Inc.
- McCarthy Tétrault LLP
- McMillan LLP
- Media.Monks
- Medtronic Canada ULC
- Mercer (Canada) Ltd.
- Metrolinx
- Michael Garron Hospital | Toronto East Health Network
- Mondelēz International
- Multiplex Construction Canada Ltd.
- Municipal Property Assessment Corporation
- Nelson Education Ltd.
- Olympus Canada Inc.
- OMERS Administration Corporation
- Ontario Dental Association, The
- Ontario Energy Board, The / OEB
- Ontario Medical Association
- Ontario Power Generation Inc.
- Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences
- Ornge
H-L
M-O
- Penguin Random House Canada Ltd.
- PepsiCo Canada
- Philips Canada
- Points, a Plusgrade company
- Procter & Gamble Inc.
- Questrade, Inc.
- RioCan Real Estate Investment Trust
- Rothmans, Benson & Hedges Inc.
- Royal Bank of Canada
- RSM Canada LLP
- R.V. Anderson Associates Limited
- Samsung Electronics Canada Inc.
- Sanofi Canada
- Schneider Electric Canada Inc.
- Scotiabank
- Seneca College
- Sinai Health
- Slalom ULC
- Sobeys Inc.
- Spin Master Ltd.
- Stanley Black & Decker Canada Corp.
- Tarion Warranty Corp.
- TD Bank Group
- Techtronic Industries Canada Inc.
- Teranet Inc.
- Thales Canada Inc.
- Thomson Reuters Canada Limited
- TMX Group Limited
- Toronto, City of
- Toronto Community Housing Corporation
- Toronto Zoo
- Tucows.com Co.
- TVO Media Education Group
P-T

Employees at OMERS reconnecting for the first time since the pandemic at an in-person social event.
The Drive for Talent
Greater Toronto's Top Employers are embracing work without commutes
Some days you'd never know it, but the numbers are clear. Traffic in the Greater Toronto Area is still well down compared to three years ago. And there's a pretty clear reason: people simply aren't travelling to their workplaces as much as they did before the pandemic.
Richard Yerema has noticed it. As managing editor for Mediacorp Canada, which runs the Greater Toronto's Top Employers competition, he's especially tuned in to workplace trends. And he lives in the far northeast of the Greater Toronto Area, so when he has to make the long drive to the office downtown, he sees it.
"I have anecdotally noticed that Mondays and Fridays are a lot lighter on the road," he says. "I think it's becoming a standard that on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, people may come into the office, then try to extend their weekend."