The masks are off, social distancing is gone – but effects of the pandemic still hover over the economy. Across the board a common concern lingers in every Manitoban organization – staffing.

Attracting great employees has always been at the top of employers’ concerns. And the best employers in the province were just recognized for their efforts with the release of the 17th annual edition of Manitoba’s Top Employers.

Employers featured on this year’s list of winners provide solid examples of why these organizations are at the top of employees’ list of the best places to work in the province.

The competition has been organized by the editors of Canada’s Top 100 Employers who have been busy following the best employers from across the country for over two decades. For the Manitoba’s Top Employers competition, the same eight criteria are used to determine the winners with an editorial panel evaluating the criteria to determine the winners of the annual competition.

Because so many employees are attracted to the organizations on the list, it’s often used by other companies to review emerging employment trends in order to glean excellent suggestions that they may wish to implement in their organizations.

With workforce concerns emerging as one of the most challenging issue for employers in 2023, being chosen to participate is more important than ever. Competition for talent has truly gone global in all sectors of the economy.

Consider the recent Free Press story called Manitoba officials headed to Philippines on nurse-recruiting mission where a team was sent to find eligible nurses and health care aids. It’s a bold move that highlights the challenges faced by employers in recruiting new employees post-pandemic.

With this as the backdrop, being chosen as one of Manitoba’s Top Employers can only help in the recruitment (and retention) of employees. “The annual competition has helped employers benchmark themselves and find ways to enhance their own programs” explains the project’s executive editor Richard Yerema

Yerema also notes that the employer-employee relationship goes beyond the paycheque, stating that “the best employers have always listened and looked for ways to accommodate employees’s needs within and outside of work, and this ongoing evolution is a hallmark of the best employers” And, we can certainly see this in action over the past few years.

One recent example is embracing the hybrid work model. A 2022 Angus Reid poll showed that most work-from-home employees, “(90%) reported being at least as productive at home as they were previously on-the-premises businesses.” The results of the poll further reveals that 40 percent of jobs can be done remotely in varied capacities.

Forward thinking organizations realize the growing importance of work/life balance, while acknowledging the benefit of touching base in a traditional office setting.

Naturally, not every job can be done remotely. And not every employee would choose that option if it were offered, but great organizations are taking these desires into consideration and attempting to accommodate when possible.

Keen observers of employment trends may hear the term qualified candidates. In a world with swiftly changing technologies, employees need to have current training. This is a key offering by many of the winners of Manitoba Top Employers. Adult training is core to many of their succession and retention plans. It makes sense all around when companies can develop from within.

Further inspection of the top employer list highlights other core talent-attracting mechanisms. From benefits such as wellness programs, vacations, training and parental leave, a lot is being offered to ensure talent retention and satisfaction.

Winners on this list reveal that there is wisdom in treating your employees well.