It was exciting news for the 900-plus staff members at CAPREIT and cause for celebration when the real estate investment trust was named one of Canada’s top 50 employers of 2014 on November 7.
The annual study, conducted by Aon Hewitt, surveys staff members in companies across Canada in order to identify those employers worthy of the coveted distinction.
More than 280 organizations and 280,000 individual survey responses were reviewed for the 2014 Best Employers list in which CAPREIT came in at 43.
“We are extremely proud to have been selected as one of Canada’s Top-Fifty Best Employers,” says Thomas Schwartz, president and CEO of the REIT. “One of our most important goals is to have a team of fully engaged and satisfied employees, and this year the survey results show that our people are happy with their colleagues and their environment, and that they have a real sense of accomplishment in the work they do.”
Also among the top 50 was OMERS, one of Canada’s largest pension funds and parent company to Oxford Properties Group. The Best Employers Study is the only national workplace research of its kind, providing an in-depth view into employee and leader opinions, comprehensive external benchmarking, and the expertise to identify the key priorities that will drive engagement and performance in any organization.
“At CAPREIT, our people are our most important asset,” Schwartz says. “And it is their hard work and dedication that has led to our growth and record performance, year after year.”
The study’s criteria was based on employee engagement and retention, with a specific focus on:
• Leadership
• Work processes and policies
• Performance management
• Recognition
• Opportunities
As one of Canada’s largest landlords, CAPREIT is a growth-oriented investment trust owning interests in 39,242 residential units. This is not the first year the company has entered into the Aon Hewitt competition, but it is the first year it made the official cut.
The complete list of top employers is available on Aon Hewitt’s website.
