Manitoba's Top Employers

14 *Trademark of the CABCP †Trademark of the BCBSA Work-life balance Competitive compensation Career development opportunities Proud to be named one of Manitoba's top employers of 2019 Learn more about a career with us at mb.bluecross.ca MANITOBA BLUE CROSS MAKES EMPLOYEE SATISFACTION THEIR PRIORITY BY WENDY KING Firmly rooted and "grown" right here in the Prairies, Manitoba Blue Cross is an independent not-for- profit organization vesting their interests in the health and well- being of Manitobans by providing health, dental, employee assistance, life, disability and travel coverage. And they know that being a good corporate citizen means extending that same sense of care to the team that delivers those services – a key consideration that makes Manitoba Blue Cross one of Manitoba's top employers. To achieve that benchmark, President and Chief Executive Officer Shaun Lamoureux says employee satisfaction is paramount. "It's all about creating a rewarding environment where employees are recognized, celebrated and rewarded for their contributions to the company," Lamoureux says. "That can be found in our flexible work environment, excellent benefits and a culture that recognizes and celebrates the unique skill sets that each of our employees brings to the table." The work environment at Manitoba Blue Cross is made up of many parts, big and small, that fit together to form a strong foundation. From the consultations with ergonomic specialists to the physically supportive work stations to the collaborative atmosphere fostered with open concept project rooms, there is a concerted effort to make Manitoba Blue Cross a comfortable place to work. Work-life balance is encouraged with flexible support for physical, emotional, family and community health, and a comprehensive benefits package that is responsive to the changing needs of the team members. The company routinely conducts engagement surveys to measure employee satisfaction and gain a clear understanding of what matters most to employees. And rather than "re-invent the wheel," they also consistently examine what other successful companies are doing to make sure they stay ahead of the curve. "To take it a step forward, we established a Total Rewards Executive Committee to review and enhance various components of our offerings, including compensation, work-life balance, benefits, and wellness," Lamoureux says. The company gathered feedback from engagement surveys and set priorities and recommendations to enhance current initiatives and introduce others. Information sessions were organized for employees to provide more detail on initiatives and to provide a forum for questions and clarifications. Feedback from those sessions, as well as daily communications, have been positive. "This October we launched several exciting initiatives under our Total Rewards program, including enhancing our employee benefits plan and implementing flex-time to provide employees with more autonomy to accommodate their personal schedules," Lamoureux says. Additionally, Manitoba Blue Cross introduced a formal training and development program called CARE (Creating a Rewarding Environment). Ongoing training and development shows employees they have a "place to grow." Those opportunities contribute to retention of staff and low turnover, additional markers of a well- developed workplace culture. A high rate of retention gives the company the means to plan for the future, knowing they have the experienced staff to successfully implement goals and initiatives. "While we are excited about all of the changes launched this fall, it's important to note that Total Rewards is a living committee that will continue to address initiatives of wellness, work-life balance and training and development into the future," Lamoureux says. By recognizing and valuing the unique roles that individuals play within the company, Manitoba Blue Cross aims to ensure everyone is treated with dignity and respect, creating a culture marked by its commitment to high legal, ethical, and moral standards. They believe those are the characteristics that best exemplify their company tagline: "The Colour of Caring." "Given the business we are in, employee wellness is key," Lamoureux says. "All of our efforts and initiatives are done to support the physical, psychological, spiritual and financial needs of our employees." Employees get into the Halloween spirit outside of Manitoba Blue Cross.

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