Manitoba's Top Employers

29 Proud to be one of Manitoba's Top Employers for 2019 Photography courtesy of Laird Kay waa.ca Winnipeg Airports Authority (WAA) typically ranks among Manitoba's Top Employers each year, but it's hardly what you might consider a typical workplace. Consider the fact it serves more than 4.5 million customers annually, including a sizeable chunk from all over the world. It also works in conjunction with a number of high- profile industry partners, has to follow strict federal regulations, has made investing in the community one of its guiding principles and controls hundreds of acres of prime real estate. "No, this is not a typical work environment," says WAA president and CEO Barry Rempel with a chuckle. "It's a place of work but its impact is much broader than what you might see in other companies. I likened it the other day to being a choreographer in a ballet. Every day we have to co-ordinate not just with our own operations but work with our supply chain partners in delivering this miracle of flight. In addition to making sure the lights and heat are on, we have to make sure we have the right people in place at the right time." This year marks the ninth consecutive time — and 10th time overall — the WAA has been included on the Manitoba's Top Employers list since the program was established in 2008. Making the list is no easy task, and that's especially true in the case of the WAA, which employs nearly 200 people at Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport as well as at smaller regional airports it's contracted to operate in The Pas, Dawson Creek, B.C., and Iqaluit, Nunavut. "Delivering excellence in service and facilities doesn't happen without having good people in place," Rempel says when asked why the not-for-profit corporation annually ranks among the province's Top Employers. "I think what's at the heart of it is that in living our values as an organization we're listening to what's important to our employees, especially from a benefits and wellness perspective. It's really about trying to keep those lines of communication open." As part of its emphasis on maintaining those open lines of communications, the WAA engages in bi-annual surveys with all of its employees. The most recent voluntary survey received participation from more than 80 per cent of staff. The organization also holds quarterly meetings with employees to share the latest information on what's happening at all of its operations. WAA employees are also encouraged to get involved in the organization's charitable efforts in the community and receive paid volunteer time along with their own charitable donations being matched by their employer. To date, the WAA and its employees have donated more than 65,000 pounds of vegetables to Winnipeg Harvest through the Grow-a-Row program. They are also major supporters of the United Way and its plane pull fundraising event, Siloam Mission, the 220 Red River Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron for inner-city youth and the Girls in Aviation Day initiative. While working in such a fast-paced environment can be challenging, the WAA has placed an emphasis on helping employees maintain their physical and mental well-being. Employees receive free access to an onsite fitness facility. The WAA also recently introduced a lifestyle spending account which employees can use to pay for anything from yoga classes to recreational hockey. And along with three weeks of starting vacation, the WAA offers up to five paid personal days along with flexible work arrangements to help employees maintain a proper work-life balance. In addition, the WAA provides offers generous maternity and parental leave top-up payments for new moms (up to 93 per cent of their salary for 32 weeks) as well as parental leave top-up for new fathers and adoptive parents (up to 93 per cent for 15 weeks). Full- time employees can also extend their leave into an unpaid leave of absence. Rempel says such offerings provide a win for both the WAA and its employees. "It's important that people have lives outside of work and have a work-life balance," Rempel says. "That balance requires you to keep family commitments, to keep commitments to yourself in terms of things like wellness and getting involved in community events. The end result is that when they're here at work they're present and focused and they're able to contribute and be really engaged employees." REACHING NEW HEIGHTS BY JIM TIMLICK Some of the Winnipeg Airports Authority team. PHOTO BY DARCY FINLEY WINNIPEG AIRPORTS AUTHORITY INC.

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