Manitoba's Top Employers

18 MANITOBA'S TOP 25 EMPLOYERS 2014 BOEING CANADA WINNIPEG Commitment to invest in employees pays off in form of top 25 employer award By Todd Lewys For the Free Press When Boeing opened in Winnipeg in 1971, the company started business with 57 employees in its $3.5 million plant at 99 Murray Park Road. Today – some 42 years later – Boeing employs over 1,600 people in 730,000 square feet of production space spread over three sites within the city. Suffice it to say, the company – whose head office is in Chicago, and which employs more than 170,000 people in the United States and 70 other countries – is doing something right to sustain its workforce in Winnipeg over a span of more than four decades. "As a company, we're committed to making investments in three key areas," said Boeing Winnipeg Human Resources Director, Jim Reese. "Those areas are technology, the community – i.e., the expansion of the facility, and, of course, our employees. As important as the first two areas are, it's the employees that make everything work." And because happy employees are far more productive than unhappy ones, Boeing Winnipeg has made a commitment to going above and beyond the norm of how a company is expected to treat its workforce. At the top of the list of best practices is how management constantly strives to involve employees in how work is done at the site. "Of course, it's very important to create an environment that provides people with challenging and meaningful work," said Reese. "A good example of that is management's commitment to collaborate with our employees to achieve maximum efficiency in manufacturing. The result is the Winnipeg site has won internal Boeing recognition with the Fred Mitchell award that features healthy menus and subsidized meals. Those little things really add up, and do make employees' quality of life better while they're at work – health and well-being is so important." Professional development is also encouraged through on-site training seminars along with online training resources. Additionally, employees aspiring to move up to management positions are encouraged to enroll in Boeing's nine month pre-management program, while employees near retirement age are educated on how to prepare for that eventuality. "Employee development is imperative, so we've made it our mission to give them the tools they need to prepare for the next opportunity, in particular the pre-management program – it prepares employees for the responsibility by educating them on areas such as technology and the manufacturing process," he said. "At the same time, new employees can enroll in orientation programs and get peer mentoring so they get their career off to a good start." Staff members nearing the end of their Jim Reese, Director of Human Resources at Boeing Winnipeg, says Boeing Canada's goal is career aren't left out, either. "Last week, we brought in a financial to provide a great work atmosphere for its employees. Photo by Darcy Finley planner to do a one-on-one session with four years running and is the best in class for ongoing commitment to provide a high quality of employees and their spouses," said Reese. lean manufacturing. It shows what a business life for its employees. Competitive wages are one "A few dozen attended, and they really enjoyed can accomplish when its management and part of that recipe, while an impressive benefits the seminar." package is the other part. Benefits such as employees work well together." While the management team at Boeing The importance of clear communication can't tuition reimbursement, wellness activities and a Winnipeg is pleased to be recognized as a top forward-thinking eco-commute program are just 25 employer in Manitoba, they by no means are be underplayed, he added. "It's a hallmark that is long embedded in a few examples of the employee-friendly perks content to rest on their laurels. Boeing Canada's vision and mission. Our goal that Boeing's workforce are privy to. "Benchmarking is a big piece of what we do," is to provide a great work atmosphere for our "Quality of life is tremendously important – if he said. "We're aware of best practices – we're employees, and making sure they're involved – you treat your employees well, they'll be that always adopting them, and are willing to share and know that their contributions are appreciated. much more productive," Reese said. "At the ours. It's all about investing in your employees – We do our best to show our appreciation to our Winnipeg site, employees have access to a it's the only way a company can be successful in employees for their efforts." variety of amenities, such as a fitness facility the long run." That appreciation is shown by Boeing's (with subsidized membership), and a cafeteria

• Cover