Manitoba's Top Employers

MANITOBA'S TOP 25 EMPLOYERS 2014 21 UNIVERSITY OF MANITOBA University of Manitoba offers an Outstanding Workplace By Nancy Boomer For the Free Press As Manitoba's largest institution of higher learning, the University of Manitoba (U of M) has clearly learned something about quality hiring. While other organizations may be content to establish good workplaces, the U of M is committed to creating an environment that is truly outstanding. "The university is dedicated to prevailing as an outstanding employer by providing its exceptional and dedicated staff with leadership, growth and development opportunities," said U of M President and Vice-Chancellor David Barnard. Toward that goal, the university established its Outstanding Workplace Initiative in 2010, followed two years later by the release of the It's Up to Us – Outstanding Workplace Initiative (OWI) strategy and plan. OWI recognizes the value of "committed and engaged faculty and staff" as the university's "most valuable assets." The plan was developed with information gathered through U of M community consultations, a best practices review and an employee survey. It focuses on six main areas – increasing connectedness as a community, fostering exemplary leadership and management practices, enhancing a respectful, equitable and inclusive work environment, enhancing career and professional development supports, increasing organizational efficiencies and continuing to identify and build on workplace strengths. The success of the plan is "up to us" as the name implies and the university's staff of 8,820, including 4,096 academic employees and 4,724 support staff, has already seen firsthand why the U of M earned a spot on Native studies professor Niigaan Sinclair with students in Migizii Agamik (Bald Eagle Lodge), the Fort Garry campus's main Indigenous space. Submitted Photo. tion of a new mental health strategy that will this year's Manitoba's Top Employers list. "Working within the university is a unique help staff and students and their families experience, with staff and faculty engaging deal with challenging personal issues. All staff enjoy competitive paid vacain a wide range of professional activities, all linked to the pursuit of a common purpose," tion allotments that are topped up with said Barnard. "Everyone who works at the U paid vacation time over the winter holiday of M contributes to its three pillars of learn- when the University shuts down for almost two weeks. ing, discovery and engagement." To attract and retain quality staff in a diA strong advocate of continual professionverse, inclusive workplace, the university al development, the university encourages offers a comprehensive pension and ben- employees to expand their skill sets through efits program including group coverage for a variety of in-house and online training prohealth, dental, income protection and sur- grams, including apprenticeship opportunivivor and retirement benefits. The U of M ties, formal mentoring and tuition subsidies also offers generous benefits for maternity for courses taken at outside institutions. and parental leave, along with two on-site An employee and faculty awards program child-care centres. honours excellence on the job and in the Plans are also underway for the introduc- community. New hires soon recognize that the U of M's main campus in Fort Garry is a community unto itself. It offers an impressive array of amenities including restaurants, coffee shops, a book store, fitness centre, post office, pharmacy, hair salon, florist and insurance outlet. On a major transit route and linked to the city's rapid transit system, the Fort Garry campus is near Pembina Highway and all of the amenities along that main thoroughfare, including a hospital, shopping centres and restaurants. Meanwhile, medicine, dentistry and pharmacy staff are able to enjoy all the amenities of the Bannatyne campus, located in Winnipeg's greater downtown area. Fitness buffs will soon find that the U of M adds a whole new dimension to the continued movement toward workplace health and wellness. "Working on campus puts employees close to a variety of fitness facilities that help promote the university's commitment to active living and wellness," said Barnard. Employees can take part in aerobics classes, participate in a meditation workshops, or swim, run, skate, cycle or walk – all on campus, before or after work, or while on their lunch breaks. In 2015, the university will officially open a 100,000 square-foot Active Living Centre on campus. This state-of-the-art facility will house an indoor running track, a 40-foot climbing wall, social gathering area, strength and conditioning room, group workout area, three multi-purpose rooms and a space devoted to bringing together service providers from multiple disciplines, such as exercise physiologists, registered dietitians and athletic therapists, with researchers and graduate students to support people striving to begin or continue an active lifestyle. DEFINE YOUR CAREER. DEFINE YOUR FUTURE RE. umanitoba.ca/employment umanitoba.ca/employment anitoba.ca/employmen

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