Manitoba's Top Employers

MANITOBA'S TOP 25 EMPLOYERS 2015 25 ustboniface.ca /ustboniface ProudtobeoneofManitoba's Top25Employersfouryearsrunning Myplaceishere. G aborCsepregihaslongbelievedthatauniversity campus has to be more than just a place oflearning. Csepregi, president of Université de Saint- Boniface, says it also needs to be a place where faculty, staff, students and members of the community are excited to participate in a lively, two-way dialogue that promotesengagement. "My goal as a university president … is to help create a happy,healthyandenergeticatmosphereintheuniversity.I liketoseeemployeescomeintotheuniversitywillinglyand happily,notjustbecauseit'sajobbutbecausetheyfeellike theybelongtothiseducationalcommunity,"hesaid. The university has certainly earned a passing grade in thatregard.ItwasrecentlynamedoneofManitoba'sTop25 Employers for 2015. It's the fifth time the French language university has earned a spot on the list, which recognizes Manitobaemployerswhoofferexceptionalplacestowork. "We are very happy about it," Csepregi said of the university's most recent selection. "In a sense, it shows administrationunderstandstheconcernsofthepeoplewho work here. We sense there is a great satisfaction – that peoplearepleasedtoworkhere." Part of that satisfaction is likely derived from the university's willingness to be flexible when it comes to helping faculty members and administrative staff strike a balancebetweentheirpersonalandprofessionallives. Université de Saint-Boniface offers a variety of different workarrangementsincludingflexiblehours,telecommuting and compressed work weeks for employees who are new parents.Aswell,theschoolprovidesmaternityandparental leavetop-uppaymentsofupto95percentfor27weeksto employeeswhoarenewmothersaswellastop-upsofupto 95percentfornewfathersandadoptiveparents. Inaddition,theuniversityprovidesallemployeeswithfive daysofpaidpersonaltimeeachyear,reducedhoursduring the summer, additional paid time off during the Christmas andNewYear'sholidayperiodandphased-inworkoptions that allow employees to gradually reduce their hours as theyprepareforretirement. "The goal is for people to be able to balance their professional commitments and their personal lives," said Csepregi, who was Vice President of Academics and Research for four years prior to taking over as president thispastJuly. "The benefit to the university is that it helps create a greatersenseofsatisfactionandenthusiasm(instaff).When someonehasthesetypesofarrangementsthere'safeeling of attachment to the mission and cause of the university. Peoplefeelliketheywanttogivesomethingback." Giving back to the community is another important part of employee engagement at Université de Saint-Boniface. The school encourages employees to be active in their local community by providing time off to volunteer with charitableorganizations.Thelistoforganizationsuniversity employees are active with includes St. Boniface Hospital, Action Marguerite, Division scolaire franco-manitobaine, Société historique de Saint-Boniface and the Winnipeg InternationalWritersFestival. Csepregi says the school's volunteer efforts are a great way to "keep the pulse of social issues" in the community andtobeattentivetowhatitsneedsare. "A university is an autonomous, self-governed organizationbutitneedstocommunicateregularlywiththe community,"hesaid."Myviewisitisatwo-way(discussion). We need to respond to the community and the community needstounderstandtheneedsoftheuniversity." Université de Saint-Boniface has also been responsive when it comes to providing assistance to employees interested in improving their own educational standing. It provides tuition subsidies for job-related and general interest courses as well as subsidies for professionalaccreditations. "We believe life is continuous learning," Csepregi said. "We learn in order to teach and we teach in order to learn. Weareconstantlyonthediscoveryofcreativeabilitiesthat weneverknewwehad." Oneofthebestindicatorsoftheuniversity'seffortsasan employer is the length of service of its more than 200 full- time employees. Csepregi estimates the average length of serviceisabout10years. "Employees are very happy to stay here," he said. "I would say the biggest reason is a sense of community. It's a smaller university, everyone knows everyone. Everyone feels like they are bringing something important to the institutionandtothecommunity." ByJimTimlickforTheFreePress UNIVERSITÉDESAINT-BONIFACE UniversitédeSaint-Bonifacebuilds spiritofcommunity Dr.GaborCsepregiPresidentof UniversitédeSaint-Boniface. PhotobyDarcyFinley

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