Manitoba's Top Employers

14 WHEN EMPLOYEES SPEAK AT MANITOBA LIQUOR & LOTTERIES, MANAGEMENT LISTENS. CEO JOHN STINSON BELIEVES ALL STAFF SHOULD HAVE A VOICE IN THE ORGANIZATION. "We care about their opinions and engage them as much as possible," he says. "We want to make sure our employees are heard." Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries operates all Liquor Mart and Liquor Mart Express stores, Club Regent Casino, McPhillips Station Casino, PlayNow.com and the province's video lottery terminals. They also distribute and sell lottery ticket products, and are the province's liquor distributor. Employees who feel they have an impact are happy employees. This is one of the reasons Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries has been one of Manitoba's Top Employers since 2005. "Employees want some authorization to make decisions in their role," says Stinson. "I make sure that everything isn't driven up to my desk." Stinson strives to be approachable and accessible to the organization's 3,200 employees. It can be challenging, given they are spread out across well over 60 retail, office, casino and warehouse locations in the province. He writes a blog and responds personally to every email he receives from staff. "Everyone knows what I look like, so I can't go undercover, but I do spend time at the frontlines once a month to get to know people and what their job is," he says. Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries is returning to annual all-staff meetings this December after the "big-picture" gatherings were temporarily suspended during a hectic merger that began in 2012. "This year's events are set up in a late-night talk show format. They're going to be engaging, fun, informative, and inclusive," says Stinson. Employees take the lead when it comes to steering the organization in a sustainable direction. "We have a big commitment to the environment, sustainability and social responsibility. Everyone is engaged in making decisions and contributing to those efforts," Stinson says. "For instance, staff members have helped identify schools or other charities where we can donate our obsolete computer equipment." This dedication and engagement is recognized with a special rewards and recognition program. This longstanding and well- developed program supports a sense of shared vision and values in terms of individual and collaborative philanthropy. "We have a really powerful volunteer program. We generate almost 9,000 volunteer hours per year," says Stinson. "Our employees really love being involved in the community." Some of the charitable activities the volunteer program supports include the MS Walk, the Manitoba Marathon and Habitat for Humanity projects. Through their IMPACT Team, Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries arranges for high-performance provincial athletes to speak at schools and corporations, sponsoring 130 events during the year. This team channels the energy and enthusiasm of the broader organization. Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries also provides $9.7 million in community sponsorships and spends $11 million funding addictions treatment, research and prevention and awareness programs. "This makes people proud to work here," Stinson says. "It's a pretty exciting business to be in, but we also emphasize our social responsibility. That's why we have developed programs such as GameSense and DrinkSense – to help customers make healthy choices around liquor and gambling." The organization supports the health and well-being of its employees through discounts to civic recreational centres, an optional financial management program, and an Employee Assistance Program. Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries offers a competitive salary structure and benefits as well. "We have a generous benefits package and people have the option of choosing between different levels of coverage," says Stinson. "Employees get to choose a package tailored to where they're at in their lives. That flexibility is something our staff really appreciates." Stinson explains that providing staff with opportunities to be social is also an important part of building a strong team. The company sponsors a Goldeyes game each year, and employees have an opportunity to win tickets. "Each area has a different way to celebrate its successes. The social aspect of our workplace is important for stimulating thought and engagement," he says. John Stinson with employees volunteering at a Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries sponsored Winnipeg Blue Bombers game. Submitted photo. MANITOBA LIQUOR & LOTTERIES Employees have a voice at Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries By Holli Moncrieff MANITOBA'S TOP EMPLOYERS

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