Manitoba's Top Employers

M anitoba Liquor & Lotteries goes to great lengths to celebrate and reward its 3,000 employees, providing them with a competitive benefits program, professional development training, and a variety of other opportunities. It's no surprise they've been one of Manitoba's Top Employers since 2007. Rob Campbell, the Vice-President of Human Resources, says the company's employees are a vital part of the organization's success. "The number one part of working here is the people — we have a terrific group of people," he says. "We have a great employee rewards and recognition program that applauds their volunteerism, safety, customer service and long-time service, among other things." Volunteerism is a major part of the company's culture. Those who apply to work at Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries tend to value giving back to their communities. "We support a lot of sporting programs, festivals and events throughout Manitoba so there are lots of opportunities for our employees to volunteer," says Campbell. "The support we provide to the community has a powerful impact on Manitobans." Last year Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries employees donated 8,600 hours of their own time to volunteer at different charities and events. Campbell says the company is hoping to hit 10,000 hours this year. "We support more than 700 non-profit charitable organizations through both financial support and volunteering. Our employees work over 100 shifts per year at Winnipeg Harvest and Siloam Mission," he says. "The way it makes them feel when they go out to one of these events and see the looks on people's faces and the thank yous they get — it really resonates with them." There are many opportunities for employees to advance within the organization, which are assisted through training courses. The majority of management positions are filled internally, and Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries reimburses both full and part-time employees for their continuing education. "Our training programs help attract and retain our employees. Some of the areas we have training in include technology, health and wellness, and leadership — our training programs are so diverse," Campbell says. "Offering employees access to training online is a critical part of being able to reach PROUD TO BE RECOGNIZED AS ONE OF MANITOBA'S TOP 25 EMPLOYERS www.mbll.ca 14 out to our employees across the province." Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries employees enjoy other benefits, such as competitive salaries, an employee wellness program, and an employee assistance program (EAP). A new flexible benefits program gives employees the ability to choose from a variety of benefits to design a plan that suits their needs. "Through the new program, we provide our employees with a good range of benefits so each employee can choose a plan that works best for them," says Campbell, adding that employees have the opportunity to change their plan every two years should something in their life change, such as getting married or having children. Ongoing recognition is key to making sure employees realize how valued they are. "We strive to give our employees on-the-spot recognition for doing a great job, and we also hold an annual event to celebrate all our volunteers, including employees, alumni, family and friends," Campbell says. "If the family and friends of an employee want to volunteer to help with one of our events, they can. "From the casinos to our Liquor Marts, our lines of business are so interesting. It's a really exciting place to work," he adds. "The people who are interested in working here love to provide service. They want to meet your needs, and they want you to leave satisfied." ❚ EMPLOYEES VITAL TO LIQUOR & LOTTERIES' SUCCESS By Holli Moncrieff It has become common knowledge that employees who feel appreciated tend to stick around. MANITOBA LIQUOR & LOTTERIES HOLDS AN ANNUAL EVENT TO CELEBRATE ALL ITS VOLUNTEERS, INCLUDING EMPLOYEES, ALUMNI, FAMILY AND FRIENDS. MANITOBA LIQUOR & LOTTERIES PHOTO

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