CSA Group sets high standards for corporate culture

Most Canadians are familiar with the CSA mark, even if they don’t realize it. The distinctive “C” surrounding an “S” and “A” is on many of the products they use every day; an indication that the product has been tested and meets the applicable standards for safety and performance. In fact, CSA Group is a global organization with thousands of employees dedicated to safety, social good and sustainability, a leader in North American standards development, and in product testing, inspection and certification around the world.

“The work that we do is holding the future to a higher standard,” says Manisha Mistry, CSA Group’s senior director of health, safety, security and environment (HSSE), diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) and environmental, social and governance (ESG).

A focus on competitive compensation, health and retirement benefits, tuition reimbursement and other programs all make CSA Group an attractive place to work, says Mistry. But the organization goes beyond that, with a dedication to employee safety and well-being.

“We’re focused on creating a safe and inclusive work environment for all employees with a foundation of mutual respect, integrity and teamwork,” she says. “It creates an environment that employees are drawn to; and once they’re here, they thrive.”

CSA Group has several programs in place to invite employees to actively connect and contribute within the organization, says Mistry. It operates employee resource groups, including one geared toward parents and caregivers. CSA Group is also committed to employee mental health and has launched its own Mental Health Ambassador Program (MAP).

MAP ambassadors are employee volunteers trained to listen and assist anyone seeking mental health support. They offer a safe space and can help employees navigate CSA Group’s range of mental health benefits and resources. “We have trained more than 70 mental health ambassadors across the organization globally,” says Mistry. “They are accessible to all of our employees.”

Tim Harrow is one of those ambassadors. “We take training, so that if somebody at work has issues, whether it’s a work issue or something at home, we can help them get it off their chest. We’re not counsellors — but we’re somebody that they can talk to.”

Today Harrow is operations manager with CSA Group, but earlier in his career he worked for a company that manufactured furnaces. “We used CSA as our certification body,” he recalls. “We would utilize our lab and a CSA representative would come in and prescribe which tests they wanted to see.” During downtime between tests, Harrow and the representative would discuss other things, like CSA Group’s culture and exceptional working environment. “It seemed like an attractive place to work, and it got me thinking about coming here.”

Along with attention to health and wellness, CSA Group employees have taken the lead on things like green initiatives. “Most recently, we launched our ESG program which highlights to our employees and others the positive impact that we have on the environment and society,” says Mistry. “The program sets a solid foundation for continued improvement. It’s important for employees to see how we give back, from a variety of different perspectives; to understand the purpose of the organization and the importance of the work we do every day.”

“You see the work of your team members and your organization everywhere,” says Harrow. “Just knowing that it’s making a difference for the public means a lot. There are products that come on the market that aren’t safe, and we’re doing something about that. It’s very satisfying to come to work every day and know there’s value in what you do.”

This article appeared in the magazine announcing this year's Greater Toronto’s Top Employers winners, published December 3, 2024 in The Globe and Mail. This article was prepared with the financial support of the employer, which reviewed but did not write its contents.