Recognized as one of Canada's Top 100 Employers (2023), Canada's Top Family-Friendly Employers (2023) and National Capital Region's Top Employers (2023):
Mediacorp Canada Inc. staff editors (Nov 17, 2022)
Here are some of the reasons why Export Development Canada was selected as one of Canada's Top 100 Employers (2023), Canada's Top Family-Friendly Employers (2023) and National Capital Region's Top Employers (2023):
- EDC offers supportive workplace policies to help employees balance work and their personal lives -- programs include family caregiver leave for adults (with top-up to 95 per cent of salary for up to eight weeks) and paid personal leave for family emergencies (five to 10 days depending on the situation)
- EDC's benefits plan provides employees with flexibility in determining appropriate coverage options -- flex credits can be allocated to health and wellness spending accounts, RRSP, TFSA or RESP accounts; or distributed as a donation to the United Way (employees also receive up to two paid volunteer days off each year)
- Additionally, the company offers enhanced mental health benefits to a maximum of $2,500 per year and manages a unique paramedical benefits extension program for employees with ongoing medical conditions (employees may apply to receive 90 per cent reimbursements with an unlimited maximum)
- EDC considers previous work experience and starts new employees with three weeks of paid vacation, moving to four weeks after only five years on the job (some employees start with four weeks) -- employees can also purchase up to five additional days off through their flexible health benefits plan
For EDC, caring for employees leads to happy clients
Several years before the arrival of the pandemic, Export Development Canada (EDC) – the Ottawa-based Crown corporation that helps Canadian businesses expand internationally – began allowing hybrid work arrangements for employees. And that has been a great boon for Montréaler Cathy Beauvais.
Beauvais recently took on a new role as sustainable finance guarantee initiative owner. She leads one of EDC’s key environmental, social and governance initiatives – the roll-out of the organization’s sustainable finance guarantee, designed to help Canadian companies in carbon-intensive sectors transition to more sustainable business models.
And with the hybrid system, says Beauvais, an employee for 15 years, she has been able to achieve greater work-life balance. “I have two small boys, so it really helps me. You’re not losing the time it takes to get to the office, and it makes things a whole lot easier.”
On days when she does need to be in the office, she adds, her leaders are very understanding if, for example, she needs to take a longer lunch break to attend an event at her sons’ school or to volunteer for a food bank in her Montréal neighbourhood, a commitment that is very important to her. “It means a lot to me that leadership allows such flexibility and recognizes that you are fully committed and trusts that you’re doing the honest thing.”
EDC has a very supportive culture, says Patricia Vincent, vice-president of human resources, operations and employee wellness. “Close to 30 per cent of our employees have joined since the pandemic, yet we have been able to maintain a very high level of employee engagement. When I ask new staff what they love about EDC, they say it’s very collegial and that the company really does care about their experience. And we believe that leads to a great customer experience.
“One area where we put significant focus,” she continues, “is diversity, equity and inclusion. We do have a very diverse workforce and employees feel that we are a very inclusive employer.”
At the same time, she says, in the past year EDC has ramped up its focus on mental health and has endeavoured to reduce the stigma around mental illness. “We have offered learning opportunities for both employees and leaders in this realm,” she notes, “and now offer the Workplace Mental Health Leadership certificate program to our leaders.”
As for Beauvais, she notes that among the family and mental-health issues the organization has addressed in recent years is the strain on families that are supporting older parents. “They’ve done a lot of training sessions on this. Even if you’re not dealing with it directly, there’s a good chance that a colleague is and might need those resources to feel that they are not alone.”
On the volunteerism side, notes Vincent, one day every year employees are encouraged to go into communities on company time on its Community Investment Day and participate in organized volunteer opportunities. “We also have several giving campaigns in which EDC matches employee donations, as happened with relief in the wake of Hurricane Fiona. We provide up to two paid working days per year for employees to volunteer in their communities.”
For Vincent, EDC’s overall mandate is a galvanizing force for employees – and has been especially motivating during the pandemic. “We help companies of all sizes seize business opportunities around the world, helping them to grow and flourish.”
Recognized as one of Canada's Top Employers for Young People (2023):
Mediacorp Canada Inc. staff editors (Jan 23, 2023)
Here are some of the reasons why Export Development Canada was selected as one of Canada's Top Employers for Young People (2023):
- EDC's dedicated Growing Professionals Committee offers development opportunities, resources and support to students and young professionals, as well as organizing various social events throughout the year -- the committee also manages a mentorship program designed to promote career development, support diversity and inclusion, and facilitate connections among employees of all experience levels
- The Growing Professionals Committee also recently launched a collaborative case competition, engaging members of the committee to pitch improvements to EDC's digital onboarding experience -- teams present their ideas to senior executives, and the winning team may see their idea be implemented by the Transformation Office
- The 24-month Project Finance Associate Program provides a combination of structured and hands-on training to new associates at EDC -- participants are immersed in finance fundamentals and supported with regular feedback on progress and performance
Recognized as one of Canada's Greenest Employers (2023):
Mediacorp Canada Inc. staff editors (Apr 17, 2023)
Here are some of the reasons why Export Development Canada was selected as one of Canada's Greenest Employers (2023):
- EDC's newly named Environmental Resource Group recently relaunched its website to provide information and engage directly with more employees, including environmental tips, data on its own operational greenhouse gas emissions, historic building audits, and an internal blog to help employees reduce their own environmental footprint
- EDC manages a comprehensive recycling program that includes paper, metals, plastics and waste -- and the company has set goals to reduce the company's annual food waste from over 16,600 kg down to approximately 9,000 kg
- Along with a rooftop patio and green roof, EDC partnered with Alvéole to introduce two rooftop beehives that are home to 50,000 bees -- in their first season, the hives produced 180 jars of honey, which were sold to employees with the funds donated to United Way
The Career Directory
Export Development Canada has been selected for The Career Directory, our guide to entry-level recruitment for recent college and university graduates.
