IAMGOLD helps its employees shine in a safe space

When Kelly Silva looks at a resume or interviews a job candidate, she’s not looking for just another employee to fill a vacancy. She’s looking at how she and the IAMGOLD Corporation team can make them shine like the gold nuggets the company mines.

“It’s about seeing a person’s potential and how we can guide them to become superstars in the organization,” says Silva, senior manager, talent acquisition.

“We’re not just hiring people to participate. We’re hiring people to ensure we give them what they need to be successful and be part of a fantastic team.”

IAMGOLD owns and operates gold mines internationally and in Canada. With its headquarters in Toronto, the company is committed to accountable mining through strong environmental, social and governance (ESG) practices.

IAMGOLD is determined to transform the way in which mining companies are traditionally viewed. The team at IAMGOLD is creating an environment where more women, Indigenous peoples and individuals from all walks of life feel safe and appreciated. A key to that is IAMGOLD’s Zero Harm policy, designed to continuously improve health and safety.

“Zero Harm means embracing diversity, having respect for others and fostering an environment where everybody feels safe to bring their full authentic self to work,” Silva says.

“IAMGOLD ensures its employees are taken care of and happy, including their physical, mental and financial wellness, which is really nice.”

The company has reinvented its benefits package and other supports to be more responsive to a diverse range of employees, offering greater coverage and more flexibility. Training and education programs are expanding as the mining sector becomes increasingly high-tech. Employees can tailor their own personal wellness and career paths.

“We’re working on developing programs such as wellness, enhanced medical spending accounts and other benefits to create a curated, personal experience for employees,” says Dorena Quinn, senior vice-president, people.

“It’s not a one-size-fits-all approach. People are at different life stages and the decisions they make are very personal. Our employees tell us what they need and want, and we listen.”

Flexible work hours encourage work-life balance. Employees have options to work from home or in the office, as part of a hybrid flexible work model. Silva appreciates the flexibility afforded by hybrid work, as well as IAMGOLD’s summer hours program which allows for a modified work week, giving her the opportunity to have Friday afternoons off during the summer months.

IAMGOLD makes an impact in the community. Last year, IAMGOLD employees raised over $25,000 in support of men’s health for Movember. The company also helps the communities it operates in globally – a point of pride for its employees. Initiatives include sponsorship of 100 youth to participate in the Giants of Africa program, part of a four-year, $100 million commitment to Burkinabe youth in Burkina Faso.

Socialization helps employees bond and form friendships. Prior to the pandemic, the company’s head offices were a foodie’s delight, with events like Lunar New Year and Cinco de Mayo serving up a variety of cuisines from around the globe.

IAMGOLD works hard to keep its corporate culture uniform across its operations – no easy feat with so many different workplaces in so many countries. The key is constant communication, with employees and managers taking advantage of multiple online and in-person ways of keeping in touch. For Quinn, it’s also critical to the cultural transformation at the company.

“Our employees, communities and stakeholders are all part of this journey we’re on,” she says.

“In that conversation, we haven’t got all the answers. That’s when we’re looking at you. We want you to be part of the conversation and the change.”

This article appeared in the magazine announcing this year's Greater Toronto’s Top Employers winners, published December 9, 2022 in The Globe and Mail. This article was prepared with the financial support of the employer, which reviewed but did not write its contents.