GUELPH, ON, Nov. 8, 2018 /CNW/ - Today, The Co-operators marks its 16th consecutive year being named to the Aon Best Employer in Canada list. Through the Aon Best Employer survey, employees of The Co-operators identified key areas that make the company an employer of choice, including its focus on corporate social responsibility and its positive reputation within the community.

"As a co-operative we're a values-based organization. We make decisions in pursuit of meeting the needs of our clients, members and communities," said Rob Wesseling, president and CEO of The Co-operators. "Our employees have expressed pride in, and feel connected to these distinct values and support our commitment to good corporate citizenship, both unique aspects of our competitiveness and ability to attract and retain top employee talent."

The Co-operators strong focus on the learning and development of its employees and building safer, more sustainable and resilient communities has also contributed to its placement on the Platinum list. Key engagement results include:

• 92 per cent agree that The Co-operators is a socially and environmentally responsible organization.
• 90 per cent note that The Co-operators has an excellent reputation in our location community.
• 86 per cent of employees are proud to work for The Co-operators.
• 78 per cent can clearly explain what makes working at The Co-operators different form other organizations.
• 72 per cent believe The Co-operators is considered one of the best places to work for someone with their skills and experience.

The Co-operators results are inclusive of employees of Co-operators Group Limited, Co-operators General Insurance Company, Co-operators Life Insurance Company, HB Group/COSECO and CUMIS.

"Having a highly engaged workforce has never been more important," said Todd Mathers, Partner and Canada Talent Practice Leader at Aon. "Organizations are facing unprecedented disruption, requiring many to change the nature of jobs and how work gets done – and to do this quickly and effectively. Doing this well is critical to maintaining and improving the end customer experience and – by extension – organization performance. Our research consistently demonstrates that engaged employees provide organizations with a competitive advantage when managing through change. "Congratulations to The Co-operators for showcasing a culture of engagement and a commitment to workplace excellence."

What it takes to be an Aon Best Employer

The Aon Best Employers in Canada Study is the country's premier benchmark for assessing the quality and performance of workplace excellence using global standards based on 20 years of learnings and best practices from Aon studies conducted all over the world, relying on data collected in more than 180 markets from over 20,000 organizations in 68 industries, including over 241,000 employees and more than 240 companies of all sizes in Canada just in the past year. Recognized organizations have achieved outstanding results among their Canadian counterparts for engaging employees, demonstrating effective leadership, building a performance culture and leveraging the strength of their employer brand.

About The Co-operators:
The Co-operators Group Limited is a Canadian co-operative with more than $42 billion in assets under administration. Through its group of companies, it offers home, auto, life, group, travel, commercial and farm insurance, as well as investment products. The Co-operators is well known for its community involvement and its commitment to sustainability. The Co-operators is listed among the Best Employers in Canada by Aon Hewitt and Corporate Knights' Best 50 Corporate Citizens in Canada. For more information, visit www.cooperators.ca

SOURCE The Co-operators