GUELPH, ON, Nov. 7, 2013 /CNW/ - International human resources firm Aon Hewitt has once again honoured The Co-operators by including the organization among the 50 Best Employers in Canada. The prestigious list is based primarily on employee surveys that measure "the energy and passion that employees have, and the extent to which the hearts and minds of its people have been captured by the organization."

The Co-operators is a Canadian-owned co-operative well known for its community involvement and commitment to sustainability. As the survey results demonstrate, employees take pride in being part of the organization, share its values, and work hard to support its mission.

The Co-operators scored particularly well in several categories related to Corporate Social Responsibility. Of those who completed the confidential survey, 94 per cent agreed that The Co-operators is a "socially and environmentally responsible organization," and 91 per cent felt it is "fair, respectful and honest" with its clients.  In both areas, The Co-operators scored above the average of the 50 Best Employers.

"Having a highly engaged workforce that shares the values of our organization is very important to us, and something we work hard to maintain," said Kathy Bardswick, president and CEO of The Co-operators.  "The culture you're immersed in as an employee of The Co-operators is a product of the organization's values as a Canadian-owned co-operative. We have a genuine concern for Canadian communities and a commitment to putting people before profits - and no one is in a better position to see that than our own staff members."

Included in ranking are several members of The Co-operators group of companies: The Co-operators Group Limited and Co-operators General Insurance Company based in Guelph, Ontario; HB Group/COSECO of Mississauga; and Addenda Capital Inc. based in Montreal.

Aon Hewitt's confidential surveys measure employee engagement related to human resources policies, environmental and corporate responsibility practices, and the alignment between employees and senior management. It considers engagement as consisting of three interrelated components: Say: employees consistently speak highly of the organization as an employer; Stay: they have an intense desire to work for the organization; and Strive: they exert extra effort and engage in work that generates extra value for the business and contributes significantly to its success.

The complete list and results are available in the November 18^th edition of Maclean's, now available on newsstands.

About The Co-operators:
The Co-operators Group Limited is a Canadian-owned co-operative with more than $33 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 50 Best Employers in Canada by Aon Hewitt; Corporate Knights' Best 50 Corporate Citizens in Canada; and the Top 50 Socially Responsible Corporations in Canada by Sustainalytics and Maclean's magazine. For more information visit www.cooperators.ca.

SOURCE The Co-operators