7th Consecutive Award for Alberta-basedCo-operative
UFA Co-operative Ltd. (UFA) promotes "It's more than a living. It's a life." Career development and opportunities for advancement within UFA are just a few of the reasons for being named as one of Alberta's Top 75 Employers for 2019.
This is the seventh year in a row that the Alberta-based co-operative has been named in Alberta's Top Employers annual competition.
"Being part of our co-operative means working together to realize our vision which is to be recognized as the most trusted and reliable supplier of petroleum, crop, livestock, building products and services in the markets we serve," says Carol Kitchen, UFA President and CEO. "However, working for UFA is much more than our vision statement. Professional development and opportunities for advancement, a strong safety culture, an innovative leadership team, and work-life balance are just some of the many reasons why we are being recognized for earning Alberta's Top 75 Employers for 2019 and it's always an honour."
"Alberta employers are investing in improving employee wellness in a wide range of fields," says Richard Yerema, Managing Editor of the Canada's Top 100 Employers project. "From mental health to physical fitness and nutrition, employers across the province are doubling down on efforts to improve overall levels of employee wellness inside their organizations. The leading employers now see these programs as 'must-have' initiatives and no longer as 'nice-to-have' programs for staff."
"Increasingly, forward-thinking employers are recognizing that promoting wellness isn't just a matter of 'doing the right thing' for their staff," adds Kristina Leung, Senior Editor of the Canada's Top 100 Employers project. "It's also a smart business decision, as wellness issues can cascade quickly into major expenses that affect the bottom line. From absence costs to the workplace consequences of mental health issues, it's not only employees who bear the costs of poor wellness practices."
First published in 2006, Alberta's Top Employers is a special designation that recognizes Alberta employers that lead their industries in offering exceptional places to work. Employers throughout Alberta were evaluated by the editors at Canada's Top 100 Employers using the same criteria as the national competition: (1) Physical Workplace; (2) Work Atmosphere & Social; (3) Health, Financial & Family Benefits; (4) Vacation & Time Off; (5) Employee Communications; (6) Performance Management; (7) Training & Skills Development; and (8) Community Involvement. Employers are compared to other organizations in their field to determine which offer the most progressive and forward-thinking programs. The annual competition is open to any employer with its head office in Alberta; employers of any size may apply, whether private or public sector.
UFA offers flexibility, opportunities for professional development and a culture that is built on co-operative values. UFA employees know how important it is to give back to the communities where we live and work. Each year the co-operative gives back over $750,000 to rural communities across the province. From championing mental health initiatives, to supporting local 4-H clubs, to sponsoring Olympic athletes who connect with kids, UFA is proud to be at the heart of grassroots giving in our local communities.
The full list of Alberta's Top Employers for 2019 is available in a special magazine published in the Calgary Herald and Edmonton Journal this morning. Detailed reasons for selection, explaining why each of the winners was selected, with hundreds of additional stories and photos, were also released this morning and are accessible via the competition homepage.
UFA's Top Employer feature is available here.
For media inquiries:
Trish Nixon
UFA Co-operative Limited
Phone: 403-570-4576
