Ottawa – Mayor Jim Watson today welcomed the news that the City of Ottawa has been named as one of the Top 100 employers in Canada for a second straight year in a rigorous annual survey conducted for The Globe and Mail newspaper.

“It is a remarkable accomplishment to make this list for two consecutive years,” said Mayor Watson. “This recognition is a reflection of exceptional, hard-working employees who serve the residents of Ottawa every day. Our employees help to make our city a great place to live, work, play and invest.”

To develop this year's list, editors examined the recruitment histories of more than 75,000 employers across Canada and from this group 12,500 were selected for closer examination. Employers completed an extensive application process that included a detailed review of their operations and Human Resources practices.

Evaluations were conducted using eight criteria:

• physical workplace
• work atmosphere and social
• health, financial and family benefits
• vacation and time off
• employee communications
• performance management
• training and skills development, and
• community involvement.

Employers were compared to other organizations in their field to determine which offers the most progressive and forward-thinking programs. A blue-ribbon academic advisory board oversees the selection criteria for each year's competition. The distinguished panel members are drawn from universities across Canada and each has written or edited a major Human Relations textbook in Canada.

“We are pleased to be recognized for the second straight year,” said City Manager Kent Kirkpatrick. “This recognition demonstrates the City’s commitment to employee engagement and service excellence. We have developed a diverse, productive, and engaged workforce that continuously contributes to an improved quality of life for our residents.”

Among the attributes provided to City of Ottawa employees, the judges cited a unique physical workplace with a variety of amenities including onsite fitness facilities, family-friendly benefits, flexible work options and new workplace features including the Rink of Dreams and the Ottawa Sports Hall of Fame.

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