BioTalent Canada has been named a 5-Star Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI ) Employer for 2024 by Canadian HR Reporter.
The annual 5-Star Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Employer award, now in its third year, recognizes companies whose diversity, equity and inclusion programs advance change in the workplace. Published by Thomson Reuters, Canadian HR Reporter has been covering the workplace for 25 years and is considered the leading source of human resources and workplace information in Canada.
BioTalent Canada received this distinction after achieving an over 80% average satisfaction rating from employees in their implementation of inclusive, diverse, equitable and accessible (IDEA) practices within its own organization and the bio-economy.
“We are deeply honoured by this recognition,” says Rob Henderson, President and CEO of BioTalent Canada. “Diversity is a top priority for us and the entire bio-economy. We strive to embody these values in our workplace in order to help employers enhance their recruitment and retention efforts to foster innovation within the bio-economy.”
A 2024 employee engagement survey at BioTalent Canada indicated that 97% of staff say BioTalent Canada is following through on its commitment to inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility. In the same survey, 90% of employees fee the organization is an inclusive workplace where people of all diverse backgrounds, cultures, and beliefs are treated fairly.
“Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility (IDEA) will be integral in ensuring our sector has the talent needed to compete on a global stage,” adds Henderson. “With 65,000 workers needed by 2029 to sustain the bio-economy’s hiring trends, employers will need to expand their recruitment efforts to include people from equity-deserving groups if they want to succeed.”
BioTalent Canada implements various initiatives, such as IDEA training, internal recognition and celebrations centered on IDEA, and the establishment of an Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility (IDEA) Committee.
BioTalent Canada also helps other employers adopt IDEA into their talent management strategies through resources like their Building Workplace Resiliency resources, and the I.D.E.A.L. Bioscience EmployerTM Recognition Program which recognizes organizations in Canada’s bio-economy who are leading the way in embodying the diverse and inclusive corporate principles needed to promote growth and success in the sector. Additionally, this year, BioTalent Canada launched the I.D.E.A.L. Scholarship™ to encourage greater diversity in the bio-economy workforce. The scholarship provides incentives for underrepresented and equity-deserving groups to enter STEM programs, with a focus in the inaugural year on Indigenous students and persons with disabilities pursuing their first year of post-secondary education.
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