Did you know that including people with disabilities in your workforce diversity strategies can significantly enhance your department’s and/or organization’s performance?
In today’s interconnected global marketplace, diversity has evolved from a compliance checkbox to a strategic business advantage. Organizations with diverse teams consistently outperform their more homogeneous counterparts across nearly every metric that matters—from financial performance to innovation, customer satisfaction to employee retention.
But what exactly makes diverse teams so powerful? And how can organizations meaningfully cultivate diversity in ways that translate to measurable business results?
This article explores the concrete benefits diverse teams bring to business performance, backed by recent research and real-world examples.
Check out the infographic below – courtesy of Burning Nights – to learn why.
In its Code of Conduct, Google self-identifies as a dog company. Zappos, online shoes and clothes retailer, considers creating “fun and a little weirdness” one of its company core values. Virgin allows its staff to take as many vacation days as they want. These three companies, who have been consistently voted as some of the best companies to work at, are among the many employers who are striving to effectively define their company’s corporate culture, in order to attract and retain the right kind of talent for their organization.
Creating and communicating a company culture that positively reflects your organization boils down to one critical question: what does the organization value above all else?
By identifying the key principals and standards that the organization upholds, employers are able to foster a company culture that not only showcases these values, but also aligns with the overall corporate image. As one of Zappos’s core values is creating “fun and a little weirdness,” for example, it can be assumed that its corporate culture is non-traditional, open and creative.
Career Edge has launched a program for Canadian Armed Forces Reservists with support from Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) in partnership with the Department of National Defense (DND).
Career Edge will receive close to $3M from ESDC to launch an important pilot project for the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) Reserves in three major geographic cities/regions yet to be determined. The project is intended to help Reservists get the skills and experience needed to overcome barriers to meaningful and sustainable employment within their communities, while continuing to serve their reserve unit.
TORONTO, July 30, 2015
Career Edge launches paid placement program for Reservists with support
from Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) in partnership with the Department of
National Defense (DND).
Career Edge will receive close to $3M from ESDC to launch an important pilot project for the Canadian
Armed Forces (CAF) Reserves in three major geographic cities/regions yet to be determined. The project
is intended to help Reservists get the skills and experience needed to overcome barriers to meaningful
and sustainable employment within their communities, while continuing to serve their reserve unit.
Reservists play a critical role in Canada’s strategy to develop a diverse and qualified pool of military
personnel, yet many leave the force before completing their military training, when faced with limited job
opportunities within their civilian communities. Training for our Reservists represent a significant
investment in CAF; and with 130 reserve units across Canada, keeping active Reservists living and
working in their community is critically important to Canada’s national defense.
“Members of CAF represent a highly skilled talent pool, and this program gives them an ideal opportunity
to start working in their field,” says Jay Yakabowich, Director of Business Development at Career Edge,
and former Canadian Forces Reservist who served the Guns with the Royal Canadian Artillery, 10 Field
Regiment, 64th Field Battery located in Yorkton, Saskatchewan. “I know first-hand that these candidates
have the right skills and attitude to succeed in their chosen career path, while also serving their country.”
Through Career Edge’s paid placement program, employers can hire Reservists for various entry and mid-level placement positions to meet their staffing needs, as Reservists offer a plethora of transferable skills –
including but not limited to:
• Organization skills
• Problem solving and issue resolution
• Leadership
• Team work
• Resourcefulness
• Highly developed communication skills –
leveraging computer and wireless
technology
• Experience working in culturally diverse
environments
“We are honoured to join forces with ESDC and DND to help Canadian Reservists pursue their civilian
careers,” says Naguib Gouda, President of Career Edge. “The program symbolizes the federal
government’s commitment to the professional success of its Reservists, while representing a natural
progression for Career Edge, as we strive to launch more careers through paid internships.”
About Career Edge
Established in 1996, Career Edge is a not-for-profit, self-sustaining social enterprise with a clear mandate
to connect highly motivated, well-qualified candidates with employers of all types and sizes for careerlaunching opportunities, through paid placements. More than half of all Career Edge hires are hired by their host employer at the end of their contract, and most of the rest launch their career elsewhere
within six months.
Media Contact:
Charmaine O’Connor
Manager, Marketing & Communications
Career Edge
coconnor@careeredge.ca
Tel: (416) 977-3343 ext. 286
Fax: (416) 977-4090
For more information about Career Edge, please visit www.careeredge.c