BioTalent Canada Named 5-Star Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Employer by Canadian HR Reporter

BioTalent Canada has been named a 5-Star Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Employer by Canadian HR Reporter.

“Diversity remains a key priority for all of us and the entire bio-economy and we reflect these values in our workplace culture.”

Now in its second year, the annual 5-Star Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Employer award recognizes companies whose diversity, equity and inclusion programs foster change in the workplace. Canadian HR Reporter has been covering the workplace for 25 years. Published by Thomson Reuters, it is the leading source of human resources and workplace information in Canada.

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This recognition is for BioTalent Canada’s implementation of inclusive, diverse, equitable, and accessible (IDEA) practices within its own organization and the bio-economy as a whole. Other recipients of this year’s award include FuelPositive, Iversoft, Dejero, and SAP Canada, among others.

Canadian HR Reporter invited organizations to fill out an employer form that required them to explain their diversity and inclusion initiatives. BioTalent Canada was also required to complete an application so that Canadian HR Reporter could evaluate its workplace. Employers apply to be considered for the recognition by completing an initial form. The competition is open, and any Canadian organization can apply for recognition on an annual basis. Questions asked in the application process included whether employees felt they belonged at the company, if employers offer a good training program for diversity, and whether the work environment was one where an employee would recommend to a friend or colleague who belongs to an underrepresented group.

BioTalent Canada ultimately achieved a greater than 80% average satisfaction rating from employees and was named a 5-Star Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Employer for 2023.

“This recognition is a great honour,” says Rob Henderson, President and CEO of BioTalent Canada. “Diversity remains a key priority for all of us and the entire bio-economy and we reflect these values in our workplace culture.”

As a national non-profit focused on building Canada’s bio-economy, BioTalent Canada supports the people behind life-changing science through various resources that support employers in developing robust talent management strategies, including their Building Workplace Resiliency resources, launched earlier this year to develop resiliency within an organization and promote a strong talent pipeline through principles of inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility leadership (IDEAL).

At BioTalent Canada, a 2023 employee engagement survey indicated 84% of employees feel the organization is an inclusive workplace where people of all different backgrounds, cultures and beliefs are treated fairly. In the same survey, 95% of staff felt BioTalent Canada is dedicated to equity, diversity and inclusion.

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For the organization to promote these best practices to the industry, BioTalent Canada strives to champion IDEA principles within their team first. This includes, among other initiatives: IDEA training, internal recognition and celebration focused on IDEA, and establishing an Inclusion Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility (IDEA) Committee.

Internal workplace surveys show that employees at BioTalent Canada are highly engaged and committed, and the organization has won several awards and recognitions, including being named one of Canada’s Best Workplaces in Healthcare for 2023 by Great Place to Work Canada.

“We take equity, diversity and inclusion extremely seriously,” says Henderson. “IDEA helps to ensure our sector contributes to an inclusive society, and that drives innovation.”

Currently, 33% of BioTalent Canada’s staff is a visible minority and 42% of employees are new immigrants to Canada. Furthermore, 36% of the staff speaks a first language other than English or French. In all, 25 different languages are spoken at BioTalent Canada.

Last year BioTalent Canada launched the IDEAL Bioscience Employer Recognition Program to recognize 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.

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