City of Vaughan named a 2022 Greater Toronto Top Employer

Dec. 3, 2021 10:00 a.m.
​An employer of choice, two years in a row!  

Vaughan’s greatest resource is its staff – and the City employs best-practices to ensure its workforce has the full support of the organization. And it’s being noticed. Today, it was announced the City of Vaughan is one of the Greater Toronto’s Top Employers for 2022 – the second year in a row the City has received this prestigious recognition.
 
The City’s commitment to its people – the approximately 1,600 staff members who dedicate their time and talents to making the City run as effectively and efficiently as possible – enables the organization to deliver upon its Council-approved priorities. As an equal opportunity employer and a forward-looking municipality, the City remains committed to fostering a dynamic workplace that is diverse, inclusive and welcoming. This recognition further validates Vaughan as not only a great place to live, retire and play, but also to work.
 
Hiring and retaining a highly skilled workforce committed to achieving personal and professional goals is a top priority. The City fosters initiatives and opportunities that focus on staff development, engagement, leadership and growth. Vaughan is also committed to providing its employees with competitive salaries and a comprehensive, family-focused benefits package emphasizing work-life balance. Exciting learning opportunities, employee assistance and recognition, health and wellness programs and flexible work arrangements add to an extensive list of benefits.
 
A few of the City-led programs and initiatives that make the organization a top employer are as follows:
 
Employee survey
One of the ways the City measures its progress is a bi-annual employee engagement survey that assesses the work environment, employee health and well-being, work-life balance, leadership, performance opportunities, work processes, collaboration, empowerment and company practices, among others. The survey reveals the level of job satisfaction and engagement of City employees, gives staff the opportunity to contribute to the City’s continued growth, creates a workplace shaped by their feedback and positions Vaughan as an employer of choice for current and future employees. Overall, the City’s employee engagement scores have continuously increased year over year and are used by the management team to inform a plan of action that addresses areas identified for improvement.
 
Leadership development
Retaining skilled talent is also a priority and it is why the City implemented its very own Emerging Leaders Program. Emerging Leaders is a succession planning and leadership development program for staff interested in future leadership opportunities at the City. Being selected into the program supports career aspirations by establishing a clear and customized learning and development plan geared to an employee’s needs and aligned with the City’s leadership competencies.
 
Staff wellness
City staff are equipped with resources to support their mental and physical health, including creating a workplace wellness program. The WELLNESS@VAUGHAN strategy encourages self-care and highlights the importance of staff's total health at work according to the following pillars: mental health, social health, financial health and physical health.
 
COVID-19 measures
COVID-19 abruptly changed the traditional way of doing business – but staff were well prepared. Essential services continue uninterrupted and departments across the organization introduced or enhanced virtual offerings to provide new, efficient and streamlined experiences. As the pandemic evolved, so did the City’s health and safety procedures to keep staff safe. New initiatives continue to be introduced to ensure staff have all the required information and resources they need to successfully and safely perform their roles. These include a Business Reintegration Plan.
 
Strategic priorities
Vaughan’s promising future is guided by the 2018-2022 Term of Council Service Excellence Strategic Plan, which represents how Vaughan’s administration goes above and beyond to deliver innovative, exciting and transformational city-building initiatives. These include safeguarding the environment, building active and inclusive communities and unleashing economic prosperity. It upholds the City’s values of respect, accountability and dedication toward one another and embodies the mission of citizens first through Service Excellence.
 
QUOTES
“I am pleased to announce the City of Vaughan has been named one of the Greater Toronto's Top Employers for the second consecutive year. This prestigious recognition is a testament to the hard work and dedication of all staff who have answered the call of duty and stepped up to the important task of city-building. I truly believe public service is not a job; it is a vocation. Our team of professionals is committed to putting citizens first through Service Excellence and, through their efforts, are making a positive impact in the community. They keep our parks clean and roads safe, respond to citizen inquiries, deliver recreational programs and activities, plan for the future of our city, and everything in between. I want to express my gratitude and appreciation to all members of Team Vaughan for making a meaningful difference. Our city's transformation is only just beginning, and with several significant city-building initiatives underway, Vaughan upholds its position as a city of choice and a great place to live, work, visit and raise a family. By continuing to work together, we will unleash our city's full potential and shape a promising future for generations to come.”
- Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua
 
“I commend our entire administration for being recognized as one of Greater Toronto’s Top Employers for 2022. This consecutive accreditation validates all the hard work, dedication and commitment that City staff have poured into their careers as public servants. I am proud of the work completed to date and look forward to what’s still to come. Vaughan has a promising future, and so do its employees. The City’s workforce – approximately 1,600 employees – work around the clock to deliver Service Excellence. And it shows. The City will continue to be innovative in its practices, implement progressive policies and execute exceptional customer service that residents, business owners and staff will continue to be proud of. Once again, congratulations to all City staff for being named a top employer. It is well deserved.”
- Nick Spensieri, City Manager
 
QUICK FACTS
  • The City of Vaughan has been named one of the Greater Toronto’s Top Employers for 2022. This is the second year in a row that the top employer accreditation has been received.
  • The 2022 winners were evaluated on the following 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.
  • At the City of Vaughan, its staff continue to be the most vital resource enabling the City to deliver upon its Service Excellence priorities to ensure citizen satisfaction, economic growth and continued prosperity.
  • As an equal opportunity employer and a forward-looking municipality, the City remains committed to fostering a dynamic workplace that is diverse, inclusive and welcoming.
 
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