Desjardins General Insurance Group Named One of Canada's 50 Best Employers
Levis, Québec, December 29, 2006 – Desjardins General Insurance Group (DGIG) is proud to be named one of the 50 Best Employers in Canada for 2007, in a list published in the January issue of The Globe and Mail’s Report on Business magazine, which is available on newsstands today. The results are largely based on employee surveys conducted by Hewitt Associates earlier this year.
“Needless to say, we are very happy to be on this prestigious list once again. Some 1,225 employees – more than one in three – were surveyed, providing a credible and representative sample,” said Jude Martineau, DGIG’s President and Chief Operating Officer.
“Our Canada-wide employee engagement level is now 80%, which is a significant improvement over previous results. Since employee engagement is the key factor in determining rank, we were able to jump from 30th place in 2005 to 12th in 2007,” Mr. Martineau added.
What are engaged employees?
Engaged employees speak positively about their organization, they want to continue working there, and they strive for excellence. DGIG’s high employee engagement is certainly attributable to the strengths identified in the survey.
Examples of these strengths include: the company encourages employee training and development; employees believe the company has a good reputation and promotes a healthy work-life balance; employees enjoy a good relationship with their immediate manager and also feel respected by their colleagues; and DGIG senior management clearly defines the future direction of the organization and provides employees with specific strategies for success. These results confirm that DGIG employees are proud of and committed to the organization.
“Walking the talk”
DGIG informs all employees of its targeted objectives and desired results. “Our decisions are in line with both our business strategy and our values, and we clearly communicate our goals. Our employees know where the organization is going and what it takes to get there; they are thus more likely to make a full contribution and find meaning in their work,” the President concluded.
DGIG has participated in the Best Employers in Canada survey three times: in 2000, 2005 and 2007. It made the list every time.
About Desjardins General Insurance Group
Desjardins General Insurance Group (DGIG) is a member of Desjardins Group, the largest financial cooperative group in Canada. With over 3,300 employees across Canada, a portfolio of more than 1.8 million policies in force, a business volume of $1.4 billion and assets of $2.6billion, DGIG ranks among the top ten property and casualty (P&C) insurers in Canada. Through its subsidiaries, DGIG offers direct P&C insurance to the general public, to members of partner groups and to businesses in Québec.
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Information:
Stéphane Mailhot
Desjardins General Insurance Group
Cell: 418-254-7072