2024 Impact Award winners: Supporting employees
Now in its fourth year, the Canadian Grocer Impact Awards celebrates Canadian grocery retail and CPG businesses that are going above and beyond to make the world a better place
We recognized 41 winners in 2024 for making a positive impact in the areas of sustainability, supporting employees, diversity, equity & inclusion and community service.
See the full list of winners here.
Three companies won in the category of supporting employees. Here’s why:
Longo’s
To help its employees deal with rising day-to-day expenses, Longo’s launched Dayforce Wallet in 2021, a platform that allows employees to access their wages after a shift before payday without incurring interest charges.
“If a team member needs an advance on their pay, they no longer have to call us,” says Angela Biasini, Longo’s human resources information systems manager. “They’ve earned the pay and they deserve to receive it whenever they need it.”
READ: Longo’s president Deb Craven on leadership and growing the business
Since implementing the program, Longo’s has disbursed more than $4.2 million to more than 800 employees and averages 88 requests per day. Chief human resources officer Liz Volk says it was the right time to adopt this product given ongoing inflation.
“Dayforce Wallet is a differentiator [and] there are not many retail organizations here in Canada that have implemented it, and people need that kind of flexibility in their lives,” she says. Having access to your pay when you want it, creates a great team member experience and peace of mind, says Volk. “I really do believe it’s the way of the future.”
Calgary Co-op
The One-to-One Management Leadership Training Program at Calgary Co-op is a comprehensive talent development initiative aimed at enhancing skills, performance and engagement of employees across various areas of the business.
On top of developing leadership skills, the program drives operational excellence by equipping managers with the necessary tools and resources to streamline processes, optimize efficiency and enhance productivity. So far, the training program has proved so positive in terms of boosting employee morale, improving sales and customer service quality, the grocer has committed to redoubling its efforts to refine and expand it in the future.
READ: How grocery leaders are inspiring and motivating their employees
“Winning this award is a testament to our unwavering commitment to fostering a culture of continuous learning, effective leadership and excellence within Calgary Co-op,” says CEO Ken Keelor. “This recognition highlights our dedication to equipping our team with the skills and support they need to thrive, ensuring our employees feel valued, motivated and empowered to contribute to our collective success.”
Investing in staff also creates a workplace where everyone can reach their full potential, he says.
Nestlé Canada
As a next step in its journey to build a culture of recognition and an environment that acknowledges and values the contributions of its employees, last year Nestlé Canada launched Nestlé Changemakers.
“At Nestlé Canada we understand that in today’s dynamic marketplace, there is a need for people who see the future and seize opportunities, challenge the status quo and are passionate about making a difference in big and small ways,” says Karine Laverdière, senior vice-president, human resources. “We recognize these people as Nestlé Changemakers and they are fuelled by agility, courage and trust, the attributes that we believe are the most important for future success.”
To kick-off the program, the company’s executive team nominated seven employees as Changemakers who were celebrated in a video presented at an annual company meeting. From there, the Changemakers of the Month recognition program was launched to encourage employees to nominate peers that are driving positive change and business results within the organization. Those named Changemakers are recognized during a monthly CEO webcast and receive points that can be redeemed for such things as merchandise, travel, charitable donations and gift cards.
Nestlé says the program has become a driving force in the company and the made-in-Canada initiative is being adopted by other Nestlé businesses.
Winners of the 2024 Impact Awards are featured in Canadian Grocer’s August issue.
