Medavie owes this designation to our more than 7,200 employees in diverse fields across Canada, who come to work every day focused on our shared mission to improve the wellbeing of Canadians.

Employers are evaluated by the editors of Canada’s Top 100 Employers using eight criteria: (1) Physical Workplace; (2) Work Atmosphere & Social; (3) Health, Financial & Family Benefits; (4) Vacation & Time Off; (5) Employee Communications; (6) Performance Management; (7) Training & Skills Development; and (8) Community Involvement. Employers are compared to other organizations in their field to determine which offers the most progressive and forward-thinking programs.

As one of Canada’s Top 100 Employers, Medavie was profiled in a special announcement magazine. Here is our profile as it appeared nationally in The Globe and Mail, as well as through a digital version of the magazine and online through the Globe's website, Eluta.ca, and Canada's Top 100 website.

Caring and culture at the heart of Medavie

In 2008, a few days into her new job with Medavie as a disability claims specialist at Medavie Blue Cross, Sylvia Atkinson felt comfortable enough to let her hair down — literally. It was an important step in her evolution both as an employee and as a person.

“As a visible minority, I never felt my naturally curly hair was professional, so I straightened it or wore it in a ponytail,” says Atkinson, now Manager of Life and Disability Management.“ Medavie was the first employer that made me feel comfortable with my individuality.”

Medavie is a national health solutions partner that integrates benefits management, health management and healthcare delivery. Overseeing Medavie Blue Cross and Medavie Health Services, over 7,200 employees across Canada are dedicated to improving the wellbeing of Canadians.

CEO Bernard Lord is working hard to nurture and grow an even more diverse and inclusive culture. “At Medavie we are fostering a culture that promotes openness, understanding and sense of belonging where everyone can bring their true selves to work.”

Since joining the organization 13 years ago, Atkinson says her career advancement is linked to Medavie’s strong culture of caring.

“I never aspired to be a leader because I didn’t have any friends who looked like me as role models,” she says.

In 2021, Atkinson was honoured to join the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion employee working group. “I felt very inspired to be part of it,” she says. “While we are making progress, we also recognize that we can continue to do better to make sure we reflect the communities we serve.”

The pandemic has been a prime opportunity for Medavie to live our values of being caring, accountable, responsive, innovative and community-minded, propelling us to do better on myriad levels, says Lord. It taught all of us we can do things differently, and much faster, than they could ever have conceived. And that implementing a flexible work environment where possible would make the company more attractive to new talent.

“Innovation isn’t just developing new gadgets and technology, it’s also adapting to new ways of thinking,” says Lord.

Medavie aims to align its purpose — improving the wellbeing of Canadians — with its culture. Since most of its office employees remain working at home, wellness initiatives such as last summer’s INSPIRE World Tour physical-activity challenge help boost morale and encourage people to be active. “We had almost 550 employees participate in our challenge — taking enough steps to go around the world almost five times over.” says Lord.

Atkinson, a national champion powerlifter, also rose to the challenge (her team placed in the Top 10). “It created excitement because we shared a common goal to be healthy, especially during the pandemic,” she says. “And it motivated us to get outside during our workday.”

That compassionate culture has a broad reach beyond Medavie’s internal borders.

“Caring for our people, our members, our clients, patients and communities is at the heart of Medavie — it is how we are helping to build a healthier Canada,” says Lord.

Learn about our editors' full Reasons for Medavie’s selection as a Top 100 Employer on the Canada's Top 100 website, globeandmail.com and on Eluta.ca.

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