Kootenay Career Development Society recognized as a Best Workplace
By Contributor
Kootenay Career Development Society (KCDS) is being recognized as one of this year’s Best WorkplacesTM in Canada.
The KCDS staff recently gathered online in anticipation of the virtual reveal and they were not disappointed. KCDS moved up the list from 23rd in Canada the previous year, to 6th.
This list, and related stories, will appear in a Special National Report on Friday April 17, 2020 in The Globe and Mail.
Under normal circumstances, it is easy to reflect on what makes Kootenay Career Development Society an amazing place to work, it’s the people! A constellation of intelligence, empathy, talent, commitment and respect that together really make KCDS stand out. Individually, each member of the KCDS team is devoted to their work, serving individuals and the communities they live in. Parallel to this exists a dedication to each other, demonstrated through teamwork, comradery and bonds that transcend the professional sphere.
What makes KCDS an exceptional place to work is the leadership. These are extraordinary times and we have all witnessed a lot of fear and unease relating to our jobs and future livelihoods. Early on in the pandemic, the severity of its impact yet to be revealed, KCDS’ leadership had the courage to put its people first, moving swiftly to find a service delivery model that would not compromise its commitment to clients while also serving the needs of staff. It is the human centered approach combined with professional integrity that has built a foundation of social trust, making KCDS a truly great place to work. (KCDS Staff Member).
The 2020 Best WorkplacesTM in Canada list is compiled by the Great Place to Work® Institute. The competition process is based on two criteria: two-thirds of the total score comes from confidential employee survey results and the remaining one-third comes from an in-depth review of the organization’s culture. This offers a rigorous representation of the organization from an employee perspective, and an overall portrait of the workplace culture. Together, they provide crucial data relative to five trust-building dimensions: credibility, respect, fairness, pride, and camaraderie.
This year’s list received over 400 registrations and over 80,000 employees participated in the 2020 “Best WorkplacesTM in Canada” survey, rolling out to impact over 300,000 Canadian employees.
About Great Place to Work®:
Great Place to Work® is the global authority on high-trust, high-performance workplace cultures. It is a global research and consulting firm with a mission to build a better society by helping companies transform their workplaces. Great Place to Work® provides the benchmarks, framework, and expertise needed to create, sustain, and recognize outstanding workplace cultures. In Canada, Great Place to Work® produces both industry and demographic specific Best WorkplaceTM lists. This is part of the world’s largest annual workplace study, which culminates in a series of national lists in over 50 countries, including the study’s flagship list of 100 Best Companies published annually in Fortune magazine. Globally, this survey represents the voices of 11 million employees, which are the primary determinant used in selecting winners. There’s only one way to get on this list – your employees have to put you on it.
About Kootenay Career Development Society
Kootenay Career Development Society is a regional non-profit organization operating in BC’s Southern Interior. Since 2004, KCDS has been delivering dynamic and responsive career development and employment support services to job seekers and employers. KCDS’ organizational model prioritizes partnership, cooperation and community development, working collaboratively to delivery multiple programs across the region and participating in a wide variety of community initiatives. KCDS has five primary programs, 60 staff, seven partner organizations, serves hundreds of clients and is still growing.
Photo Caption: KCDS staff in a photo taken in 2019 were recently recognized at one of the Best WorkplacesTM in Canada.
