COVID-19, Employee Safety and Wellness
Employee health and safety are top priorities. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we adopted numerous health and safety measures in accordance with best-practice safe hygiene guidelines issued by recognized health experts such as the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO), as well as government mandates.
We provided for work-from-home arrangements for employees where possible, including providing employees with the necessary equipment to effectively work from home, provide regular communication updates to our employees on COVID-19 related matters, have implemented office sanitization protocols and require mask usage at the office and temperature and health screening prior to entering our facilities.
Diversity and Inclusion
We are committed to fostering a work environment that values and promotes diversity and inclusion. During 2020, several Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) were created and staffed by employees with diverse backgrounds, experiences or characteristics who share a common interest in professional development, improving corporate culture and delivering sustained business results. We provide equal access to and participation in programs and services without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, stereotypes or assumptions based thereon.
Employee Engagement, Development and Training
We invest resources in professional development and growth as a means to encourage employee performance, motivation and retention. We encourage and support the growth and development of our employees, and wherever possible, seek to fill positions by promotion or transfer from within the organization. We promote continuous learning and career development through ongoing performance and development discussions and evaluations, training programs, succession and talent pipeline planning and educational reimbursement programs. We provide our employees with the opportunity to provide regular feedback through surveys, meetings with management and CEO-led discussions. Our employees are also eligible to participate in a departmental rotation program to gain experience and knowledge about the organization.
Opportunities for continuous learning and development are available to our employees through internal and external training resources, conferences and seminars. We offer internal online training opportunities on topics such as diversity and inclusion, health and safety, personal development, computer skills and management training courses.
Compensation and Benefits
We are committed to providing our employees with a competitive compensation package, which rewards performance and achievement of desired business results and personal goal attainment. Our employee compensation package consists of base pay, a short-term incentive program for all of our employees, health and welfare benefits and retirement contributions. We analyze our compensation and benefits programs regularly to ensure they remain competitive with the market.
Health and wellness programs are provided and contribute to a productive workforce by empowering our employees to take personal responsibility for their health, safety and well-being. Employees are offered the opportunity to participate in healthcare and insurance benefits, disability insurance, health savings and flexible spending accounts, paid time off, parental leave and various wellness programs.
Community Involvement
We provide multi-faceted support for our communities to address needs where our employees work and live – both through corporate contributions and employee volunteer hours. Corporate sponsorships and employee volunteer opportunities support a wide range of non-profits, including those that address children and youth programs, education, safety, human trafficking, housing, abuse, joblessness, blood donations and many others.
As a part of its risk oversight function, the Board also monitors how management operates the Corporation, in part via its committee structure. The Board receives regular updates and reports from management, including from our enterprise risk management team, allowing the Board to evaluate our strategies and consider the risks involved in all of our insurance and investment activities.