Greater Toronto's Top Employers (2026) Magazine - Magazine - Page 21
21
ASTRAZENECA
( 2026 )
p Staff at Mississauga-based AstraZeneca Canada taking time to celebrate Employee Appreciation Day.
Staying strong when adversity is everywhere
This year’s GTA winners recognize that employee mental health counts just as much as physical health
F
or many GTA employees, there
are a lot of distractions that
dampen peoples’ confidence
right now. From artificial
intelligence to tariff turmoil and
sticker shock at the grocery store, there’s
plenty in the news to make people feel
unsettled and anxious.
Staying strong is an important aspect of
not just physical health, but mental health
as well – and Greater Toronto’s Top Employers (2026) know what it takes to keep employees healthy. To help employees navigate
challenging times, this year’s winners have
responded with new wellness initiatives
that go beyond traditional benefits,
providing support for mental health,
financial wellness, community building
and individual employee needs.
Often the response is tied to feedback
from employees who need support across
different wellness pillars. Building on
comprehensive health plans, many
winning organizations increased coverage
for mental health care for treatments such
as subsidized therapy, paid well-being
days, workshops and webinars, with some
even providing free access to a life coach
and meditation apps to help boost
employee resilience.
The message from this year’s winners to
employees is that we want you to stay
strong, both physically and mentally – and
we’ll be there to support whatever you
need when times get challenging.
Some winners have modified their
workplace environment when it’s possible.
For instance, Cadillac Fairview Corporation Limited houses physical wellness
rooms on every floor of the organization’s
head offices. McMillan LLP redesigned a
portion of its 41st floor office in downtown
Toronto to create a new ‘Fun Zone’ where
employees working on-site can take a
break informally over shuffle-board,
Pac-Man and boardgames.
Jennifer Quaglietta, CEO and registrar
at Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO),
says her organization takes an all-encompassing approach to employee care.
“It’s really about being compassionate
and having empathy for the individual,”
says Quaglietta. “Work shouldn’t just be
employer-centric, but really a person-centred experience. It’s about how we can
contribute positively to that individual’s
whole life, not just the asset they share
with us during the day.”
In addition to expanding its benefits
budget, PEO has strengthened internal
communications while also creating
“brave spaces” where employees feel
comfortable sharing what’s on their mind.
That includes Wellness Wednesdays with
healthy snacks and in-person staff forums,
as well as consulting employees about a
new AI tool.
“We’re tackling emerging challenges
head on and together,” says Quaglietta.
One recent HR initiative consolidated
multiple types of leave, such as sick leave
and family days, into a single “wellness
days” bank with no requirement to
dis-close the reason for taking a day off.
“People have a right to privacy for their
own personal time,” says Quaglietta. “We
have to trust our employees first and
demonstrate that trust holistically.
“We’re dedicated as a leadership team to
building a culture that’s built on trust,
inclusion and growth. We want to create
spaces where people feel welcome and
safe.”
– Diane Jermyn
