Canada's Best Diversity Employers (2026) Magazine - Magazine - Page 6
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STAPLES
CANADA’S BEST DIVERSITY EMPLOYERS (2026)
p Last year, Staples Canada ULC took part in the Toronto Pride Parade for the first time, celebrating diversity and inclusion with their associates and the community.
Coverage for every stage of life
Today’s inclusive benefits offer employees choice and flexibility
I
t’s not yesterday’s benefits package.
Canada’s Best Diversity Employers
(2026) have evolved along with
societal changes to reflect today’s
multi-generational workforce,
moving away from a one-size-fits-all to a
more personalized approach. Beyond
vision, hearing and dental, these winning
organizations typically provide support for
mental health, IVF, surrogacy and
adoption, as well as inclusive parental
leave top-up. Often, much more.
Co-operators, a leading financial
services co-operative, introduced inclusive
benefits in 2024 that also added gender
affirming care, Indigenous health benefits,
and weight management medication.
More recently, the company expanded
access to virtual health services, plus
coverage for occupational therapy after
employees pointed out the gap.
“Our employees have the freedom to
select the coverage that makes sense for
their circumstances, rather than trying to
fit themselves into a predefined model,”
says Laura Mably, executive vice-president
and chief human resources officer.
“We launched these benefits at the same
time we were offering similar solutions to
our clients. That alignment matters to us.
It reinforces that inclusion isn’t something
we talk about internally and practice
differently externally.”
Mably also shared how benefits made
an extraordinary difference for a young
employee who was diagnosed with cancer.
Along with that devastating news, the
treatment was likely to affect her ability to
have children.
“Because we had family-building
coverage, she was able to freeze her eggs
without having to navigate the hurdles of
coverage gaps, eligibility, or take on the
entire financial burden – and just focus on
her health,” Mably recounts. “It’s a
reminder that benefits aren’t abstract.
They show up in real moments, often
during the most difficult chapters of
someone’s life.”
Similarly, at Staples Canada ULC
benefits programs play a meaningful role
in helping employees feel safe, respected
and supported at work. The company
recently expanded mental health services
as well as including gender affirmation
coverage and providing gender-neutral
facilities.
“One of our goals as a company is to
create a workplace where associates feel
like they belong,” says Adrian Lang, chief
legal and human resources officer. “When
people see themselves reflected in the
benefits and environment available to
them, it directly supports well-being, trust
and engagement.”
Lang says the company continuously evaluates whether programs meet the needs of
its people by combining data insights with
direct feedback and broader research on
workplace well-being. As with all elements
of inclusion success, listening matters.
– Diane Jermyn
