McMaster University has been named one of the 2021 winners of the Canada’s Healthy Workplace Month Great Employer Award.

The award, given by Excellence Canada, recognizes workplaces for their efforts to create and maintain physically and psychologically safe and healthy workplaces for their employees.

Excellence Canada is an independent, not-for-profit corporation that is dedicated to advancing organizational performance across the country.

There are four main areas in which workplaces were evaluated: physical health, mental health, social health and community.

McMaster and this year’s other award recipients have been recognized for their efforts in supporting employees to develop and maintain healthy behaviours, avoid risky habits and make use of healthcare advancement opportunities. A workplace’s due diligence towards Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) and optimal facility design are also factored in.

McMaster has been recognized as an organization that encourages a workplace culture based on respect, trust, support and inclusivity.

Employees’ positive social well-being, as measured by their relationships with coworkers, interactions with management and a sense of belonging to the university as a whole helped McMaster win the award.

And as a socially responsible organization, McMaster was recognized for empowering employees to do good, volunteer, give back to the community and engage with formal social responsibility programs.

This year, McMaster is one of twelve workplaces who have been awarded for the organizational systems they have put in place to achieve exemplary employee health.