Ottawa’s Best Places to Work in 2023

Mia Jensen – Ottawa Business Journal
August 22, 2023 1:31 PM ET

Last year, Orangutech Inc. made the conscious decision to put resources toward improving the workplace experience and culture for employees. Now, that decision has paid off, allowing Orangutech to take top spot in this year’s rankings of Best Places to Work, an annual program organized by the Ottawa Business Journal and the Ottawa Board of Trade.

“It’s been a long journey,” said Orangutech president Lachlan Henderson of the decision to bring in additional human resources personnel and revamp the company’s benefits and employee support programs.

“It’s kind of been these three pillars of our organization from an internal focus: investing in our people, investing in our clients, and investing in our community. Those three things permeate a lot of the leadership and business decisions that I make with my team on a day-to-day basis, month-to-month, and quarter-to-quarter basis.”

From Henderson’s perspective, Orangutech’s commitment to inclusivity and transparency as well as its efforts to build a positive company culture were major contributors to success.

“I’m honoured that Orangutech has made that top spot,” he said. “It’s a testament to the employees, the work that they do, and that decision to invest in our people. All the work we’ve done has really culminated and resulted in these sorts of awards. I’m hugely proud of everything that everyone has done to get us to this point.”

Employer and employee surveys

Participants in the program were ranked according to the results of employee and employer questionnaires and surveys conducted by the U.S.-based Workforce Research Group.

Employees were asked to rate the performance of their workplace in categories such as leadership and planning, corporate culture, job satisfaction, training, and pay and benefits. Employers, meanwhile, filled out an extensive questionnaire that determined what types of benefits they provide to employees and assessed how their workplaces address issues ranging from work-life balance to diversity.

OBJ publisher Michael Curran says it’s never been more important for companies to focus on talent.

“OBJ, along with our friends at the board of trade, are once again excited to present this top 10 list of best employers,” said Curran. “Attracting and retaining talent has always been a key success factor, but never more important than today, when we’re faced with all these significant challenges in business.”

Curran pointed out that seven of the top 10 are new to the list this year. “The recipients reflect a real mix of the local business scene. We hope they inspire others in their respective sectors to strive for high engagement.”

Companies from across the region took part in the survey process. Eligible firms were required to be in business for at least a year as well as maintain an office and have a minimum of 15 employees in the National Capital Region.

Recipients will be celebrated at the inaugural Best Places to Work Career and Training Expo, scheduled for Sept. 28 at the Shaw Centre. The event is an opportunity for job-seekers and workers who want to explore career options to meet face-to-face with some of the region’s best employers.

The 2023 Best Places to Work recipients are:

  • Orangutech Inc.
  • DataKinetics
  • MP Lundy Construction
  • Inside Edge Properties
  • Decisive Group Inc.
  • Fellow
  • RVezy
  • Stoneworks Technology Inc.
  • DILFO Mechanical
  • The Ottawa Hospital Foundation

The event is free to attend with advance registration. For more information, visit www.bestplacestoworkottawa.ca.

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