Greater Toronto's Top Employers is an annual competition organized by the editors of Canada's Top 100 Employers. Originating in 1999, the competition recognizes the Greater Toronto employers that lead their industries in offering exceptional places to work, with specific emphasis on working conditions and progressive human resources policies. Winners are announced each October in The Globe and Mail while the annual list is organized by Mediacorp Canada Inc.
Each employer's operations and human-resources practices are judged by eight criteria:
- physical workplace, including perks such as onsite gyms and lounges;
- work atmosphere and social, described as the overall culture, including organized events;
- health, financial and family benefits;
- vacation and time off;
- employee communications, the company's procedures to communicate and get feedback from employees;
- performance management, including performance reviews, recognition and rewards;
- training and skills development; and
- community involvement.
Employers are invited to apply to Canada's Top 100 Employers at www.canadastop100.com/apply.html. To be considered applicants complete a single form which covers the national competition, plus 18 popular regional and special-interest top employer competitions.
This year The Law Society of Upper Canada has been chosen as one of Greater Toronto's top employers. The Law Society of Upper Canada offers parental leave top-up payments (to 93% of salary for 17 weeks) for new mothers and fathers, including adoptive parents, provides a wide array of alternative work options, including flexible scheduling, telecommuting and a 35-hour work week, with full pay, supports employee development with a variety of in-house training initiatives and tuition subsidies for employees taking courses at outside institutions and provides compassionate leave top-up payments (to 70% for 8 weeks) for employees taking leave to care for a loved one.
As a component of the Law Society's mandate to ensure the competence of lawyers and paralegals, on January 1, 2011 The Law Society of Upper Canada introduced a continuing professional development requirement of 12 hours annually for practising lawyers and paralegals who provide legal services, with a minimum of three hours to be taken in professional responsibility, ethics and practice management.
This year the challenges and opportunities for Francophone, Aboriginal, and equality-seeking communities in law and the legal profession have been brought to light by the Law Society of Upper Canada though public events and Webcasts, specifically the Law Society of Upper Canada's Public Education Equality and Rule of Law Series that promotes awareness, education and discussion of such issues. The Law Society of Upper Canada continually works with many partners to host several public events throughout the year.
The Law Society of Upper Canada recognizes outstanding achievement by distinguished members of the profession yearly, awarding honorary doctorates of law at the Call to the Bar ceremonies. This year, the Law Society awarded a Doctor of Laws degree, honoris causa (LL.D.), to Marion Boyd, The Honourable Robert J. Sharpe, Court of Appeal for Ontario and Professor John D. McCamus, LSM, Chair of the Board of Directors of Legal Aid Ontario. Since January 2011, 1,445 new lawyers have been called to the Bar of Ontario and the majority of these lawyers were called to the Bar at ceremonies held in June in London Toronto and Ottawa.
"Let Right Prevail"
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