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Hill+Knowlton Strategies Canada again named one of Canada's Best Workplaces

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By Business Wirevia The Motley Fool

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Hill+Knowlton Strategies Canada again named one of Canada‘s Best Workplaces


Seven-time winner also named a best workplace for women for third year in a row

TORONTO–(BUSINESS WIRE)– It’s official: the Great Place to Work® Institute Canada has named Hill+Knowlton Strategies Canada (H+K)one of the Best Workplaces in Canada – for the seventh consecutive year. Listed alongside only 100 other companies – all announced in the Globe and Mail‘s special national report today – the firm was also honoured with a Best Workplaces for Women Award for the third year running.

For the second year running, H+K is also one of only six organizations to win in the “Credibility” category, where an organization’s track record of integrity and consistent communication with staff are key criteria. It celebrates companies that ask for, respect and respond to employee feedback.

“We know, without question, that our people are the finest public relations and public affairs practitioners in the country. Creating an environment that makes people feel engaged, appreciated and motivated to perform has always been our top priority,” says Mike Coates, chairman and CEO of Hill+Knowlton Strategies. “This award is special because means that the culture we’ve created at H+K is one to which our people feel connected.”

Hill+Knowlton Strategies is well-known for its family-friendly, flexible commitment to work-life balance. In addition to employees’ eligibility to “buy” or “sell” up to one week of vacation per year, H+K also has a “gift of time” program that offers an extra half day off before nationwide long weekends; this results in an additional 3.5 days off each calendar year. Some offices even offer onsite massage therapy.

There are “H+Kers” who telecommute, allowing them to work from home, while others work part-time. It’s not unusual for employees to participate in school carpools or leave early to take elderly parents to doctor’s appointments since the company trusts that work will get done – even if it’s after 5 p.m.

The company also has a long history of subsidizing health-club memberships and, after listening to employees’ feedback about the program, updated the fitness-subsidy initiative: “Employees now have far more choice; they can use their annual subsidy to offset the cost of personal home-fitness equipment, cover the costs of team sports or even yoga and dance classes, or use it to join a …read more

Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance

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Hill+Knowlton Canada's health practice strengthens senior leadership

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By Business Wirevia The Motley Fool

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Hill+Knowlton Canada’s health practice strengthens senior leadership

Leslie McGill joins, Francine Beck appointed to new role

TORONTO–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Hill+Knowlton Strategies (H+K), Canada‘s No. 1-rated public relations and public affairs firm, today announces two appointments in the national health practice. Leslie McGill joined the firm as senior vice-president and Francine Beck has been promoted to senior vice-president. Both share leadership of the company’s health practice.

“Our most distinguishing feature is that we can seamlessly integrate public affairs and public relations from coast to coast – there isn’t another agency in Canada like us,” says Mike Coates, chairman and CEO of H+K Canada. “We’ve put tremendous focus on building a strong health team with diverse talents so we can address the ever-evolving needs of our growing roster of health clients; and we’re illustrating that from the top down with Leslie and Francine’s appointments.”

Francine Beck is a 20-year health-consulting veteran. She has extensive communications and marketing expertise, supporting domestic and global clients in the life sciences (pharmaceutical), consumer health, environment and physical activity sectors. A former journalist, she is a seasoned media relations strategist with expertise in stakeholder engagement, sponsorship amplification, social marketing campaigns and health-care professional communications.

Prior to joining H+K, Francine worked in a senior capacity at another international agency playing a lead role in business development for health-focused clients. In addition to her work in health and pharmaceuticals, she was also lead agency counsel for TO 2008 – Toronto’s bid for the 2008 Olympic and Paralympic Games – and mobilized support for Toronto, working with government leaders and journalists from around the world.

Leslie McGill is a seasoned health-care strategist who joins H+K directly from the Ontario Pharmacists’ Association where, as vice-president strategic development, she integrated the communications, partnerships and membership functions of the Association and led several complex projects including multi-partner communications for the province-wide roll out of pharmacists’ increased scope of practice.

As senior vice-president for Medbuy Corporation, Canada‘s leading health-care group purchasing organization, Leslie developed a deep understanding of both the Canadian and U.S. landscapes for bulk purchasing – not only for pharmaceuticals, but also medical capital equipment, medical devices and medical/surgical consumables. During her 25 years in health-care communications, marketing and public affairs she has consulted to a wide range of public- and private-sector organizations, providing counsel on product launches, fundraising, reputation management, corporate social responsibility, strategic partnerships, brand positioning, change management and community relations.

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Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance