Daily actions speak louder than words
It’s no accident that National Bank Financial Group has been recognized as one of the 50 Best Employers in Canada. It’s because we value the unique qualities, skills and competencies of each and every one of our employees. We offer them the opportunity to develop their talents by, for example, supporting them through equitable, constantly-evolving programs and policies.
Training sessions on diversity
Living with diversity on a daily basis is a voyage of discovery! That’s why National Bank Financial Group has set up training sessions for employees and managers on this important subject. These sessions increase their awareness of the concept of diversity and give them tools to help them better manage and live with diversity on a daily basis, both within their work teams and with clients.
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Policy on Reasonable Accommodation
Through its Policy on Reasonable Accommodation, National Bank Financial Group is committed to taking reasonable measures to eliminate any obstacle to the work of employees in the four designated groups under employment equity legislation: women, persons with disabilities, members of visible minorities and Aboriginal people—and all other employees for reasons related to diversity.
This policy allows the Bank to accommodate individuals for religious holidays, organize a workspace and provide accessibility through specialized equipment such as software for employees with visual limitations, computers with special keyboards, etc.
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Recruiting Strategies
Over the years, National Bank Financial Group has developed many innovative ways to recruit a diversified workforce. It has access to a sizeable pool of potential candidates with characteristics and values that cover a broad spectrum, including women, men, members of visible minorities, persons with disabilities, Aboriginal people and people of different generations or with diversified work experience.
For over 15 years, National Bank Financial Group has formed partnerships with various organizations working in the area of employment integration. These relationships have given our recruiting officers a better idea of the needs of candidates from the designated groups, such as women, Aboriginal people, visible minorities and persons with disabilities, but also from other groups, such as new immigrants. The Bank also hires interns with an intellectual disability who are referred by schools or employment integration organizations.
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Report on Employment Equity
Every year, National Bank Financial Group prepares an employer’s annual report for the federal government in which it describes the development of employment equity at the National Bank. This report contains important statistics and facts documenting the evolution of employment equity within the organization.
The National Bank has also prepared an employment equity action plan. Thanks to the measures we have taken and the relationships we have forged as a result of this action plan, our employment equity figures have risen steadily over the past few years.
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Social Responsibility Report
Every year since 2003, National Bank Financial Group has published a Social Responsibility Report documenting our commitment to shareholders, to the community, to clients, SMEs and economic development, to our employees, to the environment and all its stakeholders.
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Celebrating diversity!
In conjunction with its practices and policies aimed at promoting diversity, National Bank Financial Group organizes several awareness activities throughout the year to promote and celebrate the diversity of its personnel and clientele.
Diversity Week: What better opportunity to celebrate our differences! For a whole week, a wide range of activities are organized across the country to enable employees to become better acquainted with their colleagues and customers and appreciate what makes us all different. These activities include intercultural meals, conferences, employees’ personal stories, quizzes, barbecues and activities to increase awareness of the reality of people with disabilities.
In 2007, courage and audacity were on display during the opening activity of Diversity Week when Louis Vachon, President and CEO, other members of senior management and teamed up with disabled athletes for a friendly game of wheelchair basketball.
In 2008, 820 employees and 16 members of senior management got a taste of warm Senegalese hospitality or “teranga.” Management served up a typical Senegalese meal to the beautiful sounds of the group Taafé Fanga.
International Day of Disabled Persons: Through different activities, this day encourages our employees to look beyond the disability to see and appreciate the full potential of people with disabilities. Such occasions give National Bank an opportunity to reiterate its support for the personal and professional development of disabled employees.
Citizenship Week: National Bank organizes activities to draw attention to new Canadian citizens. In 2004 for example, Bank employees who had become Canadian citizens during their career with the Bank presented their personal stories to their colleagues.
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