April 2, 2024

Toronto, ON – Diamond Schmitt has reaffirmed its status in Canada’s Top Small & Medium Employers (SME) program for the tenth year in a row. The competition, managed by Mediacorp Canada Inc., recognizes small and medium enterprises that offer some of the country’s best workplaces and enhanced human resources policies.

“What’s remarkable about the employers on this year’s list is how quickly and effectively they’ve worked to create rewards and other programs developed from employee input,” says Kristina Leung, managing editor of the Canada’s Top 100 Employers project. “SMEs have enviable levels of customization, flexibility and speed-of-implementation that are difficult for larger employers to match.” 

Editors at Mediacorp review employers on eight criteria each year: (1) Workplace; (2) Work Atmosphere & Social; (3) Health, Financial & Family Benefits; (4) Vacation & Time Off; (5) Employee Communications; (6) Performance Management; (7) Training & Skills Development; and (8) Community Involvement. The employers chosen this year are recognized for their dexterity and for adopting initiatives faster than large employers.

Here are some of the reasons why Diamond Schmitt was selected:

• Diamond Schmitt Architects incorporates employee feedback when determining charitable initiatives to receive the firm's support, and matches charitable donations made by employees in-kind, to a maximum of $1,500 per employee per year;
  
• Diamond Schmitt Architects supports employees who want to start a family with maternity and parental leave top-up (to 80 per cent of salary for up to 12 weeks) and offers the option for new parents to phase-in their return to work; and,
  
• Diamond Schmitt Architects encourages employees to adopt healthy habits through health challenges organized by the company's benefits provider (with redeemable points as rewards for completing activities) and free access to virtual and on-demand instructor-led work out videos through its corporate partnership with Goodlife Fitness.

“SMEs are often the trendsetters, taking risks on initiatives like enhanced paid time-off, flexible hours and hybrid work options long before these types of improvements are considered by larger employers. As employers of all sizes compete to attract and retain staff, the best SMEs take notice of what larger employers are offering employees, such as parental leave top-up, mental health programs, and even retirement assistance. Both groups of employers end up moving the dial to ensure that programs improve and benefit all their employees.” says Richard Yerema, executive editor at the Canada’s Top 100 Employers project.

A full summary of the editors' Reasons for Selection can be viewed here.

In addition to this recognition, Diamond Schmitt is among Canada’s Top 100 Employers and Greater Toronto’s Top Employers for 2024.