Canada's Top 100 Employers (2025) Magazine - Flipbook - Page 52
52
( 2025 )
SPONSOR CONTENT
Roche Canada builds staff engagement with flexibility
F
or Roche Canada, an
organization that stresses
the importance of inclusion
and a close-knit culture,
the pandemic lockdown presented
a challenge. But leaders at the
pharmaceutical and diagnostics
giant, which has offices in
Mississauga, Ont., and Laval, Que.,
and employees across the country,
responded quickly to that challenge
to ensure their prized culture
remained strong.
“Our leadership really
supports our growth and
encourages us to excel,
whether it’s within our
department, within the
business or even globally.”
— Amanda Kazmierczak
Legal Analyst
“I loved going into the office, so
it was strange,” recalls legal analyst
Amanda Kazmierczak. “But right
away, the company launched a
wellness site with all the information about how to set up a home
workplace and the ergonomics of
chairs and keyboards, and our fitness
centre moved its classes online. It
was amazing.”
Matheus Vieira, president and
general manager of Roche Canada’s
Diagnostics division, says the
pandemic actually had a silver lining
in helping to increase employee
engagement.
“One thing we learned from
COVID was the value of being
flexible,” he says. “At Roche, we
always saw the value of face-to-face
interaction, because we believe
innovation happens when people
connect. But we also recognized the
value of employees adapting their
hours to live their best lives. So, now
we invite them to be in the office
most of the time but their hours are
flexible, and the feedback has been
great.”
Kazmierczak also appreciates
that flexibility. “Roche provides
phenomenal work-life balance,
with great benefits, making it easy
to accommodate family life and
personal life,” she says. “And because
of that, everyone comes to work
more engaged and more productive.
We want to be there.”
The company has implemented
a slew of initiatives to support staff
health and well-being, including
increased vacation days, Mental
Health Week activities and wellness
days where an additional company
holiday is added to long weekends.
“Our resources for physical and
mental health are amazing,” says
Kazmierczak. “I’m taking part in a
mental health program on how to
navigate individuals and colleagues
with issues like substance abuse,
anxiety and depression. My husband
is a first responder, and I have a huge
interest in understanding the mental
health aspects of jobs like that.”
There’s also an extensive series of
professional development programs
for employees, ranging from informal mentorships to more formal
courses.
“We invest in a wide range of
development programs, including
mentoring, dedicated one-on-one
coaching, peer learning platforms
and formal leadership development
programs,” says Vieira. “By tapping
Employees at Roche Canada are given the flexibility and support
needed for innovative collaboration with diverse perspectives.
into these programs, we are getting
better as leaders. As well, at least
once a year there’s a town hall where
leaders can learn and share practices
on how to evolve their teams.”
Kazmierczak recently took part
in a three-day learning festival with
sessions on incorporating AI,
leadership and taking on roles
on different teams. “Once again,
there’s a lot of flexibility,” she says.
“Our leadership really supports our
growth and encourages us to excel,
whether it’s within our department,
within the business or even globally,
because there are opportunities to
2,000
employees in Canada
work at other affiliates if we choose
to.”
Vieira has worked in several
other Roche locations, and finds it
remarkable that the culture is the
same everywhere.
“The countries are different, but
the Roche culture doesn’t change,”
he says. “It’s about trust and inclusion. This is what makes me go to
the office every day and say I belong
here, I feel good here. And I hear
that a lot. It’s a very purpose-driven
organization, and I believe that
drives connection. People feel proud
to be part of it.” ¢
A healthier future.
‚
That s what drives us.
Join the journey.
www.rochecanada.com
© 2024 Hoffmann-La Roche Limited
Hoffmann-La Roche Limited
Mississauga, ON L5N 5M8
10
paid wellness days in
addition to paid vacation
