2012-04-19
London-based HRdownloads recognized as best workplace in Canada for second year in a row
April 19, 2012 (London, ON): For the second year in a row, HRdownloads has been recognized as one of the Best Workplaces in Canada by the Great Place to Work Institute and Your Workplace magazine.
“If you put your people first, the profits will follow,” said Tony Boyle, founder and president of HRdownloads, a London, Ontario human resources research and advisory firm.
“This award means a lot to us,” said HRdownloads Mr. Boyle. “In many ways, it’s one of the best measures of success you can have.”
“Maybe it sounds like a cliché,” said Mr. Boyle.”But the biggest asset any company has is its people.”
“There’s an unfortunate attitude in business today that you have to be hard-hearted towards your staff in order to compete,” said Mr. Boyle. “Winning this award a second straight year, and being financially successful in the process, proves that idea is wrong.”
“We believe respect and decency are assets in business,” he said. “You can keep your human values, treat your people well, and still come out on top.”
HRdownloads’ sustained growth has been an unusual success story in difficult economic times. Its revenue has increased over a thousand percent since 2008. That growth earned it the No. 10 spot in this year’s PROFIT HOT 50 ranking.
The company, which is Canada’s fastest growing producer of human resources documents and templates, now has over 7,000 clients nationwide.
“The key to that success has been finding good people who work well together and creating an atmosphere where they look forward to coming to work every day,” said Mr. Boyle.
“We’re always telling our clients about the value of hanging onto good people,” he said. “We try hard to practise what we preach.”
The basis for this award, as well as the “Top Workplaces Where Employees Thrive” award the company won in 2011 was feedback from randomly selected employees, as well as an in-depth review of the organization's culture, including HR policies and procedures.
“We’re fortunate to have a fantastic group of people who love their jobs, love where they work, and who want to succeed together,” he said.
The company started in 2005 with three employees, but now employs over 80 people, almost double the number at this time last year.
To accommodate its constant growth, HRdownloads moved last summer from to a new office building in London’s downtown core with more than twice the space and room for expected future expansion.
Despite the rapid growth, the company has managed to hang onto its small-company atmosphere, said Mr. Boyle. Events like karaoke contests and afternoons at the bowling alley on the company’s tab have paid huge dividends in productivity.
There are more serious events as well. The company’s staff enthusiastically throws its support behind charitable causes and routinely raises more money than organizations many times its size.
“The serious events are maybe even more important than the fun ones,” said Mr. Boyle. “There’s a great sense of satisfaction in working together for a good cause.”
About HRdownloads
HRdownloads is a privately held London-based company, founded in 2005.
HRdownloads is focused on providing HR professionals and small businesses with essential tools and information to effectively manage human capital. HRdownloads saves clients time by assisting them in making informed business decisions through creative product development, customer service and user friendliness.
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