A Good Place to Work

Our workforce, which includes employees, contractors and volunteers, is the heart of our organization. Taking care of our workforce is an ongoing challenge for a short-term, fast-paced project. To deliver an extraordinary Olympic and Paralympic experience, every member of our workforce must have the necessary resources and support to do a great job. One way we will achieve this is to make VANOC an appealing place to work and volunteer.

Engaging our workforce
A yearly survey is undertaken to measure levels of engagement at VANOC. Survey results provide a true indication of what people-strategies must be implemented to ensure that our workforce represents VANOC in the best light, our employees remain with us until 2010 and each contributor reaches his or her maximum potential.

Building a workforce that reflects Canada’s diversity
The recruitment strategy developed to support VANOC’s mission, vision and values states that “in our quest to build a stronger Canada and successfully deliver the Games, we will recruit locally and nationally a diverse workforce, providing access to opportunities for all Canadians.”

Human and labour rights
VANOC ensures basic human rights are met through compliance with provincial and federal laws and regulations.

We also expect our suppliers and licensees to provide safe and healthy workplaces, and to respect basic human and labour rights. These concerns are addressed in the supply chain audits conducted as part of our Sustainable Purchasing Program and speak to sustainable purchasing, licensing and business development.

Workforce health and safety
VANOC has made a commitment to ensuring it delivers the highest standards of health and safety for all employees, contractors and volunteers, and to providing a legacy of safety, not only for Canada but for future Games as well. To ensure the health and safety of its own employees, VANOC instituted a Health, Wellness and Safety Committee and Guidelines.

Training and development
Many efforts are made to help the VANOC workforce cope with the rapid changes that are common to major, short-term projects.

Recruiting, motivating and retaining a short-term workforce
The opportunity to be part of an Olympic and Paralympic Games project is a factor cited by many staff who seek work at VANOC. Also mentioned is the sense of making a significant contribution, both to the region and the nation. The reality of being employed by an Organizing Committee, however, is that individuals must deal with the fact there is a firm completion date to their VANOC-related work.

Volunteers: an integral part of the VANOC workforce
VANOC’s Pre-Games Volunteer Program was established in March 2006 to engage volunteers. Motivated primarily by civic pride and the desire to contribute to the Olympic and Paralympic Games, our volunteer ranks grew to a team of 70 by July 31, 2006.