Delta receives award

Delta Hotels and Resorts was recently named to the Globe and Mail’s 50 Best Employers in Canada. Out of over 200 companies surveyed, the hotel chain grabbed the 20th spot, up from last year’s 22nd ranking.

In partnership with Hewitt Associates, the Globe and Mail’s Report on Business magazine has been recognizing the 50 Best Employers for the past 11 years. To be eligible, a company needs to have at least 400 permanent employees in Canada and be in operation for at least three years. Participation is free.

It’s the ninth time that Delta has been included in the prestigious roster. This is exciting news for the company’s over 6,000 employees, including 195 at the Delta Sun Peaks Resort.

“We’re definitely very proud,” said Katie Hutton, People Resources Coordinator at Delta Sun Peaks Resort. “It’s a huge accomplishment.”

The ranking was achieved through three types of surveys: one that measured employees’ opinion of the company, a leadership survey to see how compatible a leader’s values and goals are compared to the employees’, and a Human Resources survey to review the company’s policies and practices. The level of employee engagement was the strongest determining factor in the final ranking.

Hutton has been working for the Delta for four years now. She said the company’s culture and beliefs are key to keeping employees happy. “It’s all about (encouraging employees to be themselves) and working with a team that definitely supports and inspires you to work hard.”

Melissa Bahula, sales and catering coordinator, remembers one particularly busy time at the Delta that epitomizes teamwork. “We didn’t have enough napkins to carry us over so Eda Koot (Delta’s general manager) started doing laundry. Eda lives within the hotel; she started doing laundry in her room (while we did) laundry downstairs. While Eda was ironing the napkins, I was folding them.”

While the award certainly heralds the company’s exemplary management style, others argue that these companies are also lucky to have good, motivated employees.

Maintenance supervisor Michael Kinloch is one of those employees. After noticing the volume of food prep waste from Mantles, he came up with a brilliant plan: partner with area farmers to use the food as animal feed and then purchase the whole animal for the restaurant’s use.

“Next thing you know, we had that set in process,” he said. The Delta recognized his contribution to the company by presenting him with the Community Builder award.

“They really support the local community,” said Kinloch.

Apart from the numerous financial perks and other benefits of working at the Delta, it’s this type of support that encompasses addressing the employee’s overall needs, effective leadership style and recognizing employee contributions are their secret to keeping employees happy.