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Minority Report Business Series

Call-Net: Topping the List

A Canadian company and leader in the telecommunications industry captured first place on a list of top diversity employers. Call-Net, the parent company for Sprint Canada ranked highest in the OMNI TV-Canadian Business study of best workplaces for visible minorities.

For Mira Persaud, a manager at Call-Net, being a visible minority has never been an issue. "By acknowledging those differences we're hopefully getting a better and more productive workforce...so when I walk through the door, I don't feel that I am a visible minority, I feel like somebody who is bringing something to the table."

Diversity has put Call-Net at the top of the chart and innovative employee programs help keep them there. Eugene Lam, a senior manager in business planning at Call-Net's, Sprint Canada praises the company for helping him further his career goals.

"They sponsored me in my executive MBA program and it shows that Sprint Canada is willing to help the employees to achieve their goals."

Victoria Walker, Vice President of Human Resources says there's no question, having a diverse workforce gives them a competitive edge. With a third of their staff being made up of visible minorities, this helps Call-Net to be successful and competitive. Walker says they even offer a one day training program on the topic.

"(The training program) really helps employees understand why diversity is such a sound business practice, how we view it here at call-net and ways that they can look for bias free ways of doing their work."

According Jeffrey Reitz a leading expert on the labour market in Canada research indicates that Canadian firms who try to shrug off diversity in their workforce will be left behind.

"A multi-racial workforce is the key to profitability and global competitiveness in the future."

As for Persaud and Lam, both employees say that they plan to stay on at Call-Net and continue to contribute to Call-Net's success through diversity.

For more information, pick up the March 29th issue of Canadian Business or visit the Minority Report section on OMNITV.ca.