TORONTO, November 24, 2011 — The 70 organizations identified as 2012’s Best Employers in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) vary widely in terms of industry and workforce size. Nevertheless, research conducted by Aon Hewitt, the global human resources consulting and outsourcing solutions business of Aon Corporation (NYSE: AON), in conjunction with the Queen’s University School of Business, indicates that they all share the key requirement to be named as one of the Best Employers in the GTA – high employee engagement. Organizations that have earned this status for 2012 (see attached lists) are profiled in today’s Toronto Star. 
“The real litmus test of whether or not an organization is a Best Employer lies with the employees themselves," said Neil Crawford, Aon Hewitt’s study leader. "This study goes beyond satisfaction (how much I like things here) and commitment (how much I want to be here) to measure engagement (how much I want to and actually contribute to improving our business results). Without a focus on engagement, it’s difficult for organizations to achieve sustainable success.”

This year’s Best Employers in the GTA range in size from 50 employees to over 50,000. “Size is certainly a factor when it comes to how organizations engage their employees,” said Einar Westerlund, director of project development at the Queen’s Centre for Business Venturing. “These organizations use different human resources practices and programs. What’s important to note, however, is that workforce size is no barrier to having highly engaged employees.”

Those eligible for the GTA list are drawn from participants in the 2012 national Best Employers studies. These organizations are headquartered in the GTA and/or have a significant employee population working there. For 2012, thirty-five organizations appear on each of two lists – one for larger employers with 400 or more employees, and another for small and mid-sized organizations with between 50 and 399 employees.

Among the GTA Best Employers, average employee engagement is 77 per cent. “These organizations can also take pride in earning a spot on the Best Employers in the GTA list in a time of economic uncertainty when engagement levels in Canada and across the world continue to be under pressure. While engagement has held fairly steady in Canada over the last year, global engagement continues to dip and is at its lowest level since 2008 at 56 per cent, according to Aon Hewitt’s global Employee Engagement Database,” stated Crawford.

To learn more about the Best Employers studies and register online to participate, please visit the Best Employers Web site at www.hewitt.com/bestemployerscanada. For more information about Aon Hewitt’s global Employee Engagement Database, please follow this link: http://aon.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=2474

About Queen's Centre for Business Venturing (QCBV)
Based at Queen’s School of Business, Canada’s leading business school, QCBV's mandate is to be the leading and definitive source of knowledge and expertise in the creation, leadership and management of new ventures. Further, it strengthens and helps build Canadian SMEs by focusing its efforts on serving the broader SME community through research, providing advisory services and support, and creating and delivering innovative curriculum. QCBV administers the annual Best Small & Medium Employers in Canada study. We are dedicated to increasing the odds of success for Canadian organizations and their leaders. Please visit www.bsmestudycanada.com.

About Aon Hewitt
Aon Hewitt is the global leader in human capital consulting and outsourcing solutions. The company partners with organizations to solve their most complex benefits, talent and related financial challenges, and improve business performance. Aon Hewitt designs, implements, communicates and administers a wide range of human capital, retirement, investment management, health care, compensation and talent management strategies. With more than 29,000 professionals in 90 countries, Aon Hewitt makes the world a better place to work for clients and their employees. For more information on Aon Hewitt, please visit www.aonhewitt.com/canada

About Aon
Aon Corporation (NYSE:AON) is the leading global provider of risk management, insurance and reinsurance brokerage, and human resources solutions and outsourcing services. Through its more than 61,000 colleagues worldwide, Aon unites to empower results for clients in over 120 countries via innovative and effective risk and people solutions and through industry-leading global resources and technical expertise. Aon has been named repeatedly as the world's best broker, best insurance intermediary, reinsurance intermediary, captives manager and best employee benefits consulting firm by multiple industry sources. Visit http://www.aon.com for more information on Aon and http://www.aon.com/manchesterunited to learn about Aon's global partnership and shirt sponsorship with Manchester United.

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Best Employers in the Greater Toronto Area 2012
(400 or more employees)

Best Employers in the Greater Toronto Area 2012
(50-399 employees)

Media Contacts: 

Marcia McDougall
416-227-5713
marcia.mcdougall@aonhewitt.com

Sandra Olszowka
613-533-3119
solszowka@business.queensu.ca