Monsanto Canada Recognized as One of Canada's Top 100 Employers

WINNIPEG, MANITOBA--(Marketwired - Oct. 21, 2013) - Monsanto Canada has been selected as one of Canada's Top 100 Employers in Mediacorp Canada Inc.'s annual survey of Canadian businesses. This is the 6^th time in the past seven years that Monsanto has been recognized as one of Canada's Top 100 Employers.

The complete listing of Canada's Top 100 Employers for 2014 was published in a special supplement in the October 21^st edition of the Globe and Mail and on the job search engine, www.Eluta.ca.

Now in its 14^th year, Canada's Top 100 Employers designation recognizes the Canadian employers who lead their industries in offering exceptional places to work. The listing ranks employers based on a nation-wide survey, an extensive application process and analysis of compensation levels, work/life balance, training opportunities, workplace facilities and company benefits. Considered the most in-depth analysis of human resource trends in Canada's private and public sectors, this year's review saw the largest number of applicants in the competition's history with 3,250 employers participating in the application process.

"We make a concerted effort to focus on the many facets of organizational life that make Monsanto a great place to work," said Mike McGuire, president and general manager of Monsanto Canada. "It is affirming for our employees to be recognized for the contributions they make to our positive employment culture."

McGuire also emphasized that agriculture is an exciting industry to be a part of, but it is not always a top-of-mind industry when people think about jobs or their careers. "We want to change that perception and encourage people looking for a rewarding field of employment to consider agriculture as a career choice. This recognition certainly helps in that regard."

In assessing Monsanto Canada's programs and policies, Mediacorp scored Monsanto's health and family-friendly benefits; its training and skills development programs; and its community involvement as "exceptional," giving Monsanto the highest A+ grade possible. The company also ranked high (A) in the areas of work atmosphere and communications; and vacation and personal time off.

Some of the reasons why Monsanto Canada was selected as one of Canada's Top 100 Employers for 2014:

• provides maternity and parental leave top-up payments to employees who are new mothers or adoptive parents (to 90% of salary for 26 weeks) and offers a generous subsidy for fertility drugs, up to $15,000;
  
  
• employees can also take advantage of a variety of flexible work arrangements including shortened and compressed work week options, telecommuting and reduced summer hours;
  
  
• encourages employees to be active in their local community by providing paid time off to volunteer with charitable organizations;
  
  
• is located in the University of Manitoba's unique SmartPark alongside other research and technology companies, offering employees convenient access to the university's many amenities;
  
  
• invests in ongoing employee education through generous tuition subsidies for courses taken at outside institutions, to $10,000;
  
  
• helps employees plan for life after work with retirement planning assistance and a defined contribution pension plan;
  
  
• new employees start at three weeks of paid vacation allowance which can be scheduled throughout the year, as well as paid time off during an office shutdown at the end of December.
  
  

Headquartered in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Monsanto Canada Inc. is part of the larger global Monsanto family. Monsanto Company is an agricultural company and a leading global provider of technology-based solutions and agricultural products that improve farm productivity and food quality. Monsanto remains focused on enabling both small-holder and large-scale farmers to produce more from their land while conserving more of our world's natural resources such as water and energy. Learn more about our business and our commitments at www.monsanto.ca.