The character of our company comes from within.
SaskTel’s legacy of quality service and first class products relies heavily on the inherent make-up of its strongest asset- the SaskTel workforce. We relentlessly seek out high potential employees who push the envelope in the telecommunications industry, and passionately serve their community. This has been the one constant in the ever changing industry in which we work, and our people remain our single largest resource.
The Representative Workforce Strategy, a component of our recruitment activities that ensures SaskTel develops a workforce that reflects the demographic make-up of our provincial customers, aims to ensure that our organization continues to thrive and evolve within the province and beyond through the creation of a highly diverse and innovative next generation employee base. Through this diverse employee base, SaskTel will be capable of understanding the needs of new and emerging customer markets, creating substantial opportunity for the future.
In the past, our customers and their needs were much more straightforward. Today, SaskTel customers are not just those with whom we have developed deep roots as a locally owned and operated organization, but are now global in reach. The breadth of SaskTel’s products and services also change the equation. Instead of providing services that we grew up selling and servicing, our products test the boundaries of technology. Our customers expect, rather demand that we stay on the cutting edge of that technology- providing cheaper, faster and stronger levels of service as our products evolve.
It is the goal of SaskTel to leverage the unique capabilities of both its people and its products to achieve the following goals:
For our employees, we want to be the employer of choice. SaskTel strives to create a work environment where diversity is embraced and people are treated with respect and dignity. As we evolve to become a global communications provider, we are committed to being an organization where the best people want to work; where opportunities to develop are widely available and where innovation and entrepreneurial spirit is valued. SaskTel will be widely recognized as an organization where employees are encouraged to fulfill their professional and personal goals, and participate and succeed to the greatest level of their capabilities.
For our clients, we want to be the service provider of choice. SaskTel will continue to strive to deliver products and services to our clients that reflect both our global aspirations and our deep provincial roots. The diversity of our employees will better enable us to understand the unique needs of our customer, while the variety of our products will allow us to better serve them.
For our communities, we want to be the neighbor of choice. As SaskTel evolves into a global telecommunications company with opportunity outside the province and internationally, we have a responsibility to make a difference in the neighborhoods that we live as well as work in. We reach out as a global citizen and form relationships with non-profit organizations, local groups, educational institutions, and organizations that represent the diversity of our communities.
For our suppliers, we want to be the business partner of choice. SaskTel works to create mutually beneficial business relationships with minority owned businesses, recognizing that working with a wide range of professionals strengthens the communities we serve.
Because of this shift in our business model, our business climate, and our expanded customer base, diversity is not only important - it is imperative for our success.
SaskTel Aboriginal Employees' Network
SAEN members participate in a number of organizations and activities which help us promote Aboriginal participation in the workforce. Some of these initiatives are listed below.
. To promote, pursue, communicate and facilitate initiatives that seek to maximize the human resource potential of Saskatchewan's Aboriginal people to access education, employment, and advancement.
. To educate others regarding the significance and diversity of Aboriginal people.
. To be recognized as volunteers meeting a variety of needs within the Aboriginal community.
SaskTel Employee Network on Disability
SEND is a network of proactive SaskTel employees who work collectively to support the inclusion of people who are impacted by disability within SaskTel to assist in attaining a representative, inclusive, and respectful workforce environment.
Mission and Objectives
Our mission is to provide a forum to support all people at SaskTel who are impacted by disability. To act as a resource for SaskTel to understand disability issues and implement inclusive programs, products, and services; and to raise awareness of SaskTel as a representative and inclusive “Employer of Choice” in the community. Our objectives are to:
- Discuss and share our collective experience with SaskTel in order to positively impact relevant disability issues.
- Promote and encourage a work environment that values and supports people affected by disability.
- Act as ambassadors by promoting and encouraging SaskTel as an Employer of Choice among individuals with disabilities.
- Work with SaskTel to create and raise awareness of disability issues.
- Support new and existing employees who may be impacted by disability.
- Act as an internal resource and provide advice to SaskTel on products and services; offer recommendations for new initiatives and programs.
- Act as consultants to remove barriers for employees with disabilities, as well as for customers in business processes and practices.
Membership
Membership is open to all SaskTel employees and its subsidiaries. Member benefits:
- Assist SaskTel in its goal of achieving a workforce that represents the demographics of Saskatchewan.
- Bring together our collective experiences and ideas as employees with disabilities.
- Support through a network of employees who are interested in disability issues.
- Awareness, education, and career development around disability issues.
- Member access to the SEND communications database, group e-mail distribution, and newsletter.
- Participation in Lunch and Learns, events, and announcements of interest.
SaskTel NextGEN
SaskTel NextGEN is an employee network bringing people together to share experiences, abilities, and ideas. If you have the desire to influence the SaskTel of tomorrow, you’re NextGEN material.
What We Do
SaskTel NextGEN is a group of SaskTel employees dedicated to supporting the “next generation” of SaskTel employees. We strive to do this through youth-oriented programs and activities, community involvement, and the promotion of our shared values.
Working with various SaskTel departments, SaskTel NextGEN will strive to:
- influence positive change to SaskTel policies / programs of interest to youth and young workers
- contribute ideas to foster a progressive, inclusive corporate culture
- act as ambassadors and positive role-models through SaskTel community initiatives
- create opportunities for employees to connect with one another
- participate in volunteer efforts of interest to the group
- act as an advisory group to SaskTel departments on youth-related matters
How We Roll
To create a collaborative environment within our network, NextGEN will:
- be inviting, informal, and fun
- promote open and relaxed communication
- maintain a positive, solution-oriented approach
- promote a generous spirit
Membership
Are you a people person? Help NextGEN increase its membership base and create general awareness of the network internally. We welcome new members, conduct presentations / networking events and help to create NextGEN branches in SaskTel districts.
Social
Do you like to plan parties? Help plan social functions for NextGEN members to meet, mingle and most of all, have fun!
Community Involvement
Do you like to give back to the community? We support community initiatives throughout the year. This may include forming teams to participate in community fundraising events, or working with Community Relations, the SaskTel Pioneers, or Human Resources to support SaskTel sanctioned events.
Youth Relations
Do you enjoy working with young people? We support SaskTel efforts to build relationships with youth at high school and post-secondary levels. We work with the SaskTel YOUTHnetwork and SaskTel Human Resources to coordinate opportunities for NextGEN to participate in events such as, career fairs, the YOUTHnetwork Mentorship Program and Community Corps, U of R Business Dinner, and other. We will also provide input, when needed, on issues affecting employment decisions for the next generation of employees.
YOUTHnetwork Mentorship Program
The SaskTel YOUTHnetwork Mentorship program provides opportunities for external high school students from SaskTel partner schools to help them realize their potential and to achieve their education and career goals through connecting with people working in their community.
This program supports SaskTel’s youth strategy by helping to build stronger relationships with Saskatchewan youth, encouraging them to stay in school and to consider SaskTel as a future employer. It also supports SaskTel diversity strategies.
Mentor expectations:
- Mentors would be paired up with a student from a partner school and would be interacting with them as a support outside of school and home.
- Activities would be held one Thursday per month from Oct to May, and would include social as well as educational and occupational focused themes (ie. bowling, shooting pool, taking a tour of a SaskTel facility or visiting a local post secondary institution).
- This is a SaskTel sponsored activity, and the Thursday afternoon sessions would be considered paid time by the corporation should an employee be willing to donate his or her time to be a mentor.
NOTE: mentors would require their manager's approval to participate on work time.
- Each mentor would be provided with mentorship orientation as well as a mentorship orientation kit outlining the expectations of the program.
- Each mentor that signs on would be expected to commit to meeting their mentor at the events outlined to the best of his/her ability.
Partner Schools involved:
- Nutana Collegiate, Saskatoon
- Scott Collegiate, Regina.
Upon approval of an application, HR will seek to connect a student to an employee.
Supported Employment Program
The Supported Employment Program allows departments to work with Human Resources, the CEP, and external partners to provide an employment opportunity for an individual with a developmental disability in a manner that meets the skill set of the individual through the already established job-carving process. This program provides business value to the organization as well as creates meaningful employment opportunities for people with limiting disabilities.
Funding
All departments are eligible to participate, pending safety needs can be achieved. Departments wishing to employ an individual through this process would be eligible to have the candidates first five years of salary fully funded through the program. Upon completion of the 5 year term, salary for the individual would then become the responsibility of the applicable department.
Process
- Resource Need Identification and Evaluation
An opportunity can be identified as a process improvement solution through Workforce Planning consultation as well as through individual assessments and consultation with department managers seeking resources through Selection & Staffing.
- Selection and Staffing
Selection & Staffing will work with community-based organizations and post-secondary institutions to identify supported employment candidates that may meet the needs of individual departments. These individuals are evaluated by Selection & Staffing and an informal interview is conducted with the hiring manager and a brief site visit is performed.
- Saskatchewan Abilities Council Partnership
Through a unique and innovative partnership with the Saskatchewan Abilities Council, SaskTel can engage individuals with cognitive disabilities and work through an evaluation of their skills and abilities to ensure that the request from the department matches the skill set of the employee.
- Job Carving Identification and Evaluation
Should there be a match between the departmental need and the skill set of the individual, SaskTel will engage the CEP through Industrial Relations to identify and evaluate the possibility of developing a new job for the candidate through a job carving process. A letter of understanding is developed between SaskTel and the CEP for each individual employee, outlining the position he/ she will be working in, the duties of the position, pay schedule, duration of the contract and the acknowledgement of the flexibility that may be required in regards to employing a person with intellectual disabilities. Once a letter of understanding is developed a unique job description is created for the individual.
- Workforce Integration and Support
Upon employment, SaskTel will partner with the Saskatchewan Abilities Council to develop a workforce integration plan, including:
- a presentation to the work group to engage co-workers and build understanding of any accommodations required for the new employee
- an employment specialist will be assigned to the employee through the Saskatchewan Abilities Council, to work with the hiring manager and employees to develop job aids and work through routines that may assist easier integration for the supported employee
- a job coach will be provided for the supported employee through the Saskatchewan Abilities Council to help the employee transition into their position as long as necessary (there is no cost to SaskTel for this service).
SaskTel’s Letter of Understanding with Saskatchewan Abilities Council
