Ann Stewart is president of Maxus Canada
Agency life is not for everyone. The challenge of serving clients in an increasingly complex environment of cultural and technological change has been known to lead to more than a few late nights and pressure filled days. And as the pace of technological innovation fuels new media vendor start-ups and career opportunities, the competition for talent has never been greater.
Maxus Canada has been focused on recruiting and retaining top talent since its launch in Canada in 2012. We have a skilled, energetic and committed team because we proactively focus on keeping our team healthy, active and engaged.
We know they have options, and we want talented people working here because they choose it as the best place to do great work and continue to flourish and grow.
The agency has been committed to continuous learning with a strong focus on enhanced professional training for all employees. But we went a step further in prioritizing the health of the team with initiatives such as on-site yoga, meditation and passionate agency sports teams.
This year, we launched an agency-wide theme: FIT in Mind, Body and Business. Maxus employees received a Fitbit and were invited to participate in a series of agency challenges. The first one paired employees and tracked each team’s steps for a full month. The collaboration and friendly competition has nurtured a fun focus on good health amidst the pressures of agency work. In the month of April alone, our employees tracked more than 14 million steps (the distance from Toronto to Cairo).
In a recent survey, 95% of our employees agreed that the Maxus FIT commitment has already had a positive impact on them. Seventy-six per cent agree that they are more energized and upbeat in their professional relationships. Many have commented on the benefits of increased interaction and fun with colleagues. They value the camaraderie and team bonding of sharing, and have commented that the initiative has positively impacted their engagements with both fellow staff members and clients. And Maxus has seen a 23% improvement in employee retention in the first four months of 2015 compared to the same period last year.
Plus, it’s always nice to hear the feedback from our staff, things like “It has driven me to do more on a daily basis to achieve my goals,” and “Everyone seems happier and a little more competitive.”
The Fitbit challenge is not the only FIT activity at Maxus. The agency’s basketball team claimed the first place trophy in the recent MLSE Media tournament. The Maxus soccer team starts its regular evening practices in the weeks ahead, and a Friday night basketball scrimmage is always available in the church gym across the street.
The FIT Commitment at Maxus won’t end anytime soon. We’ve built a culture where our employees feel connected, active and motivated. Our clients benefit from the energy and engagement this initiative nurtures. We look forward to building on its success. It’s become a part of who we are.
We challenge everyone to be a part of it.
