Ontario Teachers’ celebrates success in workplace gender and intersectional equity
EDGE results describe enhancements to several policies and practices including pay equity, employee development and inclusiveness of culture
TORONTO, Sept. 20, 2022 - Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan Board (Ontario Teachers') today announced that it has obtained EDGE Lead, the highest certification level offered by EDGE, the leading global assessment and business certification for gender and intersectional equity. Adding to this achievement, it also received the EDGEplus certification for its commitment to analysing additional dimensions of intersectionality between gender, race and ethnicity. Ontario Teachers’ is the first organization in the Canadian financial industry to receive both the EDGE Lead and EDGEplus certifications.
EDGE Lead certification demonstrates success in fostering gender equitable workplaces. In alignment with its diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) ambitions, Ontario Teachers’ results showed enhancements to its policies and practices across multiple areas including pay equity, recruitment and promotion, leadership development training, mentoring, flexible working and inclusiveness of its culture. In addition, gender representation is balanced and stable across all levels and the percentage of women on the non-executive board increased from 44% in 2019 to 55% in 2022.
Achieving EDGEplus certification further highlights Ontario Teachers’ commitment to analysing intersectional issues between gender and additional dimensions such as gender identity, race/ethnicity, 2SLGBTQ+ identity, working with a disability, nationality and age.
Beth Tyndall, Chief People Officer, Ontario Teachers’ said: “The commitments and action we took in achieving the highest level of EDGE certifications demonstrate that DE&I are core to our strategy and that gender and intersectional equity are key parts of our organization’s policies, practices and day-to-day experiences. We believe that creating and fostering a culture where everyone belongs and has access to the same opportunities is important for attracting, developing and retaining the best and brightest talent.”
Aniela Unguresan, Founder of EDGE Certified Foundation, said: “The significant efforts undertaken by Ontario Teachers’ over the past two years, in line with the recommendations made in the EDGE action plan, have propelled it to the highest EDGE certification level. They join the league of inspiring organizations that have a gender balance across their workforce, pay equity, effective policies and practices that ensure equitable career flows for men and women and an inclusive culture. Ontario Teachers’ added EDGEplus certification, which shows their commitment to applying the same rigour and discipline in pursuing intersectional issues relating to gender equity, gender identity and race/ethnicity.”
ABOUT ONTARIO TEACHERS’
Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan Board (Ontario Teachers') is a global investor with net assets of $242.5 billion as at June 30, 2022. We invest in more than 50 countries in a broad array of assets including public and private equities, fixed income, credit, commodities, natural resources, infrastructure, real estate and venture growth to deliver retirement income for 333,000 working members and pensioners.
With offices in Hong Kong, London, San Francisco, Singapore and Toronto, our more than 350 investment professionals bring deep expertise in industries ranging from agriculture to artificial intelligence. We are a fully funded defined benefit pension plan and have earned an annual total-fund net return of 9.6% since the plan’s founding in 1990. At Ontario Teachers’, we don’t just invest to make a return, we invest to shape a better future for the teachers we serve, the businesses we back, and the world we live in. For more information, visit otpp.com and follow us on Twitter @OtppInfo.
ABOUT EDGE CERTIFICATION
EDGE is the leading global assessment and business certification for gender and intersectional equity. EDGE Certification involves a rigorous third-party review of representation across the pipeline, pay equity, effectiveness of policies and practices, and inclusiveness of an organization’s culture. As an integral part of the assessment, statistical data is analysed, policies and practices are reviewed and employees’ experiences of career development opportunities in the current workplace are accounted for. Depending on the specific results of each organization, an action plan is formulated, and firm commitments towards its implementation.
EDGE Certification meets organizations where they are in their gender balance journey (EDGE) and in their intersectional equity journey (EDGEplus) through its three levels of certification: Assess, Move and Lead. A certification at the EDGE Assess level recognizes commitment, one at the EDGE Move level showcases progress and a certification at the EDGE Lead level celebrates success in fostering gender equitable workplaces. An EDGEplus certification further recognizing its commitment to analysing intersectional issues between gender and one or several of the following additional dimensions: gender identity, race/ethnicity, LGBTQI+, working with a disability, nationality and age.
EDGE Certification is built around the independent third-party certification of data and information and is distinguished by its rigour and focus on impact granted by one of the EDGE accredited independent third-party certification bodies – SGS, Intertek or FloCert, it remains valid for a period of two years. EDGE’s current customer base consists of over 200 large organizations in 50 countries across five continents, representing 30 different industries.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Dan Madge
Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan
media@otpp.com
Veronica Del Motto
Digital Marketing Manager at EDGE Strategy
veronica.delmotto@edge-strategy.com