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New space caters to a collaborative, flexible work environment focused on employee experience
TORONTO, March 23, 2015 /CNW/ - American Express Canada has moved to a new state-of-the-art facility in Toronto, marking a new chapter for the company and signifying its continued commitment to the Canadian market. The new headquarters, located at 2225 Sheppard Avenue East, has been designed to reflect a move to a new work-style that places the emphasis on flexibility and collaboration.
"Everything we've done in our new location is to help our employees work smarter. The needs of employees today are dramatically different than they were 30 – or even 10 – years ago," says Howard Grosfield, President and CEO, American Express Canada. "We all work in different ways and in different places, and we need different tools to deliver results and stay connected and productive. Our new home addresses these needs, and will be a real differentiator in terms of both attracting and retaining talent and enhancing our abilities to connect globally."
This means traditional cubicles and assigned desks have been abandoned in favour of an open and modern work environment, providing a wide variety of spaces with more choice in how work is done. All of this is part of a global move towards a style of work that the company calls BlueWork, which is already in practice in many locations around the world, including New York, London and Taiwan.
Based on the nature of their roles, the new space provides many employees with the option to manage their own schedules by balancing work-from-home with the need to be in the office. Utilizing mobile technology and connectivity frees them up from the normal desktop structure. When they are in the office they can book a workspace for the day and can also take their laptops home with them. And the offices have been designed to maximize the opportunities to collaborate with colleagues through the use of informal "huddle" spaces in addition to regular meeting rooms.
"Every element of our new space is a conscious result of our employee experience strategy," Grosfield says. "We have made a huge investment to ensure that our employees get the most out of where they work."
This investment includes a number of subsidized benefits including a cafeteria with a focus on healthy food, a wellness centre and fitness centre with a swimming pool and tennis courts, and a complimentary shuttle bus to subway service. It also includes a Tim Hortons, available exclusively to American Express employees, and an onsite Montessori daycare for the convenience of American Express parents.
The new Toronto facility is home to around 2200 employees. Amex had previously been located at its Markham offices for 30 years.
About American Express Canada
American Express in Canada operates as Amex Bank of Canada and Amex Canada Inc. Both are wholly owned subsidiaries of the New York based American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc., the largest operating unit of the American Express Company. Amex Bank of Canada is the issuer of American Express charge and credit cards, with outstanding products like the American Express® Gold Rewards Card, the American Express® Platinum Card, and the American Express® AeroplanPlus® Gold Card. Amex Canada Inc. operates the Travellers Cheques division in Canada. American Express opened its first offices in Toronto and Hamilton in 1853 and now employs 3,000 Canadians coast-to-coast. For more information, visit AmericanExpress.ca or connect with us at Facebook.com/AmericanExpressCanada and YouTube.com/AmericanExpressCAD.
SOURCE American Express
Image with caption: "American Express moves to new state-of-the-art facility in Toronto (CNW Group/American Express)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20150323_C1479_PHOTO_EN_13465.jpg
Image with caption: "American Express moves to new state-of-the-art facility in Toronto (CNW Group/American Express)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20150323_C1479_PHOTO_EN_13466.jpg
Image with caption: "American Express moves to new state-of-the-art facility in Toronto (CNW Group/American Express)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20150323_C1479_PHOTO_EN_13467.jpg
