Questrade Financial Group, through its companies – Questrade, Inc., Questrade Wealth Management Inc., Community Trust Company, ThinkInsure, Zolo, and Flexiti – provides securities and foreign currency investment, professionally managed investment portfolios, mortgages, insurance, real estate services, financial services, and more. Questrade uses cutting-edge technologies to develop innovative products that empower Canadians to take control of their money and, ultimately, become much more financially successful and secure​​. 

Questrade Financial Group (QFG) believes in infinite possibilities​, ​not only for their customers, but for their employees too. That belief is woven ​into​​ ​every element of the company’s culture and brought to life through a deep commitment to creating a workplace where employees feel genuinely cared for, connected, and empowered to shape their futures. 

In August 2024, QFG took a major step in deepening that commitment with the launch of QuestStars, a comprehensive internal recognition platform powered by Workstars. 

With QuestStars, QFG introduced a smarter, more transparent way to celebrate employee contributions – whether it’s a milestone moment, a daily win, or an act of going above and beyond. QuestStars is not just a tool​, ​it’s a reflection of QFG’s culture of appreciation, collaboration, and care. 

This initiative reinforces a powerful message: recognition isn’t an afterthought at QFG​,​​ ​it’s embedded in the everyday​ work​ experience. 

Values that guide, inspire, and attract 

Today’s top talent is increasingly driven by more than salary or title. Research from Deloitte and Gallup confirms what many organizations are now experiencing firsthand: employees​​ are prioritizing workplace culture, alignment with values, and purpose-driven environments when choosing and staying in roles. 

• ​​​A recent Gallup report shows that Millennial and Gen Z workers are more likely to stay with companies that share and reflect their personal and professional values. 

• A 2024 Deloitte study reveals that 50% of Gen Zs and 43% of millennials have rejected assignments or potential employers based on their ethics or beliefs. 

QFG anticipated this generational shift and built its employer brand around shared values. The company’s IQTECH values of Innovative, Q-Curious and Optimistic, Team Oriented and Think Enterprise-wide, Entrepreneurial and Agile Customer-Centric and Honest with Integrity, guide everything from day-to-day decision-making to long-term strategy. 

Through QuestStars, those values aren’t just talked about​, they’re ​actively celebrated. 

Each time an employee is recognized for embodying a value, the culture is reinforced. It becomes easier for new hires to connect with what QFG stands for and for existing employees to see those values brought to life in real ways. 

Why recognition matters more than ever 

Creating a recognition-rich environment isn’t just about boosting morale – it’s a strategic investment in performance and retention. Studies show that: 

• ​​​Employees with friends at work are more engaged and productive (Gallup). 

• 76% of job seekers say they would stay longer at a company if they had strong friendships there (Stagwell Global). 

• Emotional support in the workplace reduces stress and burnout, boosting morale and collaboration (World Economic Forum). 

These findings reinforce why tools like QuestStars matter. In a hybrid work environment, where spontaneous hallway conversations and informal recognition moments are less frequent, structured platforms like Workstars help bridge that gap without ​sacrificing authenticity​. 

At QFG, QuestStars supports recognition at every level: 

• Peer-to-peer recognition: Empowering employees to appreciate one another’s contributions, big and small. 

• Manager-to-employee recognition: Enabling leaders to reinforce high performance and effort in visible, motivating ways. 

• Team recognition: Allowing colleagues to celebrate collective success by building and recognizing teams using the platform’s built-in hierarchical structure. 

• Service milestones and birthdays: Marking important career and life moments through thoughtful acknowledgements. 

• QFG Annual Awards: Recognizing exceptional contributions aligned with QFG’s IQTECH values through a transparent, engaging nomination process. 

Employees can also redeem recognition points for gift cards, branded swag​,​ or payroll transfers, turning moments of appreciation into meaningful rewards. 

A culture that cares 

What truly sets Questrade Financial Group apart isn’t just its technology or benefits​ – ​it’s the sense of belonging it creates. QuestStars has quickly become more than a recognition system. It’s a window into a workplace where people genuinely support one another and take time to celebrate wins, both big and small. 

QFG’s commitment to care and connection hasn’t gone unnoticed. The company has consistently been named one of Canada’s Top 100 Employers, one of Canada’s Best Managed Companies for Over 10 Years (Platinum Status), and one of Canada’s Most Admired Corporate Cultures. 

This recognition reflects a workplace where employees feel proud to be part of something larger than themselves. And it signals to candidates that QFG is not only a great place to work​, ​but a great place to belong. 

Early wins and​ the data to back it up 

Since the platform’s launch, QFG has already seen measurable improvements. In the company’s most recent employee engagement survey, the ‘feedback & recognition’ factor score increased by five points compared to the previous year. This uplift reflects not just higher engagement, but a growing culture of gratitude. 

Recognition fuels morale and when people know their efforts are seen and valued, they feel more ​connected to their work, their colleagues, and the organization as a whole. 

Beyond survey feedback, platform engagement tells a compelling story. With 87% of QFG’s global workforce – spanning seven countries – now registered on QuestStars, recognition has become a daily norm. In the first six months after launch, over 85% of registered users were recognized through the platform, with a recognition given, on average, every 2.5 hours – often crossing team and department boundaries. With peer-to-peer kudos, milestone celebrations, and the addition of QFG’s annual awards, recognition is now seamlessly woven into the everyday employee experience. 

Amplifying the employer brand 

For QFG, building a strong employer brand is a strategic ​priority and​ QuestStars plays a key role in that story. Recognition is now a visible part of QFG’s culture, shared internally on the company intranet and newsletter​s​, and externally on platforms like LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook. 

This visibility sends a clear message to potential candidates: QFG is a place where you’ll be appreciated, where you’ll be celebrated, and where you’ll grow. 

A message to future Questraders 

“We believe in recognizing and celebrating the people who help us succeed every day,” the company shared. “At QFG, recognition is more than a program – it’s part of who we are. If you’re looking to grow your career in a place that cares, connects, and celebrates, we’d love to meet you.”