Manulife Financial Named One of Canada's Top Employers

• Training and development opportunities in Canada and around the globe
• "Pay-for-performance" culture
• Committed to volunteerism

TSX/NYSE/PSE: MFC   
SEHK:945 

TORONTO, Oct. 10, 2012 /CNW/ - Today, for the second consecutive year, Manulife Financial was recognized by Mediacorp as one of Canada's Top 100 Employers, an honour distinguishing the company as one of the country's best places to work.

"We are honoured to be recognized again as an industry leader," said Stephani Kingsmill, Executive Vice-President of Human Resources and Communications at Manulife Financial. "We are committed to attracting, developing and retaining top talent and we are proud that our global best practices are being recognized in Canada."

Now in its 14^th year, Canada's Top 100 Employer is an annual competition that evaluates and identifies the country's leading companies and organizations for attracting and retaining employees. The competition focuses on eight key areas: physical workplace; work and social atmosphere; health, financial and family benefits; vacation and time off; employee communications; performance management; training and skills development; and community involvement.

"Our focus on providing employees with opportunities for growth and development, competitive compensation and flexible health benefit packages goes a long way toward making Manulife one of Canada's Top Employers," stated Ms. Kingsmill. "Our employees are also actively involved in their communities and we encourage their volunteerism through our forward-thinking policies and programs."

Each year Manulife invites employees across Canada to take a paid day off to volunteer for a charity of their choice. Other company programs targeted at promoting volunteerism include: Helping Hands - grants for organizations where employees volunteer 25 or more hours and PowerMatch - grants where Manulife matches an employee's fundraising dollars up to $150. In Canada, employees donated 34,000 volunteer hours in 2011, an increase of 41 per cent from 2010.

Manulife Financial takes pride in its training and development initiatives. The company encourages ongoing employee development with tuition subsidies, in-house training, online programs, mentoring, and career planning, as well as financial bonuses for the completion of specific courses. Given its global presence, the company also offers exciting and challenging opportunities for employees looking to advance their leadership capabilities abroad.

The company's "pay-for-performance" culture offers a range of competitive financial benefits including pension and share purchase plans, year-end merit bonuses, and referral bonuses. A flexible health benefits plan enables employees to customize their coverage to better meet their personal health care needs.

In addition to being recognized as a Top 100 Employer in Canada, Manulife Financial was also identified as a Top 100 Employer for Young People this past September.

Manulife Financial
Manulife Financial is a leading Canada-based financial services group with principal operations in Asia, Canada and the United States. In 2012, we celebrate 125 years of providing clients strong, reliable, trustworthy and forward-thinking solutions for their most significant financial decisions. Our international network of employees, agents and distribution partners offers financial protection and wealth management products and services to millions of clients. We also provide asset management services to institutional customers. Funds under management by Manulife Financial and its subsidiaries were C$514 billion (US$504 billion) as at June 30, 2012. The Company operates as Manulife Financial in Canada and Asia and primarily as John Hancock in the United States.

Manulife Financial Corporation trades as 'MFC' on the TSX, NYSE and PSE, and under '945' on the SEHK. Manulife Financial can be found on the Internet at manulife.com.

SOURCE: Manulife Financial Corporation