A trip to Paris. Pet insurance. Unlimited time off. Canada’s Top 100 Employers have been named for 2012, and they show that offering non-traditional benefits can have a positive impact on recruiting, engaging and retaining employees.
The annual ranking, now in its 13th year, attempts to determine which employers are leaders in their industries when it comes to offering exceptional workplace environments. Employers are evaluated according to eight criteria: (1) physical workplace; (2) work atmosphere and social activity; (3) health, financial and family benefits; (4) vacation and time off; (5) employee communications; (6) performance management; (7) training and skills development; and (8) community involvement.
Employers are compared to other organizations in their field to determine which offers the most progressive and forward-thinking programs.
Some of this year’s recipients—and some of the reasons for their nominations—are:
- Accenture Inc. runs a leadership development program for women, in which senior-level female employees are matched with a mentor for one-on-one coaching.
- Bombardier Aerospace provides unionized employees with DB plans, and gives newly hired non-unionized employees the choice between a combination DB and DC plan, or a fully DC plan.
- Canadian Security Intelligence Service encourages employees to stay fit with an onsite fitness facility, instructor-led yoga, pilates and cardio classes and nutrition workshops.
- Ceridian Canada Ltd. offers an animal insurance subsidy plan that covers up to 80% of veterinary costs.
- EllisDon Corporation has an unlimited policy for time off. Employees are permitted requests for days off as they need them, rather than according to a vacation schedule.
- The Hospital for Sick Children offers fertility drug coverage under its health benefits plan.
- HP Advanced Solutions Inc. offers DB pension plans and, despite the recent trend to switch to DC or hybrid plans, the company says it has no plans of replacing its current system.
- L’Oréal Canada Inc. offers subsidies for professional accreditation, online courses and international training in Paris and New York.
- Molson Coors Canada runs a Molson Beer Academy—an in-house training program that includes courses on brewing techniques, beer tasting and brand awareness.
- PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP encourages employees to take time off during slow periods so they can properly prepare for the next rush season.
- Royal Bank of Canada rewards staff by offering a week-long cruise to the 700 top-performing employees.
- SaskTel provides an academic scholarship program, of up to $3,000 per child, for employees’ children who pursue post-secondary education.
- Telus Corporation offers an annual $500 “life balance account” that employees can use for anything they feel helps maintain their personal health.
- Toronto International Film Festival provides tuition subsidies for courses, career planning services, internship opportunities and in-house training programs.
- WestJet Airlines Ltd. features an employee share purchase plan that lets employees receive up to 20% of their gross regular earnings in WestJet shares with a 100% company match.
- Yellow Pages Group Co. shows it’s environmentally aware by offering employees a carpooling program that matches drivers with riders and includes dedicated parking spots.
The full list of winners is available at canadastop100.com/national.