Co-op programs, training subsidies and immediate health benefits attract young talent
The editors of Canada's Top 100 Employers have released their list of the top employers for young people.
All of Canada's Top Employers for Young People have workforces whose average age is 40 and younger. The list recognizes companies that offer the nation's best benefits for younger workers.
Mediacorp Canada evaluates each employer according to the programs they use to attract and retain young talent.
Key benefits include tuition assistance and the availability of co-op or work-study programs, mentorship and training programs and career management programs.
Other important elements to a young work force are top-ups on maternity leave, immediate health benefits and generous annual vacations starting after one year. The judges also recognized initiatives such as on-campus recruiting and summer student programs.
Top 50 employers for young people (alphabetical)
• airG Inc., Vancouver. Offers alternative or flexible work options.
• Airline Hotels & Resorts Ltd., Saskatoon. Provides subsidies for professional accreditations.
• Alberta Blue Cross, Edmonton. No waiting period for health benefits.
• ATB Financial, Edmonton. Provides mentorship program.
• Barrett Xplore Inc., Woodstock, N.B. Provides tuition subsidies for courses at outside institutions.
• Bayer CropScience Canada Inc., Calgary. Offers three weeks annual starting paid vacation after one year.
• Bluewave Energy Limited Partnership, Dartmouth, N.S. Offers co-op internship opportunities.
• Cactus Restaurants Ltd., Vancouver. Conducts on-campus recruitment.
• Canad Inns, Winnipeg. Offers career planning services.
• Cargill Ltd., Winnipeg. Offers maternity leave top-up to 100 per cent for eight weeks.
• Club Intrawest, Vancouver. Provides orientation program for new hires.
• Corus Entertainment Inc., Toronto. Provides mentorship program.
• DeltaWare Systems Inc., Charlottetown. Offers co-op internships.
• Digital Extremes, London. Provides tuition subsidies for courses at outside institutions.
• Ericsson Canada Inc., Montreal. No waiting period for health benefits.
• Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, Toronto. Offers tuition subsidies and in-house courses for staff.
• GAP Adventures Inc., Toronto. Offers summer job opportunities.
• Golder Associates Ltd., Burnaby, B.C. Provides leadership development program.
• HSBC Bank Canada, Vancouver. Conducts on-campus recruitment programs.
• L'Oréal Canada Inc., Montreal. Provides maternity leave top-up to 100 per cent for 17 weeks for mothers and adoptive parents.
• Loblaw Cos. Ltd., Brampton, Ont. Offers co-op internships.
• Lush Handmade Cosmetics Ltd., Vancouver. Provides subsidies for professional accreditations.
• Mars Canada Inc., Bolton, Ont. Provides three weeks of paid vacation to start and operates a unique vacation purchase program.
• McDonald's Restaurants of Canada Ltd., Toronto. Provides leadership development program.
• Corporation of the City of Mississauga, Ont. Provides mentorship program.
• Next Level Games Inc., Vancouver. Subsidizes fitness club memberships and provides free ski passes to nearby Cypress Mountain.
• Open Text Corp., Waterloo, Ont. Provides tuition subsidies for courses at outside institutions.
• Pelmorex Media Inc., Oakville, Ont. Provides subsidies for professional accreditations.
• Point2 Technologies Inc., Saskatoon. Offers three weeks annual starting paid vacation after one year.
• PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Toronto. Encourages employee volunteerism through a team volunteering day.
• Radialpoint Safecare Inc., Montreal. Conducts on-campus recruitment.
• Read Jones Christoffersen Ltd., Vancouver. Provides orientation program for new hires.
• Research in Motion (RIM), Waterloo, Ont. Provides tuition subsidies for courses at outside institutions.
• Rogers Communications Inc., Toronto. No waiting period for health benefits.
• RSM Richter Chamberland, Montreal. Offers career planning services.
• Saskatchewan Gaming Corp., Regina. Provides leadership development program.
• Smart Technologies Inc., Calgary. Offers co-op internships.
• Starbucks Coffee Canada, Toronto. Offers alternative or flexible work options.
• Steam Whistle Brewing, Toronto. Provides orientation program for new hires.
• Sybase Canada Ltd., Waterloo, Ont. Conducts on-campus recruitment.
• Taleo Corp., Quebec City. Provides tuition subsidies for courses at outside institutions.
• TD Bank Financial Group, Toronto. Provides leadership development program.
• Toronto International Film Festival, Toronto. Offers alternative or flexible work options.
• Trican Well Service Ltd., Calgary. Provides maternity leave top-up to 100 per cent for 52 weeks.
• True North Sports and Entertainment Ltd., Winnipeg. Provides subsidies for professional accreditations.
• Upside Software Inc., Edmonton. Offers a relaxed work environment in which Nerf gun fights and toy car racing are celebrated activities.
• Vancity Group, Vancouver. Conducts on-campus recruitment.
• Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre, Vancouver. Provides tuition subsidies for courses at outside institutions.
• WestJet Airlines Ltd., Calgary. Provides mentorship program.
• YMCA of Greater Toronto. Provides leadership development program.
