Low unemployment rate 'is pushing more organizations to improve their workplaces'
Capilano University, Amazon Canada Fulfillment Services and SAP Canada are among BC's Top Employers for 2020, according to MediaCorp Canada, which runs the competition.
"Employers in British Columbia are stepping up their efforts to improve their workplaces and human resource policies," says Richard Yerema, managing editor of the Canada's Top 100 Employers project. "British Columbia continues to have the lowest unemployment rate in Canada, which is pushing more organizations to improve their workplaces and create progressive HR policies. It's difficult to retain and attract talented employees in B.C. right now if an employer doesn't pay attention to these things."
Employers were evaluated using the same criteria as the national competition: physical workplace; work atmosphere and social; health, financial and family benefits; vacation and time off; employee communications; performance management; training and skills development; and community involvement.
Winning programs
Capilano University hosts several events throughout the year, including the "Cap Carnival" to welcome employees back after a summer break. It also allows employees to gradually reduce their working hours as they approach retirement.
"This is an achievement we are very proud of,” says Paul Dangerfield, president of Capilano University. “We aim to be a leader in developing healthy campuses. Providing an exceptional workplace is key to cultivating a strong sense of community, health and well-being for our employees.”
New mothers working at Amazon Fulfillment Services are given maternity leave top-up payments of up to 100 per cent of salary for up to 14 weeks, while parental top-up for fathers and adoptive parents are up to 100 per cent of salary for up to six weeks. The company provides employees with tuition subsidies of up to $3,000 annually for several programs of study, and recognizes exceptional performance through various awards categories, including a Just Do It Award and Door Desk Award.
SAP Canada's recently renovated Yaletown office includes collaborative spaces, dedicated "thinking" rooms, a micro-market, a wellness room and an onsite fitness facility with yoga, meditation and a variety of other classes. The company also offers employees share purchasing, profit-sharing and year-end bonus programs along with a defined contribution pension plan to help them save for the longer term. It even gives employees a referral bonus of up to $2,500, depending on the position.
Other competitions have also named Google, Samsung, Statistics Canada, Irving Oil, Provincial Aerospace, Norton Rose Fulbright, Mohawk College and Canada Revenue Agency among top employers for 2020.
The full list of BC’s Top Employers is available here.
