Blog

What do the Canadian top 100 organizations do that make them the best places to work?   What makes them the Canadian Idols of the workplace?

This year according to an article in MacLean’s, October 19, 2009 issue, “employees are less concerned with well-stocked lounges and foosball tables – the new keyword is stability.”   Emphasis is placed on initiatives that “make a real difference in the lives of working Canadians,” such as “pension plans, in-house training programs”, and top-ups.  A majority of firms listed training and development initiatives and more companies, then ever are offering parental leave top-ups. 

Here is a “short” list of 50 examples gathered from the top 100:

1. Parental leave top-ups
2. Compassionate care leave top-ups
3. Books are open to employees
4. Flu shots and nutrition advice
5. Birthdays off with pay
6. Promote from within policy
7. Inhouse training college
8. Flexible hours
9. Napping rooms
10. Tuition subsidies, some with no maximums
11. Leadership programs
12. Onsite excercise facilities or classes
13. Referral bonuses, one had a referral bonus up to $10,000
14. Subsidized public transit passes
15. Discounts on services or products sold depending on the company, such as interest free loans, gas, diamonds, and motorcycles.
16. Vacation start with 3 weeks
17. Four weeks of vacation after two years on the job
18. Share plans, profit sharing, pension plans, matching RSP contributions
19. Paid time off additional to vacation from 7 to 12 days extra!
20. Inhouse training programs for workers preparing to write professional designation exams
21. Telecommuting options
22. Paid time off for volunteering
23. Fitness membership or home fitness equipment paid or subsidized
24. Emergency daycare and home care service
25. Extended long weekends
26. Weekly office beer cart
27. Option to “purchase” additional vacation days
28. Grants for adoption costs
29. Firm-sponsored sports teams
30. Donations on behalf of the “volunteer” of the year
31. Forgiving percentage of student loans for recent grads
32. Healthy cafeteria food
33. Upaid leaves of absences up to a year
34. Extended maternity leave up to three years
35. Phased-in retirements
36. Employee language instruction -English, French, Spanish …
37. Paid holiday shut down, in addition to vacation allotment
38. Self-funded leave program allows for extended paid leave of up to two months
39. Flexible health benefits
40. Career development and advancement
41. Subsidies for off-site daycare
42. Leadership Institute
43. Shuttle bus to subway station
44. Excellence rewarded with company-paid trips and cash bonuses
45. On-site massage treatment
46. “Green” head office
47. Inhouse band plays at company functions
48. Marche style cafeteria offers take-home meals
49. Lounge has Wii system in games room
50. Extensive training and mentoring

Well, that’s quite a list.   How does your organization compare?   You will notice that there are some low cost initiatives.  What’s stopping you from implementing some of them?  Can you see how these examples fit into a values based retention strategy?  If you need assistance building a best practice organization that will attract key talent, then please click here to book your complimentary discussion about how to get started.

Best regards,  Joanne

Joanne Royce is the Founder of Royce & Associates, a Human Resources and Training Solutions consulting company.  Joanne is committed to creating happy, healthy and productive workplaces, through best practices initiatives.