After five years of ranking Canada's best employers, there are still surprises. But the perennial strengths of great places to work also endure. You'll see familiar names on this year's list, including our first repeat winner, BC Biomedical Laboratories Ltd. (page 40). There are 12 newcomers as well, and we invited public-sector organizations to participate.
Our partner, again, is Hewitt Associates, North America's largest human resources consulting firm. We began in March, 2003, by sending out invitations to more than 2,500 organizations with at least 300 employees. Hewitt received completed surveys from 129 companies, up from 62 in 2000, our first ranking.
There were three parts to the survey. First, a detailed questionnaire was distributed to at least 200 employees, more in the case of larger organizations. That counted for 70% of each employer's score. The remaining 30% was based on a comprehensive human-resources practices survey and a leadership team survey for top executives. Hewitt then calculated how closely employees' and leaders' goals are aligned, and whether practices and programs reinforce the vision.
Commitment from the top is vital. But that has to be supported at all levels. "At best employers, leaders, managers and employees are on the same page," says Ted Emond, a Toronto-based consultant with Hewitt. As a case study, we profile insurance giant The Co-operators (page 42). In the company's third year in our survey, it enters the 50 Best at No. 45. We also present sub-rankings based on 10 of Hewitt's "drivers of employee engagement" (page 34).
And what are the rewards? The share prices of publicly traded best employers have increased by an average of 10.2% a year over the past 10 years, compared with 6.2% for the S&P/TSX Composite Index. But probably the biggest reward is the camaraderie that sustains these organizations through any challenge.
For more information, including instructions on how you can apply for the next survey, log on to http://www.hewitt.com/bestemployerscanada.
Hewitt Associates ranks employers in sub-categories it calls "drivers
of employee engagement." Each driver measures an attribute of a great place to work. Based on how strongly employees responded to the
following statements, here are the top finishers for 10 key drivers:
Best Senior Leadership
"I see strong evidence of effective leadership from the senior management team in Canada"
1 Flight Centre
2 BC Biomedical Laboratories
3 PCL Construction Group
4 Hoffman-La Roche (tied)
4 Rothmans, Benson & Hedges (tied)
4 EllisDon (tied)
Best Managers
"My manager (the person I report to) provides the support I need to succeed"
1 Flight Centre
2 Cintas Canada
3 BC Biomedical Laboratories
4 Hoffmann-La Roche
5 Wal-Mart Canada
Best Career Opportunities
"My future career opportunities here look good"
1 Flight Centre
2 Cintas Canada (tied)
2 EllisDon (tied)
2 Wal-Mart Canada (tied)
3 BC Biomedical Laboratories
Best Benefits
"My benefits meet my needs and my family's needs well"
1 JTI-Macdonald (tied)
1 Rothmans, Benson & Hedges (tied)
2 L'Union Canadienne (tied)
2 DaimlerChrysler Services (tied)
3 Merck Frosst (tied)
3 Mercedes-Benz Canada (tied)
Best Pay Practices
"My pay is appropriate for the role I have in this organization"
1 JTI-Macdonald
2 BC Biomedical Laboratories
3 Rothmans, Benson & Hedges
4 Flight Centre (tied)
4 Merck Frosst (tied)
Best Recognition
"I receive adequate recognition beyond compensation for my contributions and accomplishments"
1 Flight Centre
2 BC Biomedical Laboratories
3 L'Union Canadienne (tied)
3 Hoffmann-La Roche (tied)
4 Cintas Canada
Best Work-Life Balance
"The balance between my work and personal commitments is right for me"
1 L'Union Canadienne
2 BC Biomedical Laboratories (tied)
2 Cintas Canada (tied)
3 Wal-Mart Canada
4 Chubb Insurance
Best Physical Work Environment
"The physical work environment is appropriate for
the kind of work I do"
1 Hoffmann-La Roche (tied)
1 Edward Jones (tied)
1 Husky Injection Molding Systems (tied)
2 QLT (tied)
2 Flight Centre (tied)
Best Workplace Resources
"Our work processes allow me to be as productive as possible"
1 Flight Centre
2 BC Biomedical Laboratories
3 Maritime Travel
4 Rothmans, Benson & Hedges
5 Cintas Canada (tied)
5 EllisDon (tied)
Best Performance Reviews
"The performance review helps me focus my work effort to help this organization achieve its goals"
1 Flight Centre
2 Cintas Canada
3 Hoffmann-La Roche
4 Rothmans, Benson & Hedges
5 Microsoft Canada (tied)
5 Enterprise Rent-A-Car (tied)
1 1 BC Biomedical Laboratories Ltd. Surrey, B.C. Medical 10 years N.A. 399 0.5% 4 N.A. 99% 4.5% Individual health-spending accounts. Computer purchase plan
2 3 Flight Centre North America Vancouver Travel 10 years $245 486 20.6% 178 77% 100% 7.5% Internal advancement preferred. Profit sharing for management
3 7 Rothmans, Benson & Hedges Inc. Toronto Tobacco 5 years $575 788 1.6% 33 42% 100% 4.8% Reimbursement of gym memberships and daycare costs
4 - Cintas Canada Ltd. Mississauga, Ont. Industrial laundry 5 years N.A. 1,396 5.9% 3 10% 70% 5.7% Profit sharing. Birthdays off. Service awards every five years
5 - Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd. Mississauga, Ont. Pharmaceuticals 3 years $316 388 9.5% 24 38% 89% 3.5% Extra days off on long weekends for head office staff
6 5 EllisDon Corp. London, Ont. Construction 14 years $955 730 4.1% 60 45% 95% 3.0% Employees who meet targets share 25% of operating earnings
7 12 PCL Construction Group Inc. Edmonton Construction 6 years $3,100 941 5.6% 43 85% 99% 3.5% Opportunities to work abroad. Career development programs
8 9 Chubb Insurance Co. of Canada Toronto Insurance 9 years $453 475 3.8% 65 10% 98% 5.5% Flex work arrangements. Top-up maternity benefits
9 10 Mercedes-Benz Canada Inc. Toronto Auto sales 1 year $1,166 742 3.2% N.A. N.A. 100% 3.5% Employee purchase discounts. Managers must respond to suggestions
10 - L'Union Canadienne Sillery, Que. Insurance 1 year $206 303 3.6% 9 N.A. 95% 4.0% Profit sharing. Discounts on auto and home insurance
11 - Microsoft Canada Co. Mississauga, Ont. Computer software 4 years $1,000 595 2.7% 40 97% N.A. N.A. Stock grants, fitness subsidies and 40 paid volunteer hours a year
12 4 Edward Jones Canada Mississauga, Ont. Investment dealer 10 years N.A. 1,255 12.1% 190 N.A. 93% 7.7% Bonus system, profit sharing and ownership opportunities
13 6 Crystal Decisions Corp. Vancouver Computer software 1 year $434 944 4.7% 75 100% N.A. N.A. Computer purchase plan. On-site gym. All employees own stock
14 - Wal-Mart Canada Corp. Mississauga, Ont. Retail 4 years N.A. 33,060 25.0% 5 46% 99% 4.0% Same flex benefits program for executives and hourly staff
15 17 JTI-Macdonald Corp. Toronto Tobacco 4 years N.A. 485 0.4% 40 5% 100% 4.0% On-site massage. Frequent special lunches. Early close on Halloween
16 14 Enterprise Rent-A-Car Markham, Ont. Auto rental 11 years N.A. 1,173 23.7% 100 N.A. N.A. N.A. Outlet managers run their own business and share in its profits
17 13 Golder Associates Ltd. Burnaby, B.C. Scientific and tech services 4 years $168 1,115 6.7% 48 53% 99% 6.4% 100% employee-owned. Leadership training program
18 - Merck Frosst Canada Ltd. Kirkland, Que. Pharmaceuticals 7 years $985 1,150 5.4% N.A. 80% 100% 3.0% Two daycare facilities. On-site yoga and Pilates. Flex benefits
19 - Creo Inc. Burnaby, B.C. Manufacturing 12 years $540 (U.S.) 1,200 4.0% 4 N.A. 97% N.A. Promotes from within. Mentoring programs. Staff can bring pets to work
20 - Maritime Travel Inc. Halifax Travel 25 years $19 280 5.0% 58 5% 100% 1.8% Profit sharing and travel-based performance incentives
21 20 Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc. Dorval, Que. Pharmaceuticals 1 year $427 677 4.9% 40 13% 96% 6.0% Annual merit pay. On-site dry-cleaning and take-home meals
22 15 Pfizer Global Pharmaceuticals Canada Kirkland, Que. Pharmaceuticals 4 years N.A. 1,066 7.8% 25 90% 97% 4.0% On-site fitness. Feng shui office design. Summer hours for seven months
23 47 Envision Financial Langley, B.C. Financial services 7 years $133 470 6.4% 45 N.A. 94% 3.0% Envision U corporate university. Staff concierge. Profit sharing
24 25 GlaxoSmithKline Inc. Mississauga, Ont. Pharmaceuticals 9 years N.A. 1,690 8.0% N.A. 9% N.A. N.A. Up to 13 weeks of paid parental or compassionate leave
25 19 Maritime Life Assurance Co. Halifax Insurance 8 years $2,439 2,116 4.7% 20 N.A. 97% 3.1% Flex hours. Bonuses based on customer satisfaction
26 34 Bennett Jones LLP Calgary Law 4 years N.A. 597 10.9% N.A. 19% 95% 3.0% Profit-based annual bonuses. Complete benefits for full- and part-timers
27 41 Dofasco Inc. Hamilton Steel 1 year $3,584 7,279 0.4% 28 5% N.A. N.A. Three on-site gyms. 40-hectare park. Canada's largest Christmas party
28 - HEPCOE Credit Union Ltd. Toronto Credit union 10 years $44 297 7.4% N.A. N.A. 98% 2.5% 2% of pretax profits given to charity. Emphasis on family atmosphere
29 27 QLT Inc. Vancouver Pharmaceuticals 2 years $173 326 6.1% 5 7% 99% 5.3% On-site gym and shiatsu. Performance-based stock options for all
30 - Whirlpool Canada Inc. Mississauga, Ont. Consumer products 1 year $871 368 5.4% 60 56% 95% 3.6% Flex benefits. Buy extra vacation or trade for cash or RRSP contribution
31 21 Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. Toronto Hotels 6 years N.A. 3,213 11.8% 8 1% 87% 3.0% Employee discounts at hotels worldwide. Annual wellness day
32 - Husky Injection Molding Systems Ltd. Bolton, Ont. Manufacturing 51 years $816 1,238 3.9% 5 8% 86% 4.5% On-site fitness, daycare and holistic therapy. Environmental initiatives
33 31 ACNielsen Co. of Canada Markham, Ont. Market research 3 years N.A. 7.9% 40 3% 98% 4.1% On-site ACNielsen University with 50 courses. Alive and Well health plan
34 39 Keg Restaurants Ltd. Richmond, B.C. Restaurant 7 years N.A. 855 7.8% 35 N.A. 85% 3.7% Budgets over $1 million a year for rewards, recognition and celebrations
35 18 S.C. Johnson & Son, Ltd. Brantford, Ont. Consumer products 4 years N.A. 452 2.0% N.A. 10% 99% 2.4% Employee resort in Muskoka. On-site gym, chiropractor and massage
36 35 Eli Lilly Canada Inc. Toronto Pharmaceuticals 1 year N.A. 770 6.7% 65 70% 97% 4.2% $10,000 adoption assistance grant. Take-home meals
37 37 Nexen Inc. Calgary Oil and gas 3 years $1,658 1,519 3.8% N.A. 100% 93% 5.4% Lunch-and-learn and town-hall meetings. On-site gym
38 36 Shell Canada Ltd. Calgary Oil and gas 1 year $7,314 3,663 1.6% N.A. 25% 99% 3.0% On-site fitness or fitness subsidy. Flex time and flex benefits
39 - Ceridian Canada Ltd. Winnipeg Human resources 1 year $177 1,120 6.0% 55 13% 79% 4.0% Business-to-employee portal, a self-serve HR database. Flex benefits
40 23 AstraZeneca Canada Inc. Mississauga, Ont. Pharmaceuticals 1 year $893 1,447 5.7% 106 N.A. 92% N.A. Comprehensive wellness strategy. Incentive pay for all employees
41 - DaimlerChrysler Services Canada Inc. Windsor, Ont. Financial services 1 year N.A. 425 2.4% 40 0% N.A. N.A. Cheers! recognition program with points for e-catalogue. Flex benefits
42 - Carswell, a Division of Thomson Canada Ltd. Toronto Specialty publisher 8 years N.A. 569 5.0% 3 N.A. 95% 3.3% Flex work arrangements. On-site days for massage, yoga, lunch-and-learn
43 40 Unilever Canada Inc. Toronto Consumer products 1 year $1,597 719 6.5% 2 48% 90% 3.5% Flex benefits. Time off during the day for volunteer activities
44 50 Xerox Canada Inc. North York, Ont. Computers, office equipment 1 year $1,186 4,162 6.3% 40 100% 88% 2.9% Comprehensive benefits, including paramedical. Open-door policy
45 - The Co-operators Guelph, Ont. Insurance 2 years $1,110 2,140 4.2% N.A N.A. 82% 3.7% Commitment to hiring and development within. Focus on Wellness plan
46 - Ernst & Young LLP Toronto Management consulting 5 years $534 2,772 13.1% 58 N.A. N.A. N.A. Flex work arrangements. Maternity leave top-up. Adoption assistance
47 - SaskTel Regina Telecommunications 8 years $893 3,689 0.7% 33 N.A. 100% 3.0% Flex time and job sharing. Discounts on products and services
48 - BTI Canada Inc. Toronto Travel 4 years N.A. 924 18.9% 49 N.A. 91% 2.3% Subsidized familiarization trips. Recognition program with travel prizes
49 - R.C. Purdy Chocolates Ltd. Vancouver Retail 9 years N.A. 207 0.5% N.A. N.A. 100% N.A. 80% of managers are women. Compensation above industry average
50 - Farm Credit Canada Regina Financial services 6 years $572 864 5.4% 35 N.A. 44% 4.0% Leadership training. Financial and volunteer support for communities