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The GTA's top employers for 2011

diane jermyn
Globe and Mail Update Published Sunday, Nov. 21, 2010 6:00PM EST Last updated Thursday, Dec. 02, 2010 5:39PM EST

With so many national and international head offices in or near Toronto, the 2011 winners of the fifth annual GTAs Top Employers contest faced fierce competition. Size didnt matter. Companies making this years list range from Newmarkets XE.com Inc., in the Internet publishing and broadcasting sector, with a staff of 19, to Ontario Public Service, with 65,234 employees. Employers were compared with others in their field to determine which offers the most progressive and forward-thinking programs. The editors at Mediacorp Canada judged each employers operations and human-resources practices according to the same eight criteria as the national competition of Canada's Top 100 Employers: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. physical workplace, which includes perks such as onsite gyms and lounges; work atmosphere and social, described as the overall culture, including organized events; health, financial and family benefits; vacation and time off; employee communications, which refer to the companys procedures to communicate and get feedback from employees; 6. performance management, including performance reviews, recognition and rewards; 7. training and skills development; and 8. community involvement.

Richard Yerema, managing editor of Canadas Top 100 Employers, has observed an evolution in familyfriendly policies, with virtually all employers offering maternity top-up payments now (from less than half a decade ago), as well as a variety of alternative working arrangements and increasingly generous vacation time all making these companies exceptional places to work.

List by Mediacorp Canada (This list is not ranked. It appears in alphabetical order.) Click on the category headers to sort the list by any category below. List by Mediacorp Canada (This list is not ranked. It appears in alphabetical order.) Click on the category headers to sort the list by any category below.

Full-time What stands out employees Recently implemented a two-year engineer-in-training program for AMEC Americas Ltd., Engineering engineering graduates to receive 6750 Oakville, Ont. services mentoring and on-the-job guidance while preparing to write the PEng Ontario licensing exam. Pays bonuses up to $3,000 to Computer systems employees when they refer a Agfa HealthCare Inc., Toronto 414 design friend who is hired by the company. Offers a range of flexible work options, including Agnico-Eagle Mines Ltd., telecommuting, reduced summer Gold ore mining 2705 Toronto hours and a 35-hour workweek with full pay. Association of Management, Provides parental leave top-up Labour unions and Administrative and payments to new fathers and Professional Crown Employees similar labour 30 adoptive parents, up to 93 per organizations of Ontario (AMAPCEO), cent for 37 weeks. Toronto Offers an enlightened sick-day policy through which employees Commercial can apply for personal days off Bank of Montreal, Toronto 26781 banking (called People Care Days) that may be used for everything from moving to family responsibilities. Has a marche-style cafeteria with Pharmaceutical healthy menu items, take-home Bayer Inc., Toronto 709 manufacturing meals, Starbucks coffee and fruit smoothies. Recognizes its top employee Blake, Cassels & Graydon volunteers with generous Law offices 1028 LLP, Toronto donations, up to $10,000 to the charity of their choosing. Helps employees save for retirement with planning CAA South Central Ontario, Insurance 1082 assistance and a defined benefit Thornhill, Ont. pension plan. Established a sustainability development reward program for Environmental CH2M HILL Canada Ltd., 981 employees who undertake consulting Toronto environmental projects inside or services outside the office. Company What They Do

Capital One Services (Canada) Credit cards Inc., Toronto

198

Carswell, a division of Thomson Reuters Canada Ltd., Book publishers Toronto

755

Catholic Children's Aid Society Children and of Toronto youth services Central Community Care Access Centre, Newmarket, Ont. Nursing care facilities

590

Covers the full cost of tuition for employees completing coursework at outside institutions, with no annual limit. Manages a unique two-year leadership program for employees with more than 80 per cent of participants promoted upon program completion. Provides new mothers with the option of extending their maternity leave time for up to three years. Starts employees at four weeks vacation after the first year. Pays parental leave top-up benefits to employees who are new fathers and adoptive parents. Operates an in-house Smart Commute program to encourage employees to shift from single car commuting to transit, carpooling, cycling, walking and working from home where possible. More than 65 per cent of management employees are women. Helps employees save for retirement with matching RRSP contributions. Pays generous compassionate care leave top-up payments, up to 100 per cent of salary for eight weeks. Offers tuition subsidies for courses at outside institutions and in-house training initiatives. Offers alternative work arrangements that help women gradually return to work from maternity leave. Provides a phased-in retirement work option that helps older employees gradually transition to

607

Centre for Addiction and Hospitals Mental Health/CAMH, Toronto

1966

City of Toronto

Legislative bodies 22410

College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario, Toronto Compass Group Canada, Mississauga

Professional organizations Food service contractors Television broadcasting

252

11000

Corus Entertainment, Toronto

1875

Credit Valley Hospital, Mississauga Deloitte & Touche LLP, Toronto Dillon Consulting Ltd., Toronto

Hospitals

1805

Certified public accountants Scientific and technical consulting

7516

631

services Durham College, Oshawa, Ont. Education Pharmaceutical manufacturing Building construction Offices of certified public accountants 725

EMD Inc. Canada, Mississauga

138

EllisDon Corp., Mississauga

910

Ernst & Young LLP, Toronto

4018

Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, Toronto

Hotels (except casino hotels) and 8183 motels

Fleishman-Hillard Canada Inc., Public relations Toronto Gamma-Dynacare Medical Laboratories Inc., Brampton, Ont. Gay Lea Foods Co-operative Ltd., Mississauga

176

Medical labs

1508

Dairy manufacturing

488

George Brown College, Toronto

Education

1300

GlaxoSmithKline Inc., Mississauga

Pharmaceutical manufacturing

1416

Goodrich Aerospace Canada Ltd., Oakville, Ont. Hershey Canada Inc., Mississauga

Aircraft parts and 990 equipment manufacturing Confectionery manufacturing 208

retirement. Starts employees at three weeks of vacation, in addition to five personal paid days off. Supports employee development by covering the full cost of tuition for courses at outside institutions. Encourages an ownership culture, offering profit-sharing and share purchase plans for Offers employees the chance to work abroad for up to 18 months through a number of international work programs. Provides discounted rates at their hotels and resorts around the world for employees, families and friends. Offers alternative work options, including flexible hours, telecommuting and a shortened workweek. Offers an academic scholarship program for employees' children pursuing post-secondary studies. Lets all employees participate in the company's success through profit sharing and share purchase plans. Starts new employees at three weeks paid vacation, in addition to five paid days off during the Christmas season. Offers financial perks including signing bonuses for some employees, new employee referral bonuses and year-end performance bonuses. Helps employees save for retirement through a defined contribution pension plan and matching RRSP contributions. Offers maternity leave top-up payments, up to 100 per cent of salary for eight weeks.

Hewlett-Packard Canada Co., Mississauga

Computer manufacturing

7301

Hill & Knowlton Canada Inc., Public relations Toronto Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, Toronto

193

Hospitals

495

Home Depot Canada, Toronto Hardware stores

14100

Hydro One Networks Inc., Toronto

Electric power distribution

7973

ING Direct, Toronto

Commercial banking

945

Infusion, Toronto

Computer programming

137

KPMG LLP, Toronto

Certified public accountants

5270

Kinross Gold Corp., Toronto

Gold ore mining

176

Law Society of Upper Canada, Professional Toronto organizations

459

Loblaw Cos. Ltd., Brampton, Ont.

Supermarkets

31582

Supports ongoing employee development with generous tuition subsidies, up to $5,000, for courses at outside institutions. Lets employees start their long weekends early by closing at noon on Friday before each summer long weekend. Is located in a state-of-the-art health facility, featuring interactive art installations. Provides head office employees with free memberships to an onsite fitness facility that includes treadmills, shower facilities, stationary bikes and weights. Extends fully paid health coverage to employees throughout their retirement years (with no age limit). Offers matching RRSP contributions, referral bonuses and year-end performance bonuses. Supports ongoing employee development with tuition subsidies and online and in-house training. Offers parental leave top-up payments for new mothers and fathers (including adoptive parents) as well as up to $20,000 to help cover adoption-related expenses. Employees can apply to take an unpaid leave of absence. Provides compassionate leave top-up payments, up to 70 per cent for eight weeks, for employees taking leave to care for a loved one. Offers generous financial benefits, including year-end bonuses, a share purchase plan and pension plan.

Mars Canada Inc., Bolton, Ont.

Confectionery manufacturing

458

Marsh Canada Ltd., Toronto

Insurance

1119

Medcan Health Management Inc., Toronto

Outpatient care centres

178

Medtronic of Canada Inc., Brampton, Ont. Michener Institute, Toronto

Medical equipment manufacturing Technical and trade schools

423

169

Highway, street Miller Group, Markham, Ont. and bridge construction

3161

Provides three weeks of paid vacation to start and operates a vacation purchase program that helps employees extend their vacations when desired. Provides discounted rates on their home and auto insurance. Offers parental leave top-up benefits to employees who are new mothers, fathers or adoptive parents, up to 75 per cent of salary for 26 weeks, and health benefits that extend during their leave. Offers in-house training options, including mentoring and jobshadowing programs. Rewards employees with bonuses when they complete certain professional accreditations. Supports employees' children through an in-house academic scholarship program for postsecondary studies. Encourages employees to develop industry specific knowledge through their Molson Beer Academy (MBA) program. Manages a phased-in retirement program for nurses that lets them spend time working in less physically demanding roles, such as teaching or mentoring. In addition to three weeks paid vacation to start, employees receive two paid floater days each year to use as needed. Extends parental leave top-up benefits to employees who adopt a child, up to 100 per cent of salary for 21 weeks. Offers a defined contribution pension plan, profit sharing, yearend performance bonuses, and

Molson Coors Canada, Toronto

Breweries

2727

Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto Hospitals

2297

Municipal Property Assessment Real estate Corp., Pickering, Ont. appraisers

1630

Novo Nordisk Canada Inc., Mississauga Nycomed Canada Inc., Oakville, Ont.

Pharmaceutical manufacturing Pharmaceutical manufacturing

209

220

Ontario Hospital Association, Toronto Ontario Power Authority, Toronto

Professional organizations

103

Regulation and administration of 210 utilities General government support

Ontario Public Service, Toronto

64725

Pelmorex Media Inc., Oakville, Television Ont. broadcasting

302

Pitney Bowes Canada Inc., Mississauga

Office equipment 1691 wholesalers

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Certified public Toronto accountants

6240

Procter & Gamble Inc., Toronto

Toiletry product manufacturing

1902

Regional Municipality of York, Legislative bodies 2498 Newmarket, Ont. Rogers Communications Inc., Cable and Toronto communications

23207

Royal Bank of Canada, Toronto

Commercial banking

51100

new employee referral bonuses, up to $1,500. Offers a defined-benefit pension plan and a health plan that extends into their retirement years (with no age limit). Helps employees plan for retirement with the stability of a defined benefit pension plan. Offers new internship and training programs to recruit new graduates and young professionals into the civil service. Depending on the position, employees may receive year-end performance bonuses and signing bonuses. Supports employee wellness with free memberships to an onsite fitness facility, healthy/special diet cafeteria options and a nap room for breaks during the day. Developed an Environmental Action Plan that's being spearheaded by an employee-led network focused on finding ways to reduce the firm's carbon footprint. Is a leader in diversity awareness with several long-standing network groups for employees from various cultural and ethnic backgrounds. Offers free transit passes to fulltime employees, encouraging them to leave their cars at home. Offers generous discounts on a wide range of products, from cellphones to digital television to major league baseball tickets. Is a recruiting leader for new Canadians, sponsoring and attending career fairs and employment training events to

SAP Canada Inc., Toronto

Computer programming

1927

SAS Institute Canada Inc., Toronto SCOR Canada Reinsurance Co., Toronto Seneca College, Markham, Ont.

Computer programming Reinsurance carriers Colleges, universities and professional schools General medical and surgical hospitals

239

54

recruit immigrant job seekers. Offers generous tuition subsidies, up to $10,000 each year, as well as in-house and online training initiatives. Employees have their own longstanding band, called the SASations, that performs at company events. Offers year-end performance bonuses as well as signing bonuses for some positions. Helps employees prepare for retirement with planning workshops. Offers parental leave top-up payments to new fathers and adoptive parents, up to 84 per cent of salary for 17 weeks. Maintains an in-house Smart Commute website to help employees find car pool matches from across the company. A green health-care institution that's recently completed the installation of a solar photovoltaic array capable of producing 100 kilowatts of clean energy. Provides employees international career opportunities through their Switzerland-based parent company. Starts new employees at three weeks vacation in addition to three personal paid days off per year. Offers tuition subsidies, career planning services, in-house apprenticeship programs and inhouse and online training options. Recently introduced a new healthy workplace plan including an employee walking club, free health clinics and lunch-and-learn

1275

Southlake Regional Health Centre, Newmarket, Ont.

1717

Direct property State Farm Insurance, Aurora, and casualty 1453 Ont. insurance carriers General medical and surgical hospitals

Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto

4825

Swiss Re, Toronto

Reinsurance carriers

170

TeraGo Networks Inc., Thornhill, Ont.

Internet service providers

187

Toronto Central Community Care Access Centre, Toronto

Home health-care 501 services

Toronto Community Housing Corp., Toronto

Residential 1412 property managers

Toronto Hydro Corp., Toronto

Electric power distribution

1519

Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), Toronto

Film exhibition

174

Toronto Police Service, Toronto

Police protection 8182

Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, Toronto

Hospitals

1082

Toronto-Dominion Bank, Toronto

Commercial banking

38907

Trader Corp., Toronto

Media representatives

1188

University Health Network, Toronto

General medical and surgical hospitals Colleges, universities and professional schools

8363

University of Toronto

8400

West Park Healthcare Centre, Toronto

Hospitals

602

William Osler Health System, Hospitals Brampton

2697

sessions on wellness topics. Operates a deferred salary program that lets employees plan their own leaves of absence, ranging from six months to one full year. Provides free employee passes to TIFF and offers employees access to film screenings and lectures, as well as movie rental privileges, throughout the year. Provides a meditation room for employees who need a break or quiet time for religious observances. Offers the convenience of an onsite daycare facility, with 44 spaces, when new parents are ready to return to work. The head office social committee hosts a holiday party for children of employees, with carnival rides, a petting zoo and more than 3,000 gifts delivered by Santa. Lets employees share in the company's success with a share purchase plan and year-end performance bonuses. Manages an on-site daycare facility and provides remote daycare options for commuter employees in partnership with outside daycares. Provides new fathers, including same-sex partners, with a one week fully paid leave to help welcome the newest family member. Offers retirement planning assistance and phased-in work options as employees near their retirement date. Provides on-site amenities including a fitness facility, nap room, cafeteria and a

10

World Vision Canada, Mississauga

Social advocacy organizations

444

Internet XE.com Inc., Newmarket, Ont. publishing and broadcasting

18

Xerox Canada Ltd., Toronto

Computer peripheral equipment manufacturing

3571

YMCA of Greater Toronto

Individual and family services

1337

meditation/religious observance room. Encourages ongoing employee education with tuition subsidies for courses completed at outside institutions, with no annual maximum. Provides employees who are new mothers with maternity top-up payments, up to 95 per cent of salary for 52 weeks, and parental leave top-up for new fathers, up to 95 per cent of salary for 35 weeks. Supports older workers with succession and retirement planning workshops as well as phased-in retirement work options. Operates a subsidized on-site daycare facility as well as an after school program for employees with children enrolled in primary school.