A new list of British Columbia’s best places to work is out and it includes some big names.
BC’s Top Employers 2023 named dozens of companies, from BC Hydro to Coast Capital Savings Federal Credit Union, and outlined the reasons they made the cut, from their benefits to their wellness incentives.
No wonder many employers have been recognized for their hybrid working model, which has only gained popularity in recent years. Telus Communications Inc. has been enabling employees to work from home since 2006, giving them $1,000 to set up a home office.
The College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia was added to the list because “employees have the opportunity to extend their absence by combining up to four weeks of remote work with vacation time.”
Other companies were named for their training programs. BC Assessment provides “ongoing employee training with generous external course tuition grants of $7,500 per year.”
The BC Housing Management Commission made the list for its “training on a variety of diversity issues, including respect in the workplace, unconscious bias and anti-racism.”
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The City of Vancouver’s more than 8,000 employees can “benefit from ongoing employee development throughout their careers, from paid internships and apprenticeships to tuition grants for courses at outside academic institutions.”
Holidays and advantages in the foreground
ICBC has been recognized for its work-life balance efforts by granting employees 16 face-to-face days annually.
The City of Coquitlam was recognized for its benefits program, the Delta Police Department, Delta for its maternity policy that grants new mothers 95% of their salary for up to 52 weeks, and the City of North Vancouver for sponsoring wellness workshops including classes for mental health and yoga, for employees.
Dating site Plentyoffish Media ULC supports its 130 employees with their 12-week, fully-paid, top-up maternity leave for new parents, and video game company Phoenix Labs helps employees save for the future by matching RSP contributions.
Post-secondary schools get good grades
BCIT was noted for its workaway program, which allows its employees to work remotely in Canada for up to two weeks a year.
BCIT campus in downtown Vancouver. (BCIT)
Douglas College was awarded the contract for its staff child care program.
Simon Fraser University has a generous time-off policy and UBC allocates $2,500 annually for mental health coverage.
The University of the Fraser Valley is all about remote working and adapting to post-pandemic needs, while the University of Victoria grants staff memberships for its fitness facilities.
Other mentions: Capilano University in North Vancouver, Kwantlen Polytechnic University in Surrey and UNBC.
Some notable entries
A few developers also made the list: Beedie, where employees are paid $5,000 if they help recruit successful candidates. Century Group Lands Corp. for her maternity policy and Concert Properties Ltd. for their bonus payment incentives.
British Columbia’s Liquor Distribution Branch also made the list. The union representing workers made headlines last year after voting in favor of strikes, which caused major problems with the province’s liquor and cannabis supplies.
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BC Transit and TransLink were both named.
While the Victoria Airport Authority compiled the list, the Vancouver International Airport Authority did not.
Mediacorp Canada Inc, a Toronto-based company, co-published the article with the Vancouver Sun and says the review process was conducted by editors from Canada’s Top 100 Employers. They examined multiple criteria to create the list, including progressive workplace, work atmosphere, health benefits, training and skills development, and community involvement.
To read the full list, click here.
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