Atlantic Canada’s Top 25 Employers

The harder a goal is to attain, the more meaningful it is. Which is exactly why Atlantic Canada’s Top 25 Employers is the most highly valued HR recognition program in the region.

Literally a year in the making, it began with a national quest for nominees (you have to apply for Canada’s Top 100 Employers™ to even be considered for regional recognition). This year, more than 3,250 applications from across the country were scrutinized by Mediacorp editors in eight areas: (1) physical workplace; (2) work atmosphere and social; (3) health, financial and family benefits; (4) vacation and time off; (5) employee communications; (6) performance management; (7) training and skills development; and (8) community involvement. It’s a deliberately intensive process that ensures Top Employer status is only bestowed where it’s truly deserved.

Companies named to the list set the standard of what it means to be an employer of choice. And that’s where the real winning begins. Yes, the recognition is nice, but the ultimate prize is being the type of employer your staff will brag about. As these Top 25 will attest, those word of mouth testimonials are the most effective HR tool there is for attracting and retaining top performers.

Admiral Insurance Services Inc.
Description: provides automobile insurance products and services
Location: Halifax, N.S.
Full-time employees in Canada: 508
Perks of the job:

• new employees start at three weeks of paid vacation allowance; can schedule additional time off through an earned days-off program
• generous tuition subsidies for job-related courses (to $5,000), a variety of in-house and online training programs, and subsidies for professional accreditation
• profit-sharing plan available to all employees
• contributes to a defined contribution pension plan
• maternity leave top-up payments (to 100 per cent of salary for 15 weeks); parental top-up to new fathers and adoptive parents (to 100 per cent of salary for seven weeks)

Cape Breton District Health Authority
Description: provides primary, secondary and tertiary care through eight hospitals across Cape Breton Island
Location: Sydney, N.S.
Full-time employees in Canada: 2,357
Perks of the job:

• onsite fitness facility (with employee-led fitness fundraising activities) and a unique online healthy eating cookbook for employees to download
• full-service cafeteria (complete with piano for hospital choir practice), as well as onsite Tim Hortons and Subway restaurants
• maternity leave top-up payments (to 93 per cent of salary for 15 weeks) as well as extended health benefits coverage during their leave
• parental leave top-up to employees who are new fathers or adoptive parents, to 93 per cent of salary for 10 weeks
• contributes to a defined benefit pension plan
• alternative work options including flexible hours, telecommuting and reduced summer hours
• paid internships, co-op programs and summer student positions

Capital District Health Authority
Description: provides health services to residents in the Halifax Regional Municipality and western Hants County
Location: Halifax, N.S.
Full-time employees in Canada: 6,407
Perks of the job:

• offers a variety of alternative work arrangements, including flexible hours, telecommuting, and shortened and compressed work weeks
• tuition subsidies for job-related courses, a number of in-house and online training programs, including apprenticeship opportunities, and subsidies for professional accreditation
• retirement planning assistance and contributions to a defined benefit pension plan
• maternity leave top-up payments (to 93 per cent of salary for 15 weeks) and offers parental topup for new fathers and adoptive parents (to 93 per cent of salary for 10 weeks)
• the hospital’s “Fun Crew” organizes a variety of social events and celebrations each year, including a musical harbour cruise, family day event at Ross Farm, staff appreciation barbecues, and family skating

CBCL Limited
Description: employee-owned consulting engineering firm that operates in Atlantic Canada
Location: Halifax, N.S.
Full-time employees in Canada: 253
Perks of the job:

• maternity leave top-up payments to employees who are new mothers (to 80 per cent of salary for 17 weeks) and offers the option to extend their leave into an unpaid leave of absence
• flexible hours, a telecommuting option, and shortened work weeks
• profit-sharing for all employees, signing bonuses for some employees, year-end bonuses for all, and referral bonuses (to $1,000) for employees who successfully refer a candidate
• contributions to a defined contribution pension plan and health benefits that extend to retirees
• variety of in-house and online training programs, tuition subsidies for job-related courses, and subsidies for professional accreditation
• paid internships, co-op placements, and summer student roles

CROMBIE Real Estate Investment Trust
Description: commercial real estate owner and developer in Atlantic Canada
Location: Stellarton, N.S.
Full-time employees in Canada: 282
Perks of the job:

• year-end bonuses and a profitsharing plan, available to all employees
• contributions to a defined contribution pension plan and health benefits that extend to retirees
• maternity and parental leave top-up payments (to 70 per cent of salary for 26 weeks) with the option to extend their leave into an unpaid leave of absence
• variety of in-house and online training programs and subsidies for tuition and professional accreditation
• onsite fitness facility, with stateof- the-art exercise equipment, instructor-led classes such as yoga and kick-boxing, and shower facilities

Dalhousie University
Description: post-secondary academic institution serving over 16,500 full- and part-time students
Location: Halifax, N.S.
Full-time employees in Canada: 3,622
Perks of the job:

• maternity and parental leave top-up payments, with the amount dependent upon employee group and length of service
• free tuition for employees (up to two credits each year) and generous tuition subsidies for employees’ immediate family members
• phased-in retirement work options, defined benefit pension plan as well as a health benefits plan that extends into retirement, with no age limit
• retired employees can also stay active through the Association of Dalhousie Retirees and Pensioners (ADRP), which organizes social events and represents retiree interests on the University’s pension and benefits committees
• subsidized memberships to the Dalplex fitness centre, which includes a fully-equipped gymnasium, swimming, racquetball and squash and instructor-led fitness classes
• great work location, situated on 79 acres of landscaped grounds located within walking distance of historic downtown Halifax and a wide selection of restaurants and shops