The best incentives, perks and groundbreaking initiatives inside Canada’s top employers
Jessica Darmanin
The Best Employers list, compiled by Aon Hewitt, a global HR consulting firm, is determined in large part by surveying employees. Their engagement is measured by their views on areas such as leadership excellence, manager effectiveness, supporting productivity, career development and recognition. Maclean’s asked all 50 organizations (listed alphabetically) what they think earned them such high marks from their staff. In addition, we’ve included the top areas where each company was rated strongest by its employees, as well as the number of years it has been on the list.
Here are the highlights:
Aecon Group Inc.
Toronto and Calgary
Construction and engineering
Years on list: 7
Allstate Insurance Co. of Canada
Markham, Ont.
Insurance
Years on list: 2
ATB Financial
Edmonton
Financial services
Years on list: 5
BBA Inc.
Mont-Saint-Hilaire, Que.
Construction and engineering
Years on list: 4
Bennett Jones LLP
Calgary
Legal services
Years on list: 13
Birchwood Automotive Group
Winnipeg
Auto sales
Years on list: 3
Canadian Apartment Properties Real Estate Investment Trust
Toronto
Real estate investment trust
Years on list: 1
Canadian Western Bank
Edmonton
Financial services
Years on list: 8
Chubb Insurance Co. of Canada
Toronto
Insurance
Years on list: 14
Cintas Canada Ltd.
Mississauga, Ont.
Commercial services
Years on list: 7
Cisco Canada
Toronto
Communications equipment
Years on list: 6
* Cisco was tops in four categories among all 50 organizations
Clark Builders
Edmonton
Construction and engineering
Years on list: 5
Concept Group
Calgary
Energy services
Years on list: 1
Conexus Credit Union
Regina
Financial services
Years on list: 9
The Co-operators
Guelph, Ont.
Insurance
Years on list: 11
Cossette Communication Inc.
Quebec City
Marketing communications
Years on list: 1
Davis Automotive Group
Lethbridge, Alta.
Auto sales
Years on list: 1
Delta Hotels and Resorts
Toronto
Hotels, restaurants and leisure
Years on list: 14
Earls Kitchens + Bar
Vancouver
Hotels, restaurants and leisure
Years on list: 6
Edward Jones
Mississauga, Ont.
Financial services
Years on list: 12
EllisDon Corp.
London, Ont.
Construction and engineering
Years on list: 13
Farm Credit Canada
Regina
Financial services
Years on list: 11
Federal Express Canada Ltd.
Mississauga, Ont.
Delivery services
Years on list: 10
Flight Centre
Vancouver
Hotels, restaurants and leisure
Years on list: 13
G&K Services Canada Inc.
Mississauga, Ont.
Commercial services
Years on list: 10
Gibson Energy Inc.
Calgary
Energy services
Years on list: 1
Gowling, Lafleur, Henderson LLP
Toronto
Legal services
Years on list: 5
Hatch Ltd.
Mississauga, Ont.
Construction and engineering
Years on list: 4
Island Savings Credit Union
Duncan, B.C.
Financial services
Years on list: 4
JTI-Macdonald Corp.
Mississauga, Ont.
Tobacco
Years on list: 11
Keg Restaurants Ltd.
Richmond, B.C.
Hotels, restaurants and leisure
Years on list: 12
Geo. A. Kelson Co. Ltd.
Sharon, Ont.
Construction and engineering
Years on list: 1
La Capitale Financial Group
Quebec City
Insurance
Years on list: 2
LoyaltyOne Inc.
Toronto
Marketing
Years on list: 5
Lush Fresh Handmade Cosmetics
Vancouver
Retail
Years on list: 3
Marriott Hotels of Canada Ltd.
Mississauga, Ont.
Hotels, restaurants and leisure
Years on list: 9
McDonald’s Restaurants of Canada Ltd.
Toronto
Hotels, restaurants and leisure
Years on list: 12
MNP LLP
Calgary
Professional services
Years on list: 6
National Bank of Canada
Montreal
Financial services
Years on list: 9
Novotel Canada
Mississauga, Ont.
Hotels, restaurants and leisure
Years on list: 5
OMERS Administration Corp.
Toronto
Financial services
Years on list: 6
PCL Constructors Inc.
Edmonton
Construction and engineering
Years on list: 14
Purdys Chocolatier
Vancouver
Retail
Years on list: 5
SAP Canada Inc.
Toronto
Information technology
Years on list: 8
Sifton Properties Ltd.
London, Ont.
Real estate management
Years on list: 1
Starwood Hotels & resorts Worldwide Inc. (Canada)
Toronto
Hotels, restaurants and leisure
Years on list: 12
Stikeman Elliott LLP
Toronto
Legal services
Years on list: 5
Toronto-Dominion Bank
Toronto
Financial services
Years on list: 6
Vancouver City Savings Credit Union
Vancouver
Financial services
Years on list: 4
Westminster Savings Credit Union
New Westminster, B.C.
Financial services
Years on list: 2
METHODOLOGY: A total of 282 Canadian employers took part in this year’s Best Employers studies. Aon Hewitt identified the Best Employers based primarily on survey responses from almost 280,000 Canadian employees at these organizations, gauging employee engagement levels and work environment factors. Participating employers were also required to survey their executive teams. According to Aon Hewitt’s definition, employees are engaged when they “say, stay and strive”: They speak positively about their employer to others, are committed to staying with their current employer and are motivated by their organization’s leaders and culture to go “above and beyond” to contribute to business success. On average, 78 per cent of employees were engaged at Best Employers this year, down from 79 per cent last year.