Adobe Systems Canada Inc.

Adobe Systems Canada's physical workplace is rated as above-average. The company's head office is only a short walk to the city's Glebe neighbourhood and popular Preston Street strip, which offers a variety of restaurant options and shopping. Employees can easily ride their bikes to work and take advantage of indoor secure bike storage, or take public transit which stops directly at the office building's front door. Inside, the head office building features an onsite fitness facility (located in the adjoining retail space and open to the public, with subsidized membership and instructor-led training); employee lounge (with comfortable seating, music, television, foosball, table hockey, board games, pool table and Xbox Kinect video games); a comprehensive daily snack program that includes fresh fruit, oatmeal, soups, chocolate, a variety of cold beverages and filtered water; nap room; religious observance room; transit subsidies; free parking; secure bicycle inside parking garage for bicycle commuters; and Herman Miller workstations throughout.

Adobe Systems Canada's work atmosphere is rated as above-average. On the job, employees enjoy casual dress daily; can listen to music while working; employee sports teams; organized social events. The company's employee-led social committee (called ESCAPE) organizes a number of holiday themed social events every year including a Halloween party with prizes for best decorated areas and costumes, Christmas holiday party (hosted at the National Arts Centre last year), Easter egg scavenger hunt, as well as a pancake breakfast for employees, organized by management personnel. During the year, the company keeps employees up to date and captures feedback through a company newsletter; corporate intranet site; email suggestion box.

Adobe Systems Canada's financial benefits are rated as very good. To keep salaries competitive the company participates in outside salary surveys every 12 months. Individual salaries are reviewed every 12 months. Along with ensuring competitive compensation, the company offers signing bonuses for some employees; new employee referral bonuses (to $1,250 for some positions); share-purchase plan for all employees; matching RSP contributions (up to 4% of salary); life & disability insurance; year-end bonuses for some employees.

Adobe Systems Canada's health and family benefits are rated as above-average. The company's health plan is managed by Great West Life. As part of the health plan, the employer pays 100% of the premiums. Employees who work 20 hours per week receive coverage. There is no waiting period before coverage begins. Employees receive full family coverage on the health benefits plan. The basic plan includes routine dental; restorative dental; orthodontics; eyecare ($240 every 2 years); traditional medicine coverage; alternative medicine coverage; massage therapy; medical equipment and supplies; homecare; employee assistance (EAP) plan; travel insurance; healthclub subsidy (to $360 each year). The company also provides a fitness subsidy for employees who are not based at the head office in Ottawa. Adobe Canada's family-friendly benefits include; maternity top-up payments (to 100% of salary for 17 weeks); adoption assistance subsidy to $3,000 per child; health benefits during maternity and parental leave; extended unpaid parental leave option (beyond the first year); flexible working hours; telecommuting; shortened work week (fewer hours with less pay).

Adobe Systems Canada's vacation and personal time-off are rated as above-average. New employees receive 4 weeks of vacation allowance after their first year. Long-serving employees receive a maximum of 4 weeks of vacation each year. During the Christmas to New Year's holiday break, employees receive an additional 3 days off. Employees receive 5 paid sick days every year. Employees can also apply for an unpaid leave of absence.

Adobe Systems Canada's employee engagement program is rated as above-average. Employees receive individual performance reviews every 12 months. Managers receive training in how to conduct effective performance reviews. Performance feedback is also solicited from co-workers and other managers familiar with each employee's work. As part of the review process employees can provide confidential feedback on their manager's performance. Exit interview provided for departing employees. The company recognizes excellent employee performance through a number of recognition initiatives including an annual incentive plan, special recognition bonuses, team bonuses, a patent awards program for company innovators and a special "Founders Award", which includes a $5,000 travel gift certificate and five additional paid days off. The company also recognizes longstanding employees through a service awards program, which celebrates every fifth year of service. Adobe Systems Canada sponsors its own in-house employee satisfaction survey. Adobe Systems Canada hires an outside consultant to conduct confidential employee satisfaction and engagement surveys. (These surveys are held every 12 months).

Adobe Systems Canada's training and skills development program is rated as very good. Employees receive tuition subsidies for courses related to their position. (Employers pay up to $10,000 in subsidies). In addition to generous tuition subsidies, employees can also keep their skills up to date through a variety of in-house training programs; online training programs; new employee orientation program; formal mangement training program.

Adobe Systems Canada's community involvement program is rated as exceptional. The company's employees support local, national and international charitable initiatives every year. Employees take part in the selection of charitable groups assisted each year. Employees receive paid time off to volunteer with their favourite charitable organizations. Last year, employees donated over 540 hours volunteering with charitable projects. Approximately 9 charitable and community organizations were supported last year. Every year, the company's employee-led philanthropic committee (called the Ottawa Action Committee) makes recommendations on where and how the company should allocate funds to various non-profit and charitable initiatives. The company's charitable focus designed to provide support for programs and partnerships that help to make targeted communities become better and more vibrant places to live, work and do business. In support, the company has a number of formal philanthropic programs including the "Adobe Community Giving Program", which includes corporate donations, product donations and employee volunteerism, a formal "Community Action Week" that is a week long international program that encourages employees to get involved and volunteer in their communities worldwide, and the "Adobe Youth Voices" initiative that is designed to support youth in under-served and poorer communities worldwide.