Alberta-Pacific Forest Industries Inc.

Al-Pac's physical workplace is rated as exceptional. Located north-east of Edmonton, ALPAC's unique location offers a variety of recreational amenities for employees, including onsite baseball diamonds, a golf driving range, a beach volleyball court, a horseshoe pitch, walking trails and a 40-acre stocked trout pond. In a unique demonstration of its advanced waste water treatment facilities, the company's reception area houses a large aquarium that is filled with treated wastewater and stocked with native fish from the river. In addition to its outdoor recreational facilities the head office also features a variety of indoor amenities, including an) onsite fitness facility (with free membership, treadmills, stationary bikes, stairmasters, rowing machines, weights and shower facilities); employee lounge (with comfortable seating, music, television and outdoor patio with picnic tables and chairs); free parking.

Al-Pac's work atmosphere is rated as exceptional. Throughout the year, employees at ALPAC enjoy business casual dress; casual dress daily; can listen to music while working; can bring pets to work when needed; employee sports teams; organized social events. The company's social committee (called the Collectively Yours Social Club) organizes a variety of fun events every year, including a family day picnic with children's fishing derby, a charitable golf tournament, an annual Christmas party, a separate holiday party for employees' children, annual long-service awards dinner, and a National Aboriginal Day celebration and summer barbeque. ALPAC captures employee feedback and keeps employees up-to-date through a company newsletter; corporate intranet site; traditional suggestion box.

Al-Pac's financial benefits are rated as above-average. To keep salaries competitive the company participates in outside salary surveys every 12 months. Individual salaries are reviewed every 12 months. The company also provides signing bonuses for some employees; new employee referral bonuses (to $5,000 for some positions); profit-sharing plan for all employees; defined contribution pension plan with employer contributions (up to 7% of salary); matching RSP contributions (up to 3% of salary); life & disability insurance; interest free home loans for new employees relocating to region; discounted company products; lifestyle account (to $3,800 each year taxable income) as part of the company's health benefits plan; year-end bonuses for some employees.

Al-Pac's health and family benefits are rated as very good. The company's health benefits plan is managed by Great West Life. As part of the health plan, the employer pays 100% of the premiums. The health plan is a flexible plan with adjustable premiums and coverage levels. 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 ($375 every 2 years); traditional medicine coverage; alternative medicine coverage; medical equipment and supplies; homecare; employee assistance (EAP) plan; travel insurance. As part of the company's health plan, each employee receives an annual $3800 taxable lifestyle contribution and a $300 non-taxable health spending contribution that can be used towards non-insured health coverages and even to purchase additional vacation time. As part of this benefit, unused funds are paid directly to each employee at the end of the year as taxable income. The company's family friendly benefits include: fertility treatments; maternity top-up payments (to 100% of salary for 18 weeks); extended unpaid parental leave option (beyond the first year). Additional family friendly benefits include: post-secondary academic scholarships for children of employees; flexible working hours; telecommuting; shortened work week (fewer hours with less pay); reduced summer hours program; compressed work week; job-sharing; and compassionate top-up payments (on a case-by-case basis).

Al-Pac's vacation and personal time-off are rated as exceptional. New employees receive 4 weeks of vacation allowance after their first year. Vacation increases after 10 years on the job. Long-serving employees receive a maximum of 7.5 weeks of vacation each year. Employees can schedule 12 personal days off each year, as needed. Employees can also apply for an unpaid leave of absence. As part of the company's enlightened vacation policy, new employees receive 3 weeks paid vacation plus an additional week that they are free to choose as additional paid time-off or receive as additional income. The company also maintains a flexible personal paid-days off program the lets employees take time off for family events, emergencies, personal appointments or even a round of golf. The policy is designed to be flexible with employees averaging approximately 12 extra days off each year. Alberta-Pacific also recently introduced a compressed (7am to 5pm) and four-day work week schedule, offering three day weekends every week.

Al-Pac'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. As part of the review process employees can provide confidential feedback on their manager's performance. Exit interview provided for departing employees. ALPAC's performance management process is based on a team management model. Individual performance is reviewed jointly in the context of each work group's performance. Every month, work groups meet to discuss group and individual employee performance and work together to address any performance issues that may arise. Excellent performance is recognized with tickets to sporting and entertainment events, company-paid social events and company merchandise. In celebration of its first decade, the company hosted draws for a variety of incredible prizes, including fly-fishing trips, a new boat, 10 new ATVs, and two new vehicles. ALPAC also honours its long serving employees after 10 years on-the-job (and every 5th year thereafter) at an annual celebration dinner where employees receive gift cards valued at over $500. Al-Pac sponsors its own in-house employee satisfaction survey. (Surveys are conducted every 24 months).

Al-Pac's training and skills development program is rated as exceptional. Employees receive tuition subsidies for courses related to their position. (Employers cover up to 100% of tuition). Employees may also receive tuition subsidies for courses unrelated to their current position. (Employers cover up to 100% of non-related tuition). In addition to tuition subsidies, ALPAC offers subsidies for professional accreditations; financial bonuses for course completions; in-house apprenticeship and skilled trades programs; in-house training programs; online training programs; online employee skills inventory; new employee orientation program; formal mangement training program. Financial bonuses for the completion of certain accreditations (from $4,000 to $10,000).

Al-Pac's community involvement program is rated as above-average. A good corporate citizen, ALPAC supports a variety of local charitable initiatives. 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 10,000 hours volunteering with charitable projects. Approximately 75 charitable and community organizations were supported last year. As part of the company charitable program, ALPAC lets employees volunteer on company-paid time for various charitable initiatives and provides special donations (to $250) in support of those organizations where employees volunteer.

As part of an ongoing commitment to address its own environmental footprint, ALPAC reached the goal of going carbon neutral back in 2006. The company also works closely with conservation groups, local communities and Aboriginal organizations to establish sustainable forest and ecosystem management practices.