AMEC Americas Limited

AMEC Americas' physical workplace is rated as very good. AMEC's suburban head office building features an employee lounge (with comfortable seating, television); self-serve lunch room (with vending machines, free coffee and tea); nap room; transit subsidies; free parking; car pool sign-up; convenient highway access; close to shopping areas and restaurants; fitness centre nearby.

AMEC Americas' work atmosphere is rated as exceptional. Head office employees enjoy business casual dress; casual dress Fridays; can listen to music while working; employee sports teams; organized social events. The company-subsidized social committee (established in 1988) organizes a number of social events, including holiday parties, a summer kids party at Ontario Place, family barbecue days, ski trips, pub crawls, curling games and a pumpkin carving contest for Hallowe'en. AMEC also sponsors employee sports teams for volleyball, baseball, soccer and hockey. Throughout the year, AMEC captures feedback and keeps employees informed about new company developments through regular lunch and learn sessions; a company newsletter; corporate intranet site; traditional suggestion box; email suggestion box.

AMEC Americas' financial benefits are rated as average. To keep salaries competitive the company participates in outside salary surveys every 12 months. Individual salaries are reviewed every 12 months. AMEC also provides signing bonuses for some employees; new employee referral bonuses (to $5,000 for some positions); share-purchase plan for all employees; matching RSP contributions (up to 7% of salary); life & disability insurance; and project-based bonuses (depending on the position).

AMEC Americas' health and family benefits are rated as very good. AMEC's health benefits plan is managed by Great West Life and AXA Canada. As part of the health plan, the employer pays 100% of the premiums. Employees who work 24 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; traditional medicine coverage; alternative medicine coverage; massage therapy; medical equipment and supplies; homecare; employee assistance (EAP) plan; travel insurance. AMEC recently introduced a new annual health and wellness allowance (to $350) to cover the cost of membership or registration in a formal program of physical activity (such as sports teams, ski classes, gym memberships, instructor-led programs in karate, dance, yoga, etc.). This allowance is offered in addition to a yearly $750 healthcare spending account. AMEC's family-friendly benefits include; maternity top-up payments (to 100% of salary for 4 weeks). In addition, new mothers also receive a 75% top-up for 2 additional weeks of their leave. Additional family-friendly benefits include; post-secondary academic scholarships to children of employees; flexible working hours; telecommuting; shortened work week (fewer hours with less pay); earned days off (EDO) program; and a compassionate top-up payment (to 1 week) for bereavement leave.

AMEC Americas' vacation and personal time-off are rated as average. New employees receive 2 weeks of vacation allowance after their first year. Vacation increases after 3 years on the job. Long-serving employees receive a maximum of 4 weeks of vacation each year. Employees receive 11 personal days off, as scheduled by their employer. Employees receive 10 paid sick days every year. Employees can also apply for an unpaid leave of absence.

AMEC Americas' employee engagement program is rated as very good. Employees receive individual performance reviews every 12 months. Managers receive training in how to conduct effective performance reviews. AMEC recognizes exceptional performance with project completion bonuses. Employees also receive company store vouchers (valued at $25 to $100) when when they publish a paper or write articles for external publications, give technical presentations, or organize company involvement in a community event. Each department also has a budget for celebratory lunches and small rewards for excellent work, such as movie tickets. AMEC Americas sponsors its own in-house employee satisfaction survey. AMEC Americas hires an outside consultant to conduct confidential employee satisfaction and engagement surveys. (These surveys are held every 12 months).

AMEC Americas' training and skills development program is rated as exceptional. Employees receive tuition subsidies for courses related to their position. (The employer provides up to $2,500 in subsidies). Employees may also receive tuition subsidies for courses unrelated to their current position. (The employer provides up to $2,500 in tuition subsidies for non-related courses). AMEC Americas also suppports employees' career development with in-house apprenticeship and skilled trades internships; in-house training programs; formal mentoring program; new employee orientation program; formal mangement training program. AMEC recently introduced a formal engineer-in-training program for employees who are recent engineering graduates. Over the course of the two-year program, employees are assigned a mentor who helps them obtain the experience, technical expertise and interpersonal skills necessary to become a well-rounded junior engineer. The program consists of monthly meetings, biannual evaluations, in-class training and on-the-job development activities.

AMEC Americas' community involvement program is rated as very good. AMEC supports a number of local and national charitable organizations. Employees take part in the selection of charitable groups assisted each year. Employees receive paid time off to volunteer with their favourite charitable organizations. Employees also receive 20 paid days off to volunteer. Last year, employees donated over 2,500 hours volunteering with charitable projects. Approximately 17 charitable and community organizations were supported last year. In the past, head office employees have designed a local mini-putt course that is serves as a fundraising initiative for the Oakville United Way campaign. In another hands-on initiative, employees at AMEC's Frederiction office volunteered their time providing reading and math coaching to students at local elementary and high schools.