Office of the Auditor General of Canada

The Office of the Auditor General's physical workplace is rated as very good. The head office is located in the CD Howe Building, which is only minutes away from Parliament Hill, the bustling Byward Market, the Sparks Street pedestrian mall as well as numerous city attractions, parks and cycling trails. The lower level of the building features a shopping mall with a full food court area. During the summer season, a rooftop terrace is also open for employees to enjoy. The building also features the very first 'green-roof' installed on a Federal Government building in downtown Ottawa. Inside, the head office features traditional office and open concept work areas as well as employee rest areas with comfortable seating on every floor; secure bicycle parking; and reasonably priced underground parking for commuters.

The Office of the Auditor General's work atmosphere is rated as very good. On the job, employees enjoy business casual dress; employee sports teams; organized social events. Every year, an employee social committee helps to organize a variety of fun events including a holiday party during the Christmas season, salsa dancing lessons, summer golfing, a curling bonspiel, ciné-dîner evenings and a special "help with taxes" event during the tax season. Throughout the year, the Office of the Auditor General keeps employees up-to-date through its corporate intranet site; email suggestion box.

The Office of the Auditor General's financial benefits are rated as above-average. Individual salaries are reviewed every 12 months. In addition to competitive compensation, the Office of the Auditor General offers new employee referral bonuses (to $300 for some positions); defined benefit pension with employer contributions (up to 8.4% of salary); retirement planning assistance; and year-end bonuses for some employees (up to $3,000); year-end bonuses for some employees.

The Office of the Auditor General's health and family benefits are rated as exceptional. The OAG's health benefits plan is managed by Sun Life Assurance. As part of the health plan, the employer pays 100% of the premiums. Employees who work 13 hours per week receive coverage. The waiting period for new employees is 30 days. Employees receive full family coverage on the health benefits plan. The health plan also includes retiree coverage with no age limit. The basic plan includes routine dental; restorative dental; orthodontics; eyecare ($275 every 2 years); traditional medicine coverage; alternative medicine coverage; massage therapy; employee assistance (EAP) plan; travel insurance. The Office of the Auditor General's family-friendly benefits include; maternity top-up payments (to 93% of salary for 52 weeks); parental leave top-up for new fathers (to 93% of salary for 35 weeks); parental leave top-up for adoptive parents (to 93% of salary for 35 weeks); health benefits during maternity and parental leave; extended unpaid parental leave option (beyond the first year). Additional family-friendly benefits include: compassionate top-up payment (to 100% of salary for 1 week) while caring for a family member; flexible working hours; telecommuting; shortened work week (fewer hours with less pay); compressed work week; phased-in retirement work options; self-funded leave of absence program.

The Office of the Auditor General's vacation and personal time-off are rated as average. New employees receive 3 weeks of vacation allowance after their first year. Vacation increases after 10 years on the job. Long-serving employees receive a maximum of 6 weeks of vacation each year. Employees can schedule 2 personal days off each year, as needed. Employees receive 15 paid sick days every year. One employee recently took a one year leave of absence, with her spouse, to sail from Canada through to the Bahamas and ending in Florida. (Note: Management employees start with 4 weeks of paid vacation).

The Office of the Auditor General'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 Office recognizes exceptional employee perfomance through pay increases (management personnel), a formal peer-nominated "Bravo!" awards program and the prestigious "Auditor General's Awards" that recognizes individual and group performance. The Office of the Auditor General hires an outside consultant to conduct confidential employee satisfaction and engagement surveys. (These surveys are held every 24 months).

The Office of the Auditor General's training and skills development program is rated as very good. Employees receive tuition subsidies for courses related to their position. (Employers cover up to 100% of tuition). In addition to tuition subsidies, the Office supports employees' career development through: subsidies for professional accreditations; in-house apprenticeship and skilled trades programs; in-house training programs; online training programs; online employee skills inventory; formal mentoring program; career planning services; new employee orientation program; inter-governmental secondment program; and an extensive English and French language training program.

The Office of the Auditor General's community involvement program is rated as above-average. The OAG supports a variety of local and national 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. Employees also receive 1 paid day off to volunteer. As a public sector employer, the OAG participates in the Government of Canada's Workplace Charitable Campaign (GCWCC). Each year, the OAG provides one employee with the leadership opportunity to organize annual fundraising activities for the annual United Way campaign. In the past, fundraising activities have included the CN Tower stair climb, an "O-Bay" online auction and a bake sale. The OAG and its employees also support and participate in the Terry Fox Marathon, the CIBC Run for the Cure and the CNIB Crocus Sale.

As part of their overall sustainable development strategy, the Office's environmental committee (called the OAG Green Team) organizes regular events and information campaigns on the importance of minimizing the impact of office operations on the environment. To date, the OAG Green Team has successfully established a battery and toner recycling program, a new composting program, and a paper towel composting program. It is currently working on a project to develop secure bicycle parking for employees who ride to work.