Bayer Inc.

Bayer's physical workplace is rated as exceptional. Bayer's suburban office complex provides nearby access to major highways, public transit, restaurants and shopping. The company-owned property features an outdoor walking trail (called the Outback) and Bayer recently installed an 8'000 square foot green roof as part of an overall focus on reducing its carbon footprint. Inside, the head office features an onsite fitness facility (with free memberships, treadmills, stationary bikes, stairmasters, weights, instructor-led classes in kickboxing and yoga, a dedicated massage room, certified personal trainers, sauna and shower facilities); an outdoor multi-purpose court that can be configured for basketball, tennis and volleyball; a golf putting green and driving range net; employee lounge (with comfortable seating, fireplace, foosball table, dartboard, pool table, flatscreen television with a Nintendo Wii system with golf, Guitar Hero and Rock Band video games); nap room; religious observance room; onsite cafeteria (marché-style layout with healthy and special diet menus available (and rotating culture cuisine menus), subsidized meals, Starbucks coffee and fruit smoothies, take home dinner entrées, and after-hours honour system); weekly summer barbecues; free snacks such as fresh fruit, ice cream and cookies for meetings; secure bicycle parking; free parking; a library stocked wth contemporary lifestyle and business literature; company store (called The Work shop) with discounted company products.

Bayer's work atmosphere is rated as exceptional. Throughout the year, employees at Bayer enjoy business casual dress; casual dress Fridays; can listen to music while working; employee sports teams; organized social events. The company takes a uniquely integrated approach to addressing the social, environmental and physical needs of its employees through the unique "Life at Work" initiative. Through this remarkable program, the company supports numerous initiatives and provides a variety of resources to help employees achieve a healthy balance between their working and personal lives. Operating within the Life at Work umbrella, the Bayer Social Club organizes a a variety of events every year, including an annual summer barbeque event, a evening "Holiday Soirée" during the Christamas season, as well as a traditional Christmas lunch (where senior leadership staff serve all employees a turkey dinner with all the trimmings), a summer family day at Ontario Place and a summer golf day with an evening awards dinner. There is also a company-sponsored hockey team (called the Bayer Canucks) who participate in the "Canadian Pharma Industry Champion" charity tournament every year in support of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Throughout the year, Bayer keeps employees informed of company news and encourages employee feedback through a company newsletter; corporate intranet site; traditional suggestion box; email suggestion box; exit interviews with departing employees.

Bayer's financial benefits are rated as exceptional. To keep salaries competitive the company participates in outside salary surveys every 12 months. Individual salaries are reviewed every 12 months. Bayer also provides signing bonuses for some employees; new employee referral bonuses (to $3,000 for some positions); year-end bonuses for all employees; year-end bonuses (to $165,000); share-purchase plan for all employees; defined benefit pension with employer contribution (up to 6.8% of salary); defined contribution pension plan with employer contribution (up to 6% of salary); matching RSP contributions (up to 3% of salary); life & disability insurance; retirement planning assistance; discounts on home computers; discounted group home and auto insurance; discounted auto lease rates; discounted company products.

Bayer's health and family benefits are rated as above-average. Bayer's health benefits plan is managed by Manulife Financial. As part of the health plan, the employer pays 95% of the premiums. The health plan is a flexible plan with adjustable premiums and coverage levels. There is no waiting period before coverage begins. 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 ($200 every 2 years); traditional medicine coverage; alternative medicine coverage; massage therapy; medical equipment and supplies; employee assistance (EAP) plan; travel insurance; healthclub subsidy ($400 each year). In addition to their basic health coverage, employees receive discounted healthcare products through a the company store, including items such as diabetes meter strips and vitamins. Through the company's "Life at Work" program, employees can also take advantage of a number of educational programs and initiatives, such as a balanced eating program, massage therapy, personal fitness training, fitness classes and lunch hour classes on a variety of wellness topics. Bayer's family-friendly benefits include; maternity top-up payments (to 100% of salary for 6 weeks); parental leave top-up for new fathers (to 100% of salary for 6 weeks); parental leave top-up for adoptive parents (to 100% of salary for 6 weeks). Additional family-friendly benefits include; post-secondary academic scholarships to children of employees; compassionate top-up payment (to 100% of salary for 8 weeks) while caring for a family member; flexible working hours; telecommuting; shortened work week (fewer hours with less pay); reduced summer hours program; compressed work week; phased-in retirement; job-sharing; and a summer student program, with preference given to the children of Bayer employees.

Bayer's vacation and personal time-off are rated as very good. New employees receive 3 weeks of vacation allowance after their first year. Vacation increases after 5 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 182 paid sick days every year. Bayer considers previous work experience when setting annual vacation for new employees. Employees can also apply for an unpaid leave of absence. The company also provides an 8-day paid summer shutdown. (Starting vacation is 4 weeks for professional and management employees).

Bayer's employee engagement program is rated as exceptional. Employees receive individual performance reviews every 6 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. Bayer awards exceptional performance through a formal "Bravo" reward and recogniton program. Through this program, employees can receive "On-the-Spot" awards (which include dinner certificates, movie tickets and cash awards), the "Above and Beyond" award (includes cash bonuses up to $1,500) and the "Special Recognition award" (up to $5,000 cash award) -- the company recognized the excellent performance of over 1,120 employees last year. The company also recognizes truly exceptional performance through a formal awards dinner with senior management at a four-star location as well as through the special "President's Conference Club" event, where winning employees (and a guest) are treated to a getaway vacation at a resort location. Bayer also has a number of financial incentive plans for its sales personnel and senior executives. Bayer sponsors its own in-house employee satisfaction survey. (Surveys are conducted every 12 months); Bayer hires an outside consultant to conduct confidential employee satisfaction and engagement surveys. (These surveys are held every 12 months).

Bayer's training and skills development program is rated as exceptional. Employees receive tuition subsidies for courses related to their position. (The employer provides up to $7,000 in subsidies). Employees may also receive tuition subsidies for courses unrelated to their current position. (The employer provides up to $7,000 in tuition subsidies for non-related courses). Bayer also assists employees' career development with subsidies for professional accreditations; in-house training programs; online training programs; online employee skills inventory; formal mentoring program; career planning services; new employee orientation program; formal mangement training program; and financial bonuses for course completions (from $300 to $1,000). Bayer also manages a formal, yearly succession planning process to identify employees with leadership potential, and offers flexible career path options so employees can gain broad experience in a variety of company areas.

Bayer's community involvement program is rated as exceptional. Bayer supports a variety of local, national and international 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 2 paid days off to volunteer. Last year, employees donated over 673 hours volunteering with charitable projects. Approximately 20 charitable and community organizations were supported last year. The company is a designation "Imagine Caring Company", contributing over $1.6 million in community donations last year. Bayer and its employees work closely with the annual United Way campaign as well as a variety of local community initiatives. Employees volunteer in a variety of school programs at the North Kipling Junior Middle School in Toronto, including their Breakfast Club and the Homework Club, a one-on-one tutoring program. Employees also helped students complete science projects as part of the school's Science and Tech Day event. The company also supports international relief efforts, supporting earthquake relief efforts in China and storm victims in Burma last year.

As part of its focus on environmental impacts of its operations, Bayer recently established an in-house "Green Matters Team" to review and manage its many environmental initiatives. The company is leading the charge to reduce its environmental footprint through a number of small and large undertakings, including the introduction of LED bulbs in office light fixtures, computer-controlled lighting and heating systems, environmental audits of all facilities (along with the creation of a summer position for an environmental sciences student), and tree and vegetation planting to "re-natualize" and create a walking trail on its head office property. In one of Bayer's most impressive local initiatives, and a clear demonstration of its commitment to addressing global warming concerns, the company recently constructed 8,000 square feet of green roof space at the head office, which is the first in its industrial neighbourhood in western Toronto.